Projects vs. Proposals vs. Activities

[Sequetta Wright]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between projects, proposals,
and activities.

I have been able to create each one of them in Project Server 2007 (Proj.
Prof. for projects). But I can assign the same resources to all of them and
when I do, the resource can now see the tasks assigned to them whether it is
a project, proposals, or activity.

I would have expected that the resource could not see the tasks until the
proposal/activity was approved and converted to a project.

Also, why is it that you are able to convert a proposal/activity before it
is approved?

Am I missing some workflow stuff?

Sequetta Wright
Birdseye Foods
Rochester

 

[Ben Howard]

Proposals and activities are projects in their own right, and as you have
found, task updates can be applied to them from task updates.
Activities are used to plan operational work (though they can be used for
smaller projects too). Proposals are ideas regarding projects, and again,
time can be booked against them. There is no real inherent work flow that
stops people booking time in the task sheet. If you don't want the tasks to
show, book the time as proposed rather than committed.

You can convert both Proposals and Activities to Enterprise Projects, where
they are edited in Project Pro (rather than PWA).

 

[Sequetta Wright]

Thanks alot. I thought maybe I was missing something.

 

[Mike]

Thanks alot. I thought maybe I was missing something.







- Show quoted text -

Sequetta

Both proposal and activity plans enable you to create
"placeholders" (don't need to define any detail) to which you can
attach FTE resource plans (can also be done with projects but makes
more sense with the other two). You can also collect time against
these placeholders. So no need to plan!!!


regards

Mike

 

[Michael Brown]

Be careful of the limitations in these as you proceed. As noted, proposals
do have the added benefit of work-flow (particularly if you enable MOSS
functionality). Activity plans (previously called light weight projects) are
typically used for small pieces of team work but there are limitations. You
can only assign one resource per task in an activity plan, and an activity
plan can have no more than 100 tasks. There are other benefits to a project
plan above those either a proposal or activity plan- i just listed a few.
Keep thse in mind as you proceed.

 

[Chris Hughes(UK)]

Hi Ben

I have had the same issue with understanding project proposals.
Everytime I publish a proposal the tasks appear in the resources My Tasks. I
have tried setting the booking type to proposed when I build the team but it
makes no difference.

Any ideas?

Regards

Chris Hughes

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Chris --

Proposed resources do not work correclty. Using them in a published project
causes the task assignments to appear on the My Tasks page for Proposed
resources. This is a reported bug in Project Server 2007. Hope this helps.

 

[Chris Hughes(UK)]

Thanks Dale
Just purchased your book.
Its very good
I assume a project server 2007 book will be on the way towards the end of
the year?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Chris --

Though we do not have a firm publish date yet, it will definitely NOT be
near the end of the year. We want to get it to market ASAP. Thanks for
asking!