update

[shima]

hi
i am using MSPS 2007 as an admin and pm.
i wanna know about update project via msps.
i wanna my resources enter their actual work of their tasks via
timesheet.then my RM gives them and after approve or reject them,import them
for progress to me and i can update my project with them.
plz tell me steps of this plan and tell me my plan is true or not!!!!
thanks dears

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Shima --

If you are using the My Timesheet functionality, here's how team members
enter Actual Work, and how you update Actual Work into the Microsoft Project
2007 plan:

1. Team members enter Actual Work on project tasks and Administrative tasks
in the My Timesheet page.
2. Team members submit the Timesheet to their Resource Manager for
approval.
3. Resource Managers approve the time.
4. Team members import the My Timesheet hours into the My Tasks page.
5. Team members adjust the Remaining Work on tasks and add Notes, as
necesary.
6. Team members submit the progress to their Project Manager for approval.
7. On the Task Updates page, the Project Manager approves or rejects each
task update and submits the updates into the Microsoft Project 2007 plan.
8. The Project Manager must now open the project in Microsoft Project 2007,
analyze variance as needed, and then publish the latest schedule changes.

Since you are a newbie with the software, I would strongly recommend you
purchase one or both of our books on Project Server 2007, available for
purchase at:

http://www.projectserverbooks.com

Hope this helps.

 

[Bilal]

Dear Dale

I want to ask a related questions about the steps you mentioned

* In step 7, what do you mean by "and submits the updates into the Microsoft
Project 2007 plan". There is only accept or reject, how to submit the updates
to the plan. I understand that submitting to the plan means updating the
plan. How can we do this from PWA as PM??

* Assume that I want to do step 7 from Project Pro 2007, through
Collaboration ==> Update Project Progress, I have couple of questions

1) If I accept some of the updates and publish the project after that, what
will I lose?? will I lose the rest of the updates
2) If I accept all the updates and did NOT click on Apply to Plan and
publish the project. what will I lose??

Best Regards



--

Best Regards

Bilal Okour

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Bilal --

In step #7, the PM must select the checkboxes for each task that he/she
wants to approve and then click the Approve button. This will send the task
updates into the relevant Microsoft Project plans. You can also process
task directly in a Microsoft Project plan by opening the plan when there are
pending task updates for it. The software will take you to the Task Updates
page directly inside of Microsoft Project, where you can approve the task
updates, and they will then appear immediately in Microsoft Project.

Regarding your two questions, what I don't understand is why you would
approve only some task updates for an individual project. I don't think
that makes a whole lot of sense. Regardless, I doubt you will lose the
pending updates, but I wouldn't bank on it. Again, I think your process is
flawed if you don't accept or reject all pending updates for a single
project. My suggestion is that you try doing what you propose in a test
environment, and then let us know the results.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bilal]

Dear Dale

For the reason why not to approve all the updates the answer is because the
PM reviewed some of them and he did not find time to review the rest. So he
will approve only the reviewed updates. You can count other cases but I found
most of my customers are doing this
Regarding the described scenarios in the second point, as you suggested, I
tried it out and found the following which I would like to share

1.Using Project Pro 2007, if you approve the changes and did not apply the
changes, then you came back at another time to the same approve page you can
still access the old updates which you did not approve

2.If you received an updates, then you approve, apply and publish it, then
your resource send another update for the same task then you approve, apply
and publish it to your plan again then the last update only will take place.
It makes since for me.

As a conclusion, I have the following practice which I would like to hear
your comments on it

a.You can continuously approve the received updates, no need to them at once
b.After each approval operation you can apply the changes
c.After you complete the approve of all changes and apply them to your plan
then it is time to publish them


--

Best Regards

Bilal Okour
blog : http://ebilal.spaces.live.com

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Bilal --

To answer your questions, you are correct on assumptions a, b, and c. I
personally prefer to review and approve all task updates on a project by
project basis in Project Professional 2007. Once I have approved and
applied the task updates to a project, I can immediately go into variance
analysis and plan revision mode with that project. This is our company's
official "best practice" that we recommend to all of our clients. Hope this
helps.

 

[Bilal]

Thanx Dale

I guess i have to apply it also as best practis for PMs in my company too

--

Best Regards

Bilal Okour
blog : http://ebilal.spaces.live.com

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Bilal --

If you follow this best practice, you and your company will do well!