Please help: How to set resource tasking priority across projects?

[HookEm]

Is there a way to set up the enterprise resource pool or configure individual
project settings to support the scenario described below?

Scenario:
I have a team of about 30 or so developers in my enterprise resource pool.
Some resources are dedicated to particular projects but others (such as doc
writers, QA personnel, etc.) will be assigned to tasks across multiple
projects. Some of the projects are "lower priority" than the other projects
(IOW, it doesn't matter if the duration of a task on a low priority project
increases because the resource is needed on a higher priority project).

Re-task Example:
Two projects: projA (high priority) and projB (lower priority).
Doc resource: res1
Res1 is assigned several known duration tasks on low priority projB: TaskB1,
TaskB2, TaskB3, etc.
The project owner for projA decides that they need Res1 for a known duration
task to be added to projA schedule (to be added TaskA1).

Current Behavior:
If the projA owner adds Task1A and assigns it to Res1 then the duration gets
automatically sized based on the tasks assigned to Res1 on projB. IOW, Res1
is "locked" for the time periods identified by TaskB1, TaskB2, TaskB3.

Is there a way to set this up so that projA owner can add Task1A and set the
duration to what the projA schedule needs and the projB task durations are
automatically resized accordingly? IOW, the duration for new Task1A should
"trump" the durations for existing tasks TaskB1, TaskB2, TaskB3.

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Colby:

This is a function of resource leveling. In order to use the tool to do
this, you want to set your leveling priorities for the projects and tasks in
question, and use the leveling tool. You must have both projects open to do
this.

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
MSProjectExperts
For Project Server Consulting: http://www.msprojectexperts.com
For Project Server FAQS: http://www.projectserverexperts.com

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I started thinking about it then stopped.
What would be the mechanism that would modify DURATION of the low priority
task ?
I can look for a mechanism that would make it start and finish later but I
fail to see why duration would change.

HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[HookEm]

Well, then it's not working. I opened both projects and set the priority for
TaskA1 to '50' whereas the priority for TaskB1 is the default ('500'). When
I click 'Tools-->Level Resources-->Level Now' then no matter which of the
check boxes I select the duration of TaskA1 is still locked based on the fact
that Res1 is assigned to TaskB1 during the time frame that Res1 [now] needs
to be working on new TaskA1.

How do I fix this?

 

[HookEm]

Sorry, I shouldn't have said task duration. I meant the start/finish dates
for the low priority task need to get updated. The task duration for both
tasks is fixed (Res1 for 1 work-week/40hrs). If TaskB1 is scheduled on projB
to begin 8/11/08 and finish 8/15/08 and then TaskA1 is added to projA and
needs to use the same resource (Res1) during the same time period
(8/11/08-8/15/08) then I want the start/finish for TaskB1 to get changed to
8/18/08-8/22/08.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

From PWA, Projects view, open both files, then Tools, Level Resources,
Level Now.
Hope this helps
--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[HookEm]

I figured it out. I'm use to tools such as bug tracking utilities that use
the priority setting to indicate a lower number is a HIGHER priority (IOW,
P=1 is higher priority than P=2). Project does the opposite: P=500 is LOWER
than P=700.