resource substitution via the web?

[anovak]

Isn't there a way to allow a resource manager to change an assignment
of one of their generic resources (like "DBA" or "Tech Services") to a
"real" resource in their group in ANOTHER PMs project without having
update access to the other project?

Say the Project Manager assigns generic resource "DBA" to a task not
knowing who is available. Then I as the DBA Manager changes the "DBA"
to "John Doe" once I know who they can have.---but without update
access to the Project Manager's project.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Andy --

Yes, this can be done. Assuming you are not using the RBS field to show
which resources report to which resource manager, here's what you will need
to do to set this up:

1. Log into PWA with administrator permissions
2. Click Admin - Manage users and groups
3. Click the Groups link in the sidepane
4. Select the Resource Managers group and click the Modify Group button
5. In the Users section, add everyone who serves only as a resource manager
in your organization (they dont' use Microsoft Project)
6. In the Categories section, select the My Organization category and set
the following permissions to Allow in the Permissions grid:

Assign Resource
See Enterprise Resource Data
See Projects in Project Center

7. Click the Save Changes button

After you complete the above steps, your RM's will be able to log into PWA
and navigate to the Project Center page, select a project, and then click
the Build Team button. From there, they will be able to replace Generic
resources with human resources on the selected project. Hope this helps.

 

[anovak]

Dale,

I AM using the RBS to show which resources report to which resource
manager (manager).

This "Resource Manager" is not a RM by the strong sense of the word.
Its another project manager who has people responsibility as well. As
a matter of fact, most of the time the project managers have people
and wear the RM hat from time to time.

I was hoping that the RBS would control who can substitute resources
across all project plans (that is, if they work for you, you can
substitute). That way Project Manager A can override which one of
their people Project Manager uses in the plan (vs. Generic).

But I don't won't all these project managers to be able to mess with
the Enterprise Resource Pool by being RMs too. That's something I want
to control centrally. Or am I misunderstanding? They also will ALL
use MS Project if that makes a difference.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Andy --

I thought you were referring to people who don't use Microsoft Project and
who function in resource manager role. Why don't you just have the project
managers open one another's Microsoft Project plans and make the
substitutions? Or better yet, why don't you simply mandate that the PM's
work together to decide which human resources replace the Generic resources?
Just a couple of thoughts. Hope this helps.

 

[anovak]

Dale,

How can you open each others plans? I thought only the administrator
and the person who saved the plan can modify? Even then, that would
be a political problem here.

I think, as much as it can be, the mandate that PMs work together is
the best choice. Although in higher education (which we're in),
mandates are very few. Same reason having multiple people edit plans
might not go over too well.

However, please enlighten me on how they COULD open and udpate each
others plans.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Andy --

Do the following:

1. Log into PWA with administrator permissions
2. Click Admin - Manage users and groups
3. Click the Groups link in the sidepane
4. Select the Project Managers group and click the Modify Group button
5. In the Categories section, select the My Organization category
6. In the Permissions grid of the Categories section, set the following
permissions to Allow

Open Project
Save Project
View Projects in Project Center
View Projects in Project Views

7. Click the Save Changes button

Hope this helps.

 

[Mike]

Andy

Create "all projects" category - assign project managers group

Category will have following permissions:

Assign resource
Build Team
See enterprise resource data

Allow users to view info for res they manage.

Thru my organisation category give pm's access to all plans in pwa
- see projects in project center.

If the PM has an appropriate RBS he should be able to use the build
team function to allocate resources to any project.

regards

Mike