Duration vs. Effort

[Tat]

Hi,

Does MS Project 2003 let you schedule the time based on the duration and
assign resources with effort time?

What I would like to achieve is to place a schedule for certain task for 2
days as duration. However, this task only takes about 10 hrs. and I would
like the resource assigned to be utilized 10 hrs instead of 16 hrs (full 2
day duration).

If I change the duration, to 10 hrs, then the project end time will shift
back causing the rest of the schedule to shift.

It sounds like a basic question, but any input is appreciated.

Tat

 

[JulieD]

Hi

yes, work(effort) & duration are two different things in project so you can
do what you want.
here's two different approaches
1) display the task entry view (view / more views / task entry)
2) click on the task with the 2d duration that you want to assign the
resource to
3) down the bottom half of the screen change the task type to fixed duration
and click on the OK button
4) click underneath resource name in the bottom half of the screen - choose
or enter your resource and in the WORK column type 10h, click on the OK
button. You'll see that the resource has been assigned to the task at 63%
effort.

alternatively
1) display the task entry view (view / more views / task entry)
2) click on the task with the 2d duration that you want to assign the
resource to
3) click underneath resource name in the bottom half of the screen - choose
or enter your resource and in the UNITS column type 63%, click on the OK
button. Project will calculate 10.08hrs of work.

To get rid of the split screen choose window / remove split. You may also
like to display the work column next to the duration column in the gantt
view.

hope this helps
Cheers
JulieD

 

[Tat]

Hi, John and Julie,

Thanks both for the very detailed instructions. I managed to follow your
instructions without any problem.

Thanks again.
Tat

 

[John]

Hi,

Does MS Project 2003 let you schedule the time based on the duration and
assign resources with effort time?

What I would like to achieve is to place a schedule for certain task for 2
days as duration. However, this task only takes about 10 hrs. and I would
like the resource assigned to be utilized 10 hrs instead of 16 hrs (full 2
day duration).

If I change the duration, to 10 hrs, then the project end time will shift
back causing the rest of the schedule to shift.

It sounds like a basic question, but any input is appreciated.

Tat

Tat,
Yes, Project (any version) lets you set a Duration more or less
independent of Work effort. This type of scheduling is called Fixed
Duration. The default for Project is Fixed Units. To change the task
type go to, Tools/Options/Schedule tab and set the default task type to
"Fixed Duration".

Once the file is set this way, enter the Duration value (the time span
during which the task must/should be completed). Then after a resource
is assigned, (it will start at 100% - full time effort), enter the Work
value. When you do so the resource utilization will drop.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[JimB]

JulieD:

I came across your response to TAT's question below. I have a similar
issue, but does not seem to be addressed by your solution. I have 12
meetings that each have a duration of 1/2 hour, therefore with a work time of
6 hours. These meetings are spread over 12 weeks and are included in a
summary task (indented to the summary task row). The individuals are showing
correctly on the resource usage report, but I cannot get the summary row to
be excluded, so that the work time is showing as the elapsed 12 weeks, in
addition to the 6 hours of work time for the individual meetings. I would
prefer to keep the summary row.

I have changed each of the meetings to "fixed units" as you suggested to TAT.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

JimB

 

[JackD]

There is not much you can do. Summary tasks always show the duration from
the start of the first task to the finish of the last task. Do NOT get
duration confused with "work time". In Project work is different from
duration. The work for the summary task (if you insert the work column you
can see it) should be about 6 hours - if you have assigned one resource to
the tasks.