problems with a 10-hour day vs. 8 hour day.

[mttakimbo]

I am having some problems setting up my resource calendars for the
first time.

We have some resources that work a standard 8-hour 5-day week and some
that work a 10-hour 4-day week (monday-thursday). I have created
resource calendars to reflect each need. These resources will often
work on the same tasks on the same projects.

On the project level, the base calendar is standard 5-day and the
Hours Per Day is set to 8.

My problem is when I am creating tasks for the 10-hour worker.

If I have a task with a duration of one day and I assign my 10-hour
worker to use 100% of units that day, it schedules him for 8 hours.

If I have a a task with a duration of 5 days (M-F), Project schedules
him for 39 hours, 9 on Monday, 10 on Tues-Thurs. Remember, he is not
available on Friday.

If I have a task with a duration of 4 days (M-Th), Project schedules
him for 38 hours, 10 on Mon-Wed, 8 on Thursday.

Why is this happening? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[mttakimbo]

We are using PS 2003, btw.

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello,
That's normal ;-(
Example : you create a task with a Duration of 4 days
On the project level, the base calendar is standard 5-day and the Hours Per
Day is set to 8.
So Project understood 4 days x 8 = 32 hours
Then you assign a resource that works a 10-hour 4-day week
So the resource works 10h on Monday, 10 hours on Thuesday, 10 h on Wednesday
and 2 h on thursday.
So the Duration of the task is 3 days and a couple of hours.

Gérard Ducouret

 

[mttakimbo]

Gérard,

Thanks for your reply.

I failed to mention earlier that my tasks are all fixed duration.

So Project understood 4 days x 8 = 32 hours

Project is scheduling my resource for 38 hours (10+10+10+8) over 4
days, not 32. That is neither 100% based on the resource calendar nor
80% on the project calendar.

Brian

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Two issues here: First we need to know how you're assigning resources to
tasks as many users do not know how to do this correctly. Second, you need
to switch to the Resource Usage or Task usage view to understand why Project
is doing what it's doing. There may be parts of tasks on the schedule
causing some of what you're seeing.

--

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


Gérard,

Thanks for your reply.

I failed to mention earlier that my tasks are all fixed duration.

So Project understood 4 days x 8 = 32 hours

Project is scheduling my resource for 38 hours (10+10+10+8) over 4
days, not 32. That is neither 100% based on the resource calendar nor
80% on the project calendar.

Brian

 

[mttakimbo]

This turned out to not be much of an issue, as we won't be using Fixed
Duration much and we will be entering hours worked instead of Units.
Since you asked, I have been using the Task Entry form to assign
resources. Is there a more preferable way? Also, I was looking at
Resource Usage to see what Project was doing.

-Brian

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

The task entry form is the correct way to resource a project simply because
it's the only view in Project that gives you access to control all
assignment parameters. Dropping the fixed-duration approach is also a good
idea.

--

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