Resources hours "red" or overallocated at 6 hours.

[Dip]

Hi,

I am having this problem for the last month. Sometimes, some tasks have the
same resource for a few days, and complete. Then this task restarts again
after a gap of few days and then the total hours show "red (overallocated)"
even though the total work hours is less than 8. Is this something to do with
project calculations.

I am using MS Project 03.

Dip

 

[Steve House]

You need to look at the times tasks take place, not just total hours.
Allocations are computed on a minute-by-minute basis. Betty works an 8 hour
day and is available 100%. She is booked on two tasks next Monday, both of
which are only one hour long, so she's booked a total of two hours. That
seems to be only 25% usage, 2/8. Yet she shows in red and it's alleged
she's booked at a peak allocation of 200%. How? The two tasks in question
are both scheduled between 9am and 10am. So even though her total hours
work out, for the one hour between 9 and 10 she's expected to be two places
at once and do two hours worth of work, a physical impossibility. Leveling
will shift one of those tasks to be scheduled between 10 and 11 to resolve
the conflict.

 

[Dip]

Steve,

Thank you, but:-

1) I tried to level this resource. But still no effect!
2) Actually, I should end this task. But this task re-continued again after
a week. If I follow the concept of MS Project, do you advise me to complete
this task, and then start a new task with the same name?

Dip

You need to look at the times tasks take place, not just total hours.
Allocations are computed on a minute-by-minute basis. Betty works an 8 hour
day and is available 100%. She is booked on two tasks next Monday, both of
which are only one hour long, so she's booked a total of two hours. That
seems to be only 25% usage, 2/8. Yet she shows in red and it's alleged
she's booked at a peak allocation of 200%. How? The two tasks in question
are both scheduled between 9am and 10am. So even though her total hours
work out, for the one hour between 9 and 10 she's expected to be two places
at once and do two hours worth of work, a physical impossibility. Leveling
will shift one of those tasks to be scheduled between 10 and 11 to resolve
the conflict.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Hi,

I am having this problem for the last month. Sometimes, some tasks have
the
same resource for a few days, and complete. Then this task restarts again
after a gap of few days and then the total hours show "red
(overallocated)"
even though the total work hours is less than 8. Is this something to do
with
project calculations.

I am using MS Project 03.

Dip

 

[Steve House]

Hard to say as I don't know how your task list is constructed. Is this
happening after posting actuals? What accounts for the break - is it really
two different deliverables that are being produced or is it one task leading
to one deliverable that gets interrupted in the middle for some reason?

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Steve,

Thank you, but:-

1) I tried to level this resource. But still no effect!
2) Actually, I should end this task. But this task re-continued again
after
a week. If I follow the concept of MS Project, do you advise me to
complete
this task, and then start a new task with the same name?

Dip

You need to look at the times tasks take place, not just total hours.
Allocations are computed on a minute-by-minute basis. Betty works an 8
hour
day and is available 100%. She is booked on two tasks next Monday, both
of
which are only one hour long, so she's booked a total of two hours. That
seems to be only 25% usage, 2/8. Yet she shows in red and it's alleged
she's booked at a peak allocation of 200%. How? The two tasks in
question
are both scheduled between 9am and 10am. So even though her total hours
work out, for the one hour between 9 and 10 she's expected to be two
places
at once and do two hours worth of work, a physical impossibility.
Leveling
will shift one of those tasks to be scheduled between 10 and 11 to
resolve
the conflict.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Hi,

I am having this problem for the last month. Sometimes, some tasks have
the
same resource for a few days, and complete. Then this task restarts
again
after a gap of few days and then the total hours show "red
(overallocated)"
even though the total work hours is less than 8. Is this something to
do
with
project calculations.

I am using MS Project 03.

Dip

 

[Dip]

Most tasks do not break unless the resource have a break (leave or training).
But some tasks have a delay waiting for some confirmation from the customer
or materials.

Other tasks finish after 40 hours. But these tasks are renewed again after a
few weeks when the customer feels that we are reliable and give a similar
job. I think the best way is to make a new task for this. Because project is
not for tasks that are ongoing on a continual basis for 6 months. Unless you
have a better tip.

Dip

Hard to say as I don't know how your task list is constructed. Is this
happening after posting actuals? What accounts for the break - is it really
two different deliverables that are being produced or is it one task leading
to one deliverable that gets interrupted in the middle for some reason?

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Steve,

Thank you, but:-

1) I tried to level this resource. But still no effect!
2) Actually, I should end this task. But this task re-continued again
after
a week. If I follow the concept of MS Project, do you advise me to
complete
this task, and then start a new task with the same name?

Dip

You need to look at the times tasks take place, not just total hours.
Allocations are computed on a minute-by-minute basis. Betty works an 8
hour
day and is available 100%. She is booked on two tasks next Monday, both
of
which are only one hour long, so she's booked a total of two hours. That
seems to be only 25% usage, 2/8. Yet she shows in red and it's alleged
she's booked at a peak allocation of 200%. How? The two tasks in
question
are both scheduled between 9am and 10am. So even though her total hours
work out, for the one hour between 9 and 10 she's expected to be two
places
at once and do two hours worth of work, a physical impossibility.
Leveling
will shift one of those tasks to be scheduled between 10 and 11 to
resolve
the conflict.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs


Hi,

I am having this problem for the last month. Sometimes, some tasks have
the
same resource for a few days, and complete. Then this task restarts
again
after a gap of few days and then the total hours show "red
(overallocated)"
even though the total work hours is less than 8. Is this something to
do
with
project calculations.

I am using MS Project 03.

Dip

 

[Steve House]

I'd agree that it should be broken into separate tasks. A task is a
specific physical activity done by a resource that leads to a single
deliverable. If you make a widget for a customer, he likes it and orders
another, that absolutely is two tasks. "Make Widgets" describes a class of
activities but in this context is not a task in and of itself. Make Widget
1, Make Widget 2 would be tasks since each one results in a unique
deliverable. If Joe Painter is paint the south wall this week, the north
wall next week, and the east wall late November, that's three tasks, not
one.

It sound like you're not breaking down the project task list far enough.
One rule of thumb is that individual tasks should fall between 8 and 80
hours in duration - much under 8 and you're micromanaging, telling the
resource what to do minute by minute through the day, not our job. Many
tasks over 80 and you're not likely breaking it down into enough detail to
effectively manage it.

Most tasks do not break unless the resource have a break (leave or
training).
But some tasks have a delay waiting for some confirmation from the
customer
or materials.

Other tasks finish after 40 hours. But these tasks are renewed again after
a
few weeks when the customer feels that we are reliable and give a similar
job. I think the best way is to make a new task for this. Because project
is
not for tasks that are ongoing on a continual basis for 6 months. Unless
you
have a better tip.

Dip

Hard to say as I don't know how your task list is constructed. Is this
happening after posting actuals? What accounts for the break - is it
really
two different deliverables that are being produced or is it one task
leading
to one deliverable that gets interrupted in the middle for some reason?

--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Steve,

Thank you, but:-

1) I tried to level this resource. But still no effect!
2) Actually, I should end this task. But this task re-continued again
after
a week. If I follow the concept of MS Project, do you advise me to
complete
this task, and then start a new task with the same name?

Dip

:

You need to look at the times tasks take place, not just total hours.
Allocations are computed on a minute-by-minute basis. Betty works an
8
hour
day and is available 100%. She is booked on two tasks next Monday,
both
of
which are only one hour long, so she's booked a total of two hours.
That
seems to be only 25% usage, 2/8. Yet she shows in red and it's
alleged
she's booked at a peak allocation of 200%. How? The two tasks in
question
are both scheduled between 9am and 10am. So even though her total
hours
work out, for the one hour between 9 and 10 she's expected to be two
places
at once and do two hours worth of work, a physical impossibility.
Leveling
will shift one of those tasks to be scheduled between 10 and 11 to
resolve
the conflict.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs


Hi,

I am having this problem for the last month. Sometimes, some tasks
have
the
same resource for a few days, and complete. Then this task restarts
again
after a gap of few days and then the total hours show "red
(overallocated)"
even though the total work hours is less than 8. Is this something
to
do
with
project calculations.

I am using MS Project 03.

Dip