Over-allocation indicator - for specific task duration.

[Gadi]

Hi!

We would like to have an indication if <i>specific</i> task causes
overallocation of the assigned resource. The existing flag just displays if
the resource is overallocated regardless specific task dates.

The idea is to build formula indicator field (maybe another approach?) that
indicates if the Resource became over-allocated BECAUSE of this specific
assignment.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Steve House]

There's a logical problem with the approach you're seeking that has to be
resolved first. I have Joe assigned 100% to task A occuring on Monday and
also 100% on task B, also occuring on Monday. Joe is certainly
overallocated, 200% for Monday, but how can you say WHICH of the two tasks
is the specific task that caused the overallocation? Is it task A or task
B? What is the criterion that conceptually defines "the specific task that
caused the overallocation?" It really is just a coin flip as "creating a
resource overallocation" is something that is a property of the group of
tasks and isn't a property of just one task.

 

[Gadi]

Hi Steve and thanks for response!

There is no importance which task was 'first' - if there is an
over-allocation on specific day - all tasks that take place in that place are
'suspicious' - and I want them to be marked (by the indicator field for
example).

My problem is to recognize onle these tasks that 'involved' in the
over-allocation.

 

[Steve House]

You already have that. If you look at the resource usage view you'll see
overallocated resources are shown in red. If you scan the timephased date,
you'll see the hours in red for all of the task on the days that cause the
overallocation. Using the Alt F5 (or is it F4, never can remember) will
jump from overallocation to overallocation to show you the info you need.

 

[Gadi]

Yes, but the aim is to see the information during tasks planning - and not to
force a user to switch to resources view and browse each resource (there nmay
be several allocated to the same task), and after that come back to tasks
view, repair, and switch again to resources sheet to check if now
over-allocation is solved.

Thanks, anyway

 

[Steve House]

Gantt views show task information. But resource allocation and
overallocation are resource properties relating the total number of hours a
resource is booked in a given time period (doing anything) versus the number
of hours his calendar says he can be booked. It's not a per-task property
at all and that's why you have to switch to a resource view to see it. To
repair an ovallocation it's not sufficient to know which tasks the resource
is on - you also have to know which time periods during the task are the
problem areas - it may not be the entire task. If I had Joe booked on 5 day
task starting next Monday and also on a 1 day task starting next Wednesday,
he's overallocated but only for 1 day - to fix it I have to know which day
out of the 5 for task 1 I need to look at. To simplify the process, in the
resource usage view filter for overallocated resources and use the Alt-F5
shortcut to find the dates that are a problem.
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer/Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs