What is correct way to update tasks when method is % work complete

[jremmc]

MOPS 2007 SP2 and tracking method is % work complete

If a task duration is 8 hours and the team member does the work in 8 hours
but not within Start/Finish dates (e.g. task was to start/finish on same day
but actual was 4 hours one day and 4 hours a week later), what is correct way
for team member to update task in Assignment Details page? So that the
duration does not change (e.g. the task duration should not become 35 hours
but the actual finish date should be recorded.) What fields on Assignment
Details page should be changed or should not be touched?

Obviously I am asking because I wreaked havoc on the task. Updating the %
complete to 100% did not change Finish Date, and changing the Finish date
made a mess of duration (the task became 4 days not 8 hours) and trying to
change the Finish Date back changed the Start Date to a week earlier. It just
got worse from there, and I did not find a way to undo from My Tasks once
Saved (though accepting the changes and re-editing the project as PM resolved
mess.)

Thanks,
jremmc

 

[Ben Howard]

Hi Jremmc,
If you are updating by 100% complete, PS assumes that you aren't really
interested in when the task was completed or finished. It you need this
information, change the task tracking status to work done per period.

 

[jremmc]

Hi Ben,

Thanks, I'm learning that PS assumes a lot about things it should not assume.

The PMs working on the implementation were adamant about using % Work
Completed method, so I will assume they don't care either. Personally, I
would want to be able to change the actual start and finish to reflect
reality, so that if interruptions happened frequently we could trace the
causes and act on appropriately (or not act on). And I'd still want to do
that using % Work Completed method. I tried changing the Actual Finish Date
(e.g. from 9/10 to 10/6) in My Tasks PWA Assignments View, but when I
accepted the change as PM, the duration and therefore cost increased to
include the full 18 day interim.

Oh well.

Also, thanks to you and everyone for being patient while I learn
Project/Project Server.

jremmc

 

[Gary Chefetz]

Jremmc:

You can add the actual start and actual finish columns to the My Tasks page
to collect this type of information, however this will not solve your
costing problem. The fact is that cost is highly suspect when using
%complete tracking as most cost is driven by resource hours. This method
does not and cannot accurately account for work. So, in the end, user choose
percent complete tracking because they perceive it to be easier and less
culture shock. It is less shocking to the user community than asking them to
report actual work by day, but to achieve an accurate project execution
record requires more data entry using this method, and still yields suspect
tracking results. By the way, it's easier to survive as a PM if you don't
leave a very good audit trail. Transparency scares a lot people.

 

[jremmc]

Hi Gary,

In my former days in another profession my work billed out by the half hour
and any given day I would be doing work for multiple clients, so I had to
closely track actual work. Guess that's my mindset even as IT Admin. Guess
we'll need to let everything shake out in the pilot phase, hopefully a good
chunk of it will, and take it from there. Maybe in time for 2010 <g>.

LOL on your last 2 lines.

jremmc