Resource vs Task custom fields - MS Project Server 2007

[Rachel]

We are creating a task per resource in our Project Schedule (there will not
be more than one resource assigned to a task). As part of the schedule, we'll
want to view tasks that are assigned to different teams (i.e. HR, Payroll,
Benefits). Does it matter whether we specifiy the resource as part of the
team (a team resource custom field) OR the task as a team's task (a task
custom resource)? What are the benefits / issues of creating a custom field
for a task or resource?

Thanks,
Rachel

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Rachel --

If it were me, I would create a custom enterprise Resource field with a
Lookup Table that specifies the team to which each resource belongs. I
would then edit the resources in the Enterprise Resource Pool and specify
their team. Finally, I would create a Data Analysis view that shows task
work by teams.

Also, do not confuse my use of "team" with the default Team Name field
included in Project Server 2007. That field is used for something else
entirely (assigning a group of resources as a team to a task). I would
suggest you name your custom field something like Department or Role or
something like that. Hope this helps.

 

[Rachel]

Dale,

Can you say more about creating a Data Analysis view that shows task work by
team? Is this some version of the Task Usage view? In this view I'm able to
see the work completed by each resource, but I would also like to group the
resources into teams and view the % complete for each team.

Thanks,
Rachel

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Rachel --

Data Analysis views are only visible in PWA. If you want to group by team
in a task View in Microsoft Project, such as the Task Usage view, then your
Project Server administrator will need to open the Enterprise Resource Pool,
check out every human resource, and populate the Resource Group field with
the relevant name of the team to which each resource belongs. Then you can
group by Resource Group field in the Task Usage view. Hope this helps.

 

[Gary]

Hi -
I have tried to use the Group field for enterprise resources (in 2007)
and the values for that field keep getting cleared out. It does seem
to be saving properly at the time, but if I close Proj and go back to
check the values are blank again. Is there some kind of trick to
getting the values to stick?
Thanks,
Gary