Resource management vía Project Web Access.

[Gaspar P.L.]

I've this doubt: It is possible to manage (creation, modifying and to assign
to tasks) resources using Project Web Access?

Beforehand, thanks for your comments.

Best regards.

Gaspar.

 

[Scott m Wagner - EPM Consulting Services]

Gaspar-

I’m really not sure if this is what you are asking but...
It is possible to pre-assign tasks and resources using enterprise templates.

You simply create the template with the known tasks and assign known
resources (or even time to those tasks). In most organizations I have worked
with we found that using several templates we were able to assign more then
50% of work using templates due to the repetitive nature of the business.


Hope that helps,

Scott

 

[Rick Roszko]

Long answer, hope I covered what you were looking for...

If you are trying to just use PWA without MS Project 2003 (or 2002)
Professional, it won't work because MS Project is an integral part of MS
Project Server. To answer your questions specifically assuming you using MS
Project, here goes:

My answer for resource creation in PWA is "no".
--- In order for Project Server to work correctly and post all data
correctly, all resources, whether a "PWA/Project Server user" or a "Windows
authenticated user" need to be created as a resource using MS Project to add
the new resources. If you create resources directly in PWA, they will not
work properly for all functions.

My answer for task assignment or re-assignment is "yes"
--- Tasks can be created in PWA but the Project Manager for that plan needs
to approve it and update it in an exisitng MS Project plan.
--- Anyone with delegate task authority can re-assign a task; but again, the
Project Manager for that plan needs to approve it and update it in the
exsisting MS Project plan.
--- My preference is that I don't like to use either of these methods
especially id the project plan is greater than 500 lines long. It is
awefully difficult to figure out what's a good assignment/re-assignment ion
such cases and it is cleaner if such changes are communicated directly with
the PM, since she/he may have a better location to place that task, change
the wording on a task, have a better rersource, or an approved resource to
use, etc. etc. Once youget in the accept/reject cycle for changes through
PWA, it gets messy...

If that does not answer your question, please re-post!

Thanks,

 

[Gaspar P.L.]

Scott:

Thanks for your answer; however, I don't know if you're talking about PWA or
MS PRoject Professional. If you're talking about PWA, how can you use it to
assign resources?

Beforehand, thanks.

 

[Gaspar P.L.]

Rick:

Thanks for your answer.

Regards assignment, how can you do that using PWA.

I was seeking in all (I think) the issues, options and functions of PWA
without find the answer. Could you, please, to indicate me the path of
options to cover this requirement?

Beforhand, thanks.

Best regards.

 

[Rick Roszko]

You need to go to admin and and set "New Task Assignment" as "Allow" under
Server Configuration. (For task re-assignement, pick "Delegate tasks"...)

Then, for each "Group" you want to enable to create new tasks, add "New Task
Assignment" as "Allow".

So: On the "Tasks" page, you will see a link on the left hand column titled
"Create a Task". When the user/resource clicks on it, they can choose the
'project', then they can choose which 'summary task' to put it under and
'type out' the task. After finished, just click on "Save New Tasks".

That's it. (You can practice this with a test project and see what
happens...)

Thanks!

 

[Gaspar P.L.]

Rick,

Thanks. I've made proofs about it and it really works. However, as Project
Manager I need to assign new resources to tasks differente than my user
account. In fact, due I'm working with a client, my outsourcing service
denied the use of Project Professional to cover the assignment of resources
throught this tool.

That's why I need to use PWA to assign resources, different than my user
account, to tasks of my project.

I.e.: For the task "t1", that have assigned the resource "R1", I need to
assign one more resource ("R2") in order to change the task duration from 4
days (for example) to 2 days.

Beforehand, thanks for the patient and attention.

Best regards,

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Gaspar:

Short answer: No, you can't do this using Project Web Access alone. Rick
points out that there are two methods for users in PWA: 1) Allows a user to
create a new task and 2) Allows a user to assign themselves to an existing
task. Both of these methods generate "requests" in the system and do not
articulate to the project without the PM using the client application.