Rebaselining assistance needed

[FKhan]

I am rebaselining two summary tasks in my project file. Delivery dates have
been extended and the number of resources as well as utilization has changed
on these two tasks. I'd like to rebaseline just these two summary tasks.

Also, the bill rate changed for one of the resources who worked on tasks
that are not being rebaselined. The new BAC needs to reflect the reduced
bill rate, taking into account work already performed that is not being
baselined.

How do I properly rebaseline the two tasks as well as get a new baseline BAC
amount for the entire project?

 

[Jim Aksel]

I am gathering from your post that you may have resources assigned at a
summary level. If this is correct, big mistake. Resources should only be
assigned to individual tasks. Now, let's address your questions.

Let's get the easy one out of the way first. To change a work rate for a
resource, go to the resource sheet and double click the resource name. Pull
the Cost tab. In the lower part of that dialog, you can key in the effective
date of a new work rate and the new work rate value. Your historical values
remain unchanged prior to the date entered. Your baseline will not change as
long as you do not rebaseline the tasks utilized by this resources. If you
do, the baseline will change to reflect the new rate and it will be properly
costed as of the effective date saddle point.

Now, about rebaseline of two summary tasks. Open up the two summary tasks
and highlight all the subtasks that need to be rebaselined, I am assuming it
is not every one of the subtasks below the summary task level. Select
Tools/Tracking/Save Baseline... You will have the option to select a radio
button "Selected Tasks" and then two check boxes to make certain the totals
roll up properly.

 

[FKhan]

What if the new rate applies to the entire project (client is getting a
credit)? How do account for that change?

When I try to rebaseline the method you've suggested, the baseline returns
to what it was before.

 

[Jim Aksel]

Your baseline includes Worker A at Rate A1. If you change the work rate to
A2 this will not change your baseline since it was set at A1. It will,
however, show you a cost variance since the resource is billing at A2.

If the situation goes all the way back to day 1, you can just overwrite the
original work rate with the new one on the resource sheet without using the
cost tab explained earlier. Assuming everything else is perfect, your cost
variance to date would indicate the amount of credit due your client as of
the status date. You baselined at A1 but earned at A2.

Depending on how fussy people are, you could also rebaseline all the tasks
using this resource so all the numbers run up smoothly to your new EAC.
They'd shoot me here if I did that, but it all comes down to what makes your
customer happy.

 

[Steve House]

Adding some thoughts to your thread with Jim ... you might want to
reconsider rebaselining in the first place. IMHO, the only time to
rebaseline is if the project deliverables have changed and tasks added or
removed so as to make it substantially a new project. What you are
describing - changes in duration of tasks and revised rates for resources -
do not represent a change to the plan. Instead they represent variances
where actuals or forecast actuals differ from the initial estimates. Your
baseline should represent your initial estimates of the project as you
thought you would do it. Progress monitoring measures actual performance
against that initial estimate. Rebaselining destroys your ability to do
those comparisons. BAC should represent your initial cost estimate based on
the OLD resource costs. EAC (Estimate At Completion) represents the
forecast actual cost based on the NEW resource costs and task durations.