S
Sandie
I have sincerely tried to find a similar scenario in the newsgroup before
posting a new discussion, but I haven't been able to find one that answers my
question.
I would like to reality check my method for creating the schedule for
handling this situation. (I am using Project 2003, SP2.)
4 people are working on this project. Our preferred default task type is
Fixed Work, because hours of effort is the easiest way for us to estimate
tasks for most projects in our organization. So we are starting with a group
of fixed work tasks with effort driven on.
Many of the tasks involve a step called “review document with teamâ€, which
will involve each of us spending about four hours reviewing documentation. We
will not all be doing this at the same time, so we will give ourselves a week
to complete the task. This lead me to conclude that although the task type is
fixed work (i.e., we will each spend four hours on it), the value we set
should be duration (i.e., 5 days), since we’ve decided to give ourselves this
time.
I tested this 3 ways:
1. In the task form (bottom half of split screen with Gantt Chart view on
top), I set duration to 5 days and assigned each resource with 4 hours of
work. The result was that the units calculated to 10% for 3 of the resource
and 11% for the 4th resource. I didn’t know why the 4th resource came out
different.
I have always considered the estimate to be part of the assignment (match
one resource to one task for a certain amount of work). This is why I’m doing
everything at once in the task entry box as described above. However, I’ve
noted that many Project user manuals instruct the user to enter estimates,
then enter assignments. So I tried a second way:
2. I added a “Work†column in the Gantt Chart and entered 16 hours, then in
the task entry form I set the duration to 10 days, assigned the resources,
and allowed Project to spread out the work among them. The result was that
Project reduced the duration to 1.25 and calculated units at 40% (makes
sense). So I changed the duration back to 5 days, then the units
re-calculated at an even 10% for each resource. I liked the fact that all the
resources had the same % of units.
3. Finally, I wanted to see what would happen if I changed the task type to
fixed duration and cleared the effort driven box. So I did this and in the
task form I set the duration to 5 days and assigned each resource with 4
hours of work. The units calculated at 5% for each resource. Why the big
difference in units?
My question is: which was the best way? Is my instinct correct that Fixed
Work is the better task type to use for this?
Thanks in advance for any help
posting a new discussion, but I haven't been able to find one that answers my
question.
I would like to reality check my method for creating the schedule for
handling this situation. (I am using Project 2003, SP2.)
4 people are working on this project. Our preferred default task type is
Fixed Work, because hours of effort is the easiest way for us to estimate
tasks for most projects in our organization. So we are starting with a group
of fixed work tasks with effort driven on.
Many of the tasks involve a step called “review document with teamâ€, which
will involve each of us spending about four hours reviewing documentation. We
will not all be doing this at the same time, so we will give ourselves a week
to complete the task. This lead me to conclude that although the task type is
fixed work (i.e., we will each spend four hours on it), the value we set
should be duration (i.e., 5 days), since we’ve decided to give ourselves this
time.
I tested this 3 ways:
1. In the task form (bottom half of split screen with Gantt Chart view on
top), I set duration to 5 days and assigned each resource with 4 hours of
work. The result was that the units calculated to 10% for 3 of the resource
and 11% for the 4th resource. I didn’t know why the 4th resource came out
different.
I have always considered the estimate to be part of the assignment (match
one resource to one task for a certain amount of work). This is why I’m doing
everything at once in the task entry box as described above. However, I’ve
noted that many Project user manuals instruct the user to enter estimates,
then enter assignments. So I tried a second way:
2. I added a “Work†column in the Gantt Chart and entered 16 hours, then in
the task entry form I set the duration to 10 days, assigned the resources,
and allowed Project to spread out the work among them. The result was that
Project reduced the duration to 1.25 and calculated units at 40% (makes
sense). So I changed the duration back to 5 days, then the units
re-calculated at an even 10% for each resource. I liked the fact that all the
resources had the same % of units.
3. Finally, I wanted to see what would happen if I changed the task type to
fixed duration and cleared the effort driven box. So I did this and in the
task form I set the duration to 5 days and assigned each resource with 4
hours of work. The units calculated at 5% for each resource. Why the big
difference in units?
My question is: which was the best way? Is my instinct correct that Fixed
Work is the better task type to use for this?
Thanks in advance for any help