Units skyhigh - duration shortened

[rt]

Good evening all,

I've read some threads on high units after accepting actuals into a
schedule with fixed duration, non-effort driven tasks. I couldn't find
anything about the latest fad in such schedules at our company though.

Instead of spreading remaining work over the remaining duration,
Project schedules all remaining work in the next week, thus causing
the units to skyrocket and the remaining duration to be shortened
significantly.

I've found it relatively simple to correct but it has to be done
manually after each update. After updating, I go to the resource usage
view, select the affected assignments (typically tasks with > 1
resource), set the contour to flat again and adjust the end date of
the assignment to align with the schedule and the other assignments.
Then I adjust work and I'm back in business.

I feel that such manual interventions are usually a sign that I'm
doing something wrong. Can anybody tell me what it is?

We're using Project Server 2003 SP2 with daily/weekly time reporting
of actual hours in managed periods.

 

[Scott m Wagner - EPM Consulting Services]

rt,

Three items:

Are you allowing Local Base Calendars?
What is your default tracking method?
Are you enforcing the default tracking method?

See pages 178-180 of the admin guide.

 

[rt]

rt,

Three items:

Are you allowing Local Base Calendars?

Not that I know of. How is this controlled? I set up some calendars in
the global mpt which the PM's are supposed to use.

What is your default tracking method?

Hours or Work done per day or per week in managed periods.

Are you enforcing the default tracking method?

Yes.

I'm curious what these questions have to do with my problem, looks
I've been barking up the wrong tree entirely...?

 

[rt]

Are you allowing Local Base Calendars?

Not that I know of. How is this controlled? I've created a few
calendars in the global mpt which the pm's are supposed to use.

What is your default tracking method?

Hours of work done per day or per week; managed periods

Are you enforcing the default tracking method?
Yes

See pages 178-180 of the admin guide.

Which version?

Your questions make me curious. Have I been barking up the wrong tree
here....?

 

[rt]

Scott,

Third time I try to post a reply, don't know what's going on. As for
your questions:

1. Not sure about the local base calendars. How is this controlled?
I've created a few global calendars which the PM's are supposed to
use.

2. Default tracking is Hours of work done per day or per week with
managed periods on.

3. Yes, PM's are forced to use the default tracking method.