Time phased scheduling

[Mike F]

We recently rolled out MS Project Server 2007 with mixed results. We are
using Support plans (schedules) for our functional managers. They keep track
of any and all support tasks that their resources are assigned to throughout
the fiscal year. Team members utilize PWA to log their actual work hours
daily. I know the answer, but can't seem to express it to their level,
but...when folks record actual work to a task (a fixed unit task), why does
the Unit % change?

I can't seem to express to them what they see in the Task Form view. They
thought they were allocating 1% of a resources time to a task over a year,
but when that resource records actual work, the Units field changes. They
think it is a reflection of Resource Availability when it truly is not.

Can anyone bring this explanation down to a non-technical level so I can
explain it properly?

Thanks!

 

[Gary Chefetz]

Mike:

This is a very basic and longstanding behavior behind the units field. Once
a resource posts actual work, the percent units field displays peak usage
rather than planned usage. If you look at a time phased view such as task
usage or resource usage, you will see that the underlying assignment units
do not change unless you also reschedule uncompleted planned work into the
future. Explain this little oddity to your users and they will feel better
about what they are seeing.