Scheduling resources

[Karla]

We have been using Project Server for a couple of months, and I am still
amazed that even though our resource managers enter availability for
resources, that we are still able to over allocate resources. This is just
as much of a manual process as we had before using Project Server. We had a
Project Server consultant come in to assist us and he affirmed that is how
Project Server works, and furthermore he does not recommend using resource
leveling as it can do all sorts of crazy things to your plan. I guess my
post is more of a vent than anything, but if anyone has tips on making
scheduling less of a manual process, I would love to hear them!! Thanks.

 

[mark.everett]

Karla -

It is as much a process as anything else. Frequently, it is because of
training issues. What kind of task types are used? How are resources
assigned to tasks? How about maintenance or operational type work -
how is that time captured.

I share your frustration, but know that this is not unique to Project
Server. I have been involved with some other tools and they have the
same concerns.

You can't really limit it because, in reality, people sometimes are
overallocated and they either work the extra hours or they negotiate
some reduction in effort or adding additional people.

When I admined my first implementation, I monitored each plan and
identified blatant disregard of the rules and went to the PM with a
request that they clean up the plan.

There are some schedule auditing tools available that will identify
these issues. The company I work makes one and we are working on a
version that can be applied against the Enterprise and not just one
project at a time.

Hope this helps,
Mark S. Everett | PMP
www.quantumpm.com

 

[RickD]

As Mark says, your issue is not Project Server or Project Pro. It's the PM's.

When the RM sets availability there's noting to stop the PM from ignoring
not only that, but also, when they Build Team, ignoring Project Server when
it identifies a possible conflict at that time. The PM's also don't seem to
use the Resource USage View which is hugely useful to identify the impact of
slippage on not only the primary project but also all other projects that the
resources are assigned to.

Resource managers aren't clean either. They can easily use the Availability
or Assignments views in PWA Resource Centre to check their entire team
utilization. If they use the Save Link option the process is even simpler and
quicker.

The major issues are training and PM maturity. MPS provides an ideal
opportunity for enterprise project and resource mangement but results only
come over time. Implementing Porject Server is not a technological challenge;
it is one of ongoing management of change and culture.

I guess I've topped your vent with a soap-box rant!