Assigning multiple people to a task - makes it take longer?

[Adrian Boeing]

Hi,

I am trying to schedule a project with three tasks.
Task 1 - Bob (5days)
Task 2 - Joe (2 days)
Task 3 - Bob OR Joe (4 days)

If I schedule Task 3 with Bob,Joe, it will only take 2 days (as expected)
but will not start until Bob is available. However, if I only schedule this
task with Joe, it will take 4 days, but get completed EARLIER than if I have
two people scheduled.

eg:
Task 1 - Bob, finished day 5
Task 2 - Joe, finished day 2
Task 3 - Joe, start day 2, finish day 6

Task 1 - Bob, finished day 5
Task 2 - Joe, finished day 2
Task 3 - Bob & Joe, starts day 5(!!!!), finises day 7(!!!) <-- slower than
just one person!!!

How can I tell MS Project to simply schedule the most efficient solution
(ie: use joe, don't wait for Bob) instead of waiting for both people to be
available?

Thanks,
-Adrian

 

[JulieS]

Hello Adrian,
It sounds as though you may have your leveling calculations set
to automatic as well as you are not allowing Project to adjust
individual assignments.

Check Tools > Level Resources. I suggest setting the leveling to
manual so you can control when to level. Also check (enable) the
option "leveling can adjust individual assignments." That should
allow Joe to start on task 3 after the finish of task 2.

I'd also suggest adjusting the work assigned to Joe and Bob. On
task 3, the most efficient distribution is for Joe to work 28
hours and Bob to work 4 hours -- the task duration is 3.5 days
with a total of 32 hours of work.

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

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,
You simply can't
Project schdules the resources you assign during their working time.
Bob OR Joe is utterly impossibkle, sorry.
Hope this helps,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf