assigning a resource to only part of a task

S

storm

Hi chaps
I have a project where I am going to assign a resource to a task, but
only once the first 5 days work is complete.
Please can you tell me how I show this on my plan. In the task
information section I can see where to assign the resource, but it
looks as if it assigns it for the entirety of the task.
what I need is to be able to assign both resources for 20 days, but one
resource to start 5 days after the other.
Is this possible, please? If not do I have to create two tasks to
accommodate it?
many thanks
lynne
 
R

Rick Roszko

Okay... This will be long, hope I don't lose you.

First, we need to know the difference between Duration and Work.

Example: A task takes 4 hours of "Work" but can be done anytime in the
"Duration" of a week. Or, in your case, you have a "Duration" of 20 days
with one resource working all of 20 days and one resource coming in on the
fifth day.

To make it simple, I have "aaa" do 8 hours all week and "bbb" just do 4
hours on Friday. So...

"Actual Work" + "Remaing Work" = "Work"

"Work" is scheduled work, assigned by the PM
"Actual Work" is what the resource does

To cut through the theory and all the task setup you need to do, just do this:

(a) Open a new blank project.

(b) Go to the View | Resource Sheet and add two Resource Names "aaa" and
"bbb" or whatever. Don't bother with rest of the stuff.

(c) On View | Gantt Chart up the task, call it "Task1". Don't bother with
rest of the stuff.

(d) Insert column "Work".

(e) Double-click on the task and the "Task Information" will popup.

(f) Under the Resource tab, add resources "aaa" and "bbb".

(g) Go to View | Resource Usage.

(i) On the right hand panel, right-click on it and add "Actual Work"

(j) For aaa, type in 8 8 8 8 8 for "Work" for each day of the Week (total 40)

You'll get a warning that the assigned time is outside the scheduled period.
We don't care because we didn't specify a persiod for this example.

(k) For bbb, type in 0 0 0 0 4 for "Work"

Ditto on the error, ignore it.

There! You have one task with two people on it starting on different days.

(Now when the resource performs the work, the actual work will be entered
under "Actual Work". When the Scheduled "Work" is different from "Actual
Work", MS Project will re-calcualte "Work", so don't worry if "Work" changes
as "Actual Work" is performed, it's supposed to do that.

Try experimenting! There are so many variable to consider, I certainly
didn't hit most of them but this shoulkd get you going...

If this didn't help, please repost!

Thanks!
 
G

Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]

Lynne:

In order to do this, you need to use a time-phased view in Project. Try
using the Window > Split selection and set the bottom portion of the screen
to display the resource usage view. You can contour assignments manually
through this view.
 
Top