3 Project Levels Master Master - Master - Projects

[john]

I am using Project Server 2003 with a total of 335 projects statusing projects by using %complete. What I need to do is have 3 levels, A Program level Master Master One Project, Master Portfolio Level with 8 Projects and a Project Level with the 335 projects. Could someone tell me the best way to have the 335 rollup to their respected portfolio group then combine the 8 Portfolio projects into a Program project? My vision is to have the 335 projects drive the whole program and then the Portfolio Managers can just look at their plans and the Program Managers can just look at the one project. Can this show in PWA in a logical form? Do I need to have some specific settings set? I appreciate it.

Thank you
John

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

John --

Instead of using this massive number of subprojects in master projects,
instead, why don't you create custom enterprise project outline code fields
that will identify the portfolio or program of which each subproject is a
part. Once you have created these custom fields, you can assign appropriate
project-level values for each project using Project - Project Information.
You will then need to publish each project to "push" these values to PWA.

In addition to this, you would also need to create one or more custom
Project Center views that include the new custom enterprise project outline
code fields. In these views, you can apply grouping/filtering on these
fields so that your portfolio managers will be able to see the projects
grouped by the program or portfolio. Depending on how you have your
security configured for project access, your project managers should only
see their own projects.

In addition to the above, you might also want to create a custom Portfolio
Analyzer view that includes the new custom enterprise project outline code
fields. It might be nice to be able to see totals by program or portfolio
in this Portfolio Analyzer view. Just some thoughts. Hope this helps.

I am using Project Server 2003 with a total of 335 projects statusing

projects by using %complete. What I need to do is have 3 levels, A Program
level Master Master One Project, Master Portfolio Level with 8 Projects and
a Project Level with the 335 projects. Could someone tell me the best way to
have the 335 rollup to their respected portfolio group then combine the 8
Portfolio projects into a Program project? My vision is to have the 335
projects drive the whole program and then the Portfolio Managers can just
look at their plans and the Program Managers can just look at the one
project. Can this show in PWA in a logical form? Do I need to have some
specific settings set? I appreciate it.

 

[john]

HI Dale,

I forgot to add that the Program level schedule has a date of 11/1/04 milestone that all projects can not push this date. Also there will be a lot of external dependencies between these projects. What is the best way to analyze if one project from way below is is causing the date to slip?

Thanks
John

 

[Gary L. Chefetz \(MVP\)]

John:

I hope you have a nice support staff to manage all this.<g> IMO, the key to
success is eliminating as much complexity as possible. With that said, your
scheme can work, but anything we tell you is purely mechanical without the
benefit of analyzing your program and it's goals.

Each time a linked project changes a date in another project, the Project
Manager of the affected plan is notified when opening the plan. At this
point, the PM can either accept or ignore the changes. The ability to
quickly analyze the affect at the program level is purely a function of how
well you've constructed the links between the plans and the accuracy of your
baselines.

--

Gary L. Chefetz, MVP
"We wrote the book on Project Server
http://www.msprojectexperts.com

-

HI Dale,

I forgot to add that the Program level schedule has a date of 11/1/04

milestone that all projects can not push this date. Also there will be a lot
of external dependencies between these projects. What is the best way to
analyze if one project from way below is is causing the date to slip?