Resources Allocation

[Pal Ahuja - India]

Hi

I am using MS-Project 2002. I have following problems while planning projects.

When I allocate multiple resource to a task and each resource has certain % of time allocated to it, the number of hours calcualted for the task remain same.

e.g. I have a task starting 2nd Feb'04 to 15th Apr'04. Two resources, say A and B, have been allocated on this task. Resource A is to work for 50% of his time and resource B for 100%. The task is to be completed in 432 hours. If we calculate the time between 2nd Feb and 15th Apr, the total number of hours are 432. Since there are 2 resources A and B, actually this task should be over earlier or the final date should get changed automatically. I would like, number of hours to be the limiting factor and final date shoud be decided accordingly. Please advise me how to do this.

Thanks

Pal Ahuj
Indi

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hello Pal,



Don't confuse Duration and Work !

For ex. if a task is scheduled with a Duration of 10 days and a Work load of
160 hrs (if your software is setup with 8hr/day) that means that you
expected to assign 2 (Units) persons on that task.

MS Project always works with the following equation :



Duration x Units resources = Work



If you change one these 3 data, MS Project will re-equilibrate the equation,
but in which direction ? You'll decide for it with the Task Type parameter :

In the Task Information dialog box (Advanced tab), choose :

- Fixed Units : Ms Project will never recalculate the number of
assigned resource. If somebody worked at part time (may be 50%) he/she will
stay at 50%

- Fixed Duration : Ms Project will never recalculate the task
Duration

- Fixed Work : Ms Project will never recalculate the Work

- Nb : Effort Driven means the same thing that Fixed Work. So a task
can be Fixed Units and Effort Driven. So MS Project can't adjust nothing
else than the Duration.



For your issue :

Create your task with Duration = 54 days and assign resource A full time
(Units = 1 or 100%) : MS Project calculates the Work : 432 hrs.

Set this task to Fixed Work because you want Work staying at 432 hrs.

Assign the second resource B part time : 0,5 or 50%

MS Project leaves the Work at 432 hrs and recalculated the Duration : 36
days.



Hope this helps,



Gérard Ducouret

Hi

I am using MS-Project 2002. I have following problems while planning projects.

When I allocate multiple resource to a task and each resource has certain

% of time allocated to it, the number of hours calcualted for the task
remain same.

e.g. I have a task starting 2nd Feb'04 to 15th Apr'04. Two resources, say

A and B, have been allocated on this task. Resource A is to work for 50% of
his time and resource B for 100%. The task is to be completed in 432 hours.
If we calculate the time between 2nd Feb and 15th Apr, the total number of
hours are 432. Since there are 2 resources A and B, actually this task
should be over earlier or the final date should get changed automatically. I
would like, number of hours to be the limiting factor and final date shoud
be decided accordingly. Please advise me how to do this.