Workflow for Resource Allocation

[Network Auto Discovery - Fluke Networks]

I have set up Project Server 2003 with a Resource Breakdown structure.

There are 4 different functional groups within an IT department and each
group has a manager. Each group has one or more people that put together
project plans
abd the plans often require resources from all groups within the Department.

The manager of one group must 'ask permission' to use the resources of
another group

What is the best way to accomplish this? Does the PM 'Commit' the
resources within his/her group and 'Propose' to use the resources of the
other manager's group? If so, how can the Group manager be informed that a
request is being made to use his/her resources?

Sould the PM 'Commit' his/her resources and then assign generic resources to
the other tasks?

RBS

IT Department
-Network Operations Group
-Support Center Group
-Training Group
-Programming Group

thanks

Walt

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Network --

I believe our situation can only be addressed through the use of a project
management process or methodology, and in this regard, you are well on your
way. Either of your options would work within a process, which are:

1. Project manager sets his/her own team members to Committed and sets
other PM's team members to Proposed. Project manager gets "permission" from
other PM's to use the resources during the necessary time periods, then
changes the other PM's team members to Committed.

2. Project manager adds his/her own team members to the project as
Committed and adds Generic resources representing other PM's resources.
Project manager consults with other PM and gets names of team members.
Project manager replaces Generic resources with human resources.

Unfortunately, there is no way to notify project managers when their
resources are assigned in other PM's projects. Just a thought. Perhaps the
others will have some ideas for you, too. Hope this helps.




"Network Auto Discovery - Fluke Networks"

 

[Reid McTaggart]

It's often (usually) best to manage negotiations for resources largely
offline, as you are contemplating. There is a bug in the Proposed booking
type that causes some analysis tools not to work right. It'll probably be
fixed with a Hotfix before long.

It is possible to use Project Server to manage/control more of the process,
and that can be useful in a large, dispersed organization, or one in which
people work different hours and cannot meet easily.

Such an approach would involve:
using the RBS to control access to resources;
setting up special Categories for generic resources;
mapping the generics to Resource Managers; and
using the Build Team functionality in PWA.

If you'd like to talk this through, let me know. No sense writing 2000
words on a topic you might not care about.

--
Reid McTaggart
(e-mail address removed)
Alegient, Inc., Houston
Project Server Experts
Microsoft Certified Partner

 

[Renee H]

I need to have our 2007 server set up so that Resource Managers can assign
their resources to projects. Why would you need to set up a special category
for Generic Resources?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Renee H --

I believe Reid made that statement because by default, Resource Managers
have access to only those resources below them in the RBS outline code
structure. If there are Generic resources in other branches of the RBS
outline code structure, RM's not on that branch cannot see them. This would
necessitate creating a special Category that gives access to only the
Generic resources across all branches of the RBS. If you grant your RM's
access to all resources, however, then they can access every resource,
including Generic resources, too. Hope this helps.