Resource Overallocation in Project 2003

[Caren]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my overallocated
resources. I am trying to use a resource pool and link several
projects to it. As it stands, I have dedicated one resource 100% to
three different projects, and I am finding that my resource is
overallocated when his total work time is less than one day per any
given day. In other words, the resource pool is telling me that he is
overallocated when his total work for the day is only 0.8day. I have
checked the resource schedule (a standard 8hr work day, no holidays,
etc.), so I don't think it has to do with that (although I could be
wrong). I have also tried dedicating the single resource 33% to each
project, just to see what the resource summary does. This didn't work
either.

Basically I am just trying to use a resource pool file as a summary
for all of the projects that my resources are working on, that way I
can really tell when a resource has been overallocated or if
additional resources are needed at different phases of the various
projects. If anyone can shed some light on the subject that would be
great! I am also open to any suggestions for alternate methods.
Thanks!

~Caren

 

[Dave]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my overallocated
resources. I am trying to use a resource pool and link several
projects to it. As it stands, I have dedicated one resource 100% to
three different projects, and I am finding that my resource is
overallocated when his total work time is less than one day per any
given day. In other words, the resource pool is telling me that he is
overallocated when his total work for the day is only 0.8day. I have
checked the resource schedule (a standard 8hr work day, no holidays,
etc.), so I don't think it has to do with that (although I could be
wrong). I have also tried dedicating the single resource 33% to each
project, just to see what the resource summary does. This didn't work
either.

Basically I am just trying to use a resource pool file as a summary
for all of the projects that my resources are working on, that way I
can really tell when a resource has been overallocated or if
additional resources are needed at different phases of the various
projects. If anyone can shed some light on the subject that would be
great! I am also open to any suggestions for alternate methods.
Thanks!

~Caren

You will probably find that there is a period of the day in which your
resource is allocated simultaneously to more than one task but that the
overall work carried out on the affected day is still less than 8 hours.

If this bothers you, you will have to level at a suitable level of
granularity. In many instances, this is not worthwhile ( generally only
worry about how many hours resources work per week) unless there is a
real clash such as two simultaneous meetings for example.

On the Resource Levelling dialogue box, you can tell Project what
granularity to use (Look for overallocations on a ... basis) and this
will get rid of the alerts (but annoyingly leave the resource names in red).

 

[Caren]

You will probably find that there is a period of the day in which your
resource is allocated simultaneously to more than one task but that the
overall work carried out on the affected day is still less than 8 hours.

If this bothers you, you will have to level at a suitable level of
granularity. In many instances, this is not worthwhile ( generally only
worry about how many hours resources work per week) unless there is a
real clash such as two simultaneous meetings for example.

On the Resource Levelling dialogue box, you can tell Project what
granularity to use (Look for overallocations on a ... basis) and this
will get rid of the alerts (but annoyingly leave the resource names in red).- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the help Dave!

I have read that you will get an overallocation when two tasks are
scheduled at the same time (ie. two one hour meetings both scheduled
for 9am instead of one at 8am and one at 9am). Is there somewhere in
Project where we specify specific times for tasks? I understand
durations and resource calendars, but I have not been able to find
anything regarding specific times in which tasks are scheduled. Is
leveling the only answer?

Thanks,
Caren

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Caren,

Any time you enter a date you can enter it as 23/07/07 11:15 (European
notation)
if you want to see time of day displayed Tools, Options, View, set dater
format to the one including time of day.
HTH

 

[Steve House]

Leveling is the answer - that's why it exists. You shouldn't be specifying
either dates or times for tasks except in rare cases so if the luck of the
draw is the resource is assigned to two tasks at the same time, leveling is
there to resolve the conflict. As Dave mentioned, the "Look for
overallocations on..." setting in the leveling dialog box tells Project
what's the smallest overlap it needs to worry about when applying leveling.