Time allocation for splitting a task between multiple resources

[Shawn Ericsson]

Is there a way to get a task that is split between resources to not divide
the hours equally? For example, when we assign 100 hour task to two people,
it always splits the task 50/50. This creates a constraint issue if the max
allocation of one resource is 70% (duration is 9 days for 50 hrs) and the
other is 20% (duration is 31 days). This pushes out other tasks if it is a
predecessor and it also creates gaps in the resoure capacity (the 70% guy
would have 22 days slack time if he couldn't move on until the 20% guy was
done).

To alleviate this, we would make two tasks, assigning the 20% resource to 22
hrs and the 70% resource to 78 hrs. This would have them both finishing in
~14 days. What I'm looking for is a way to have Project maximize resource
utilization and when you put 100 hours down and two resources, it would divvy
up the hour split to get it done in 14 days rather than 31.

We are using Project 07, Server 07 (SP2) using Enterprise resources and
fixed work.

Thanks again for all of your help out there!!

Shawn

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Project will not maximize but you can easily.
In the gantt Chart, Window, Split, select the task: you can nenter work for
each resource individually.
Hope his helps,

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

 

[Rob Schneider]

You are asking a Server question so best to re-ask on the newsgroup for
server (microsoft.public.project.server).

For the task we are talking about ... you just have to remember the
triangle bounded on three sides: duration, work, units. For at task,
you fix one, input one, and Projet computes the third.

I can't really tell from your example how you've setup your solution.
but based on the question "way to get a task that is split between
resourcds to divide the hours equally".

I'm assuming that the task is fixed duration, say 10 days. Total work
is is 12 days split between person A and B. A works 7 days and b works
5 days.

So ... in the Detail Gant (top), put the task in with fixed duuation 10
days. In the Task Form (bottom), put in Resource A for 7 days of Work,
and resource B for 5 days of work. Press OK in the Task Form, and
Project will compute units of A at 0.7 and units for B at 0.5.

Some people prefer to model their projects by having individual tasks
for each resource. Up to you.


--rms

www.rmschneider.com

 

[MrAlNather]

Is there a way to get a task that is split between resources to not divide
the hours equally?  For example, when we assign 100 hour task to two people,
it always splits the task 50/50.  This creates a constraint issue if the max
allocation of one resource is 70% (duration is 9 days for 50 hrs) and the
other is 20% (duration is 31 days).  This pushes out other tasks if it is a
predecessor and it also creates gaps in the resoure capacity (the 70% guy
would have 22 days slack time if he couldn't move on until the 20% guy was
done).  

To alleviate this, we would make two tasks, assigning the 20% resource to22
hrs and the 70% resource to 78 hrs.  This would have them both finishing in
~14 days.  What I'm looking for is a way to have Project maximize resource
utilization and when you put 100 hours down and two resources, it would divvy
up the hour split to get it done in 14 days rather than 31.    

We are using Project 07, Server 07 (SP2) using Enterprise resources and
fixed work.

Thanks again for all of your help out there!!

Shawn

Shawn,

In Resource Usage view you can double click a task and choose from a
number of resource contours in the resulting dialogue box.

Paul

 

[Shawn Ericsson]

That is perfect. Thanks for helping out a rookie!!!

 

[Kevin H.]

Is there a way to get a task that is split between resources to not divide
the hours equally? For example, when we assign 100 hour task to two people,
it always splits the task 50/50. This creates a constraint issue if the max
allocation of one resource is 70% (duration is 9 days for 50 hrs) and the
other is 20% (duration is 31 days). This pushes out other tasks if it is a
predecessor and it also creates gaps in the resoure capacity (the 70% guy
would have 22 days slack time if he couldn't move on until the 20% guy was
done).

To alleviate this, we would make two tasks, assigning the 20% resource to 22
hrs and the 70% resource to 78 hrs. This would have them both finishing in
~14 days. What I'm looking for is a way to have Project maximize resource
utilization and when you put 100 hours down and two resources, it would divvy
up the hour split to get it done in 14 days rather than 31.

We are using Project 07, Server 07 (SP2) using Enterprise resources and
fixed work.

Thanks again for all of your help out there!!

Shawn

We had I think the same issue, and it seems to be an inconsistency (dare I
say bug?) in Project. We would assign both resources initially at 100% in
the Resources column's drop-down in the Gantt chart. We learned that this
would result in the 50/50 work split you mention.

We would then edit the Units percentage in the Resources tab of the Task
Info dialog, but the work distribution was unchanged.

However, if you use the Task Info dialog initially to assign resources and
don't click OK until you have all your percentages set, Project will divide
the work accordingly. You can get the same proportional distribution by
typing in the resources in the Gantt chart, including typing the percentage
between brackets, e.g. "R1[50%]".

Maybe there's a way to trigger proportional re-assignment, but we couldn't
find it.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Kevin,

No, that isn't a bug, it is rather Project's default behavior.
Unless you manually enter assignment units, Project will by default
assign a resource at the resource's maximum units or at 100% if the
resource's max. units are above 100%. Project will use the
assignment units to calculate the work for the resource. If after
you assign a resource you modify the assignment units, the default
behavior is to keep the calculated work value the same and if
necessary, recalculate the task duration.

As Jan noted, splitting the screen to show the Task Form in the
lower portion of the window allows a user to easily specify
assignment units or work or both when making assignments. The Task
Form also gives easy access to the task type setting as well as the
effort driven setting.

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