Assigning Additional Resources

[FiguringItOut]

Hi all - Can someone explain how Project divides work when you add
additional resources to a fixed-unit task? I understand relatively
the well the idea of duration = work*units and I get the calculations
easily when the situation is clear:
1 resource on a 6 day (48h) task - and assign an additional resource
at 100% and the work is divided in 2 - 3 day duration each working
24h.

But for instance if you add that second resource at 50% (or heaven
forbid a third at 25%) - how does the redistribution of work calculate
- does Project first use the units available to divide the total work
for each resource? if so how does it decide how much work to give
each? does it then assign max per day for each resource until work
runs out and that is what determines the duration? I feel like I am
on the edge of understanding it but its fuzzy and I don't feel like I
get consistent results as I experiment with various assignments -
maybe someone can offer some clarity on the calculation rules/process
Project is using for distribution of work when assigning additional
resources to fixed-unit/effort driven tasks.

Thanks in advance for any insight/help you have to offer.

Sincerely,
Lizandra

 

[Jim Aksel]

Project will spread *Remaining* Work in accordance iwth the rules you specifiy.
There is also one other thing to consider which is the "Effort Drvien" check
box which is selectable for Fixed Units and FIxed Duration type tasks.

For fixed units, project will divide the *remaining* work from the status
date through the Finish date fo the task. Example. New Task, not effort
driven, 20 days, work is 160 hours. Now, assign Bob. Claim some %complete
(I claimed 25%). Remaining work is 120. Now, add Teb 50% and Carol 25% and
they add *new* work to the task starting on the status date and through
Finish. Total work goes up.

If I do the same thing, except this time have Effort Driven checked, then
total work remains at 160 hours and the remainign work (120 hours) spreads to
Ted and Carol in accordances with teh % I specify. Here, the finish date
moves left as well since more resources will allow the task to be
accomplished in less time.

It is best to see this behavior from the Task Usage view.


If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

Jim

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