Resources, simultaneous tasks, start and end dates

[briwood]

I am probably missing some basic concepts. I'd be most grateful for
any quick pointers.

Right now there is only 1 work resource (a person) in my project. I've
assigned that resource 4 taskes that take 4 hours. Those 4 tasks are
grouped under Phase 1. I've defined the person's working time as 5
hours a day.

Q1. Project tells me that the parent Phase 1 task will take 0.8 days.
I would think that it should be 4*4/5 days. What have I got wrong?

Q2. Project assumes that the person can do the tasks simultaneously.
In practice this is not true. I can link the tasks as Finish to Start,
but theoretically they don't really depend on each other. Is there
any way to tell Project not to assume that the tasks can be done
simultaneously?

Q3. The other reason that I don't want to link the tasks is that I may
re-assign the 3rd task to a new work resource (person). If t3 depends
on t2 (because I'm indicating that resource1 can't do the work
simultaneously) and then I re-assign t3 to resource2, I would have to
go unlink t3 and t2 so that t3 can happen simultaneously with t2. I
think that I shouldn't be using links in this way.

Thanks in advance.

 

[briwood]

A1. When I link the Phase1 subtasks using finish-to-start, the Phase 1
total is correct. But I'm still unclear if I'm using the concept of
linking correctly (Q3) .

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Indeed, you shouldn't link.
Look up the help for Resource Leveling or just try it (Tools,Level
Resources..)

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[briwood]

Indeed, you shouldn't link.

Look up the help for Resource Leveling or just try it (Tools,Level
Resources..)

Thank you! That's what I was missing!