Wrong Remaining Availability when grouping Resource Usage

[noelaprospero]

I defined a custom resource text filed called "Dept name". In the resource
usage view I defined a group by that custom field. In the timephased section,
if I choose Work, I get all work summed up for each value of "Dept name"
field. But when I chenge detalis to show Remaining Availavility, it shows
wrong totals, it isn´t even easy to see what it is summing up. I just need to
show exactly how much remaining availabiltity is there in each department.
Thanks

 

[JulieS]

Hi noelaprospero,

Try removing the group and re-grouping. In a quick test, I did discover
that the data in the timescaled view does not always update correctly.

That being said, some additional information that I hope helps.

The remaining availability field is based upon several factors: the
resource's maximum units, the working time defined in the resource's
calendar, any work assigned to the resource, as well as any changes made
to the resource's availability through Available from: and Available to:
dates.

For example:
3 resources all belonging to the Accounting Dept. Each of the 3
resource's calendars are set at 8 working hours per day, the max. units
for each resource is 100%.

With no tasks assigned, if I view the remaining availability for all
resources each resource has 8 hours per day remaining availability for a
total of 24 hours per day.

If I change the max. units of one of the resources Resource A) from 100%
to 50%, that resource's availability drops to 4 hours per day, the
department's total availability is down to 20 hours per day.

If I then assign all 3 resources to a 5 day duration task:
Resource A assigned at 50% - 4 hours per day for 5 days and 20 hours
of work. Because Resource A is assigned at their max. units - the
remaining availability is zero for the 5 days.
Resource B assigned at 50% - 4 hours per day for 5 days and a total of
20 hours of work. Resource B still has 4 hours per day in remaining
availability.
Resource C assigned at 10% - 0.8 hours per day for 5 days and a total
of 4 hours of work. Resource C has 7.2 hours of remaining availability
per day.
The total remaining availability for the Accounting Group for that day
day span is 11.2 hours per day (7.2 hours from Resource C and 4 hours
from Resource B).

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[JulieS]

Hi noelaprospero,

You're most welcome for the assistance thus far and thanks for the
feedback. I'm sorry for the delay in replying to your post from this
morning.

After your more detailed explanation, I see precisely what you are
seeing and understand your frustration that the individual remaining
availabilities (0, 7.2, and 4 ) don't add to 7.2 which is what the
remaining availablity for group line shows.

Unfortunately, I don't believe you can add any custom fields to the
timescaled portion of the view to show where the mysterious four hours
went to.

*But* an answer is to add the "Overallocation" field to the timescaled
portion of the view. The overallocation field clearly shows the 4 hour
overallocation for Resource A. No other resource has a value in the
Overallocation field.

So, as an explanation to management, you will need to explain that the
Remaining availability for the Department is not just the sum of the
remaining availabilities for the resources, but the sum of the remaining
availabilities minus the number of hours of overallocation.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[JulieS]

Great. Keep us posted on how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project