Entering Start Finish Dates

[Saviz]

Hi,
Scenario : I am working on a schedule with several hundred tasks, Just need
advice on how to update the Start/Finish date. I have read that changing the
these dates manually is not a good approach...

However what should I do if I simply would like to change a start date for a
task?

In general what is the best approach when it comes to updating start/finish
dates?


Many Thanks

 

[Saviz]

Thank you Jim for your advice I will keep that in mind.

My schedule is very big with hundreds of tasks and a bit out of control with
many people changing it over time. I think I really need to check the
dependencies first before moving on your advise.

Any other advice would be highly appreciated.

Once again thank you…

--
Saviz

Start and finish dates should be determined by the predecessor and successor
relationships on that task. Are you properly assigning these?

Example> Task 2 cannot start until task1 is complete. The only (internal)
reason to delay 2 is becuase 1 is finishing late or there is a resource issue
(which we will leave alone for now). If task1 is late, increase its duration
which will move task2 right. If task1 finishes early, you can key in an
actual finish date into the [Actual Finsh] column, not the [Finish] column.
Similaryly, it the task just starts late, enter the [Actual Start] in the
column with that title.

You may also insrt lag on predecessors/successors to move tasks around.
However, we find that we forget why the lag is thre and tend to be directed
to remove all lag to recover schedule.

Hi,
Scenario : I am working on a schedule with several hundred tasks, Just need
advice on how to update the Start/Finish date. I have read that changing the
these dates manually is not a good approach...

However what should I do if I simply would like to change a start date for a
task?

In general what is the best approach when it comes to updating start/finish
dates?


Many Thanks

 

[Steve House]

What are you trying to update when you say you need to change the start
dates? Are you asking how to revise the date that future tasks are
scheduled to start or are you asking how to enter the fact that tasks
actually did start on some date in the past that was different from when
they were supposed to start?

"People" shouldn't be arbitrarily changing your planned start dates! Now
circumstance might evolve where a task that was supposed to start last
Monday didn't actually start until Wednesday but that's another matter.
You're the one charged with the success of the project and the one who is
supposed to be telling them when they are supposed to start tasks, not the
other way around. You have determined that a certain optimum sequence of
events needs to take place in a certain order and within a certain timeframe
to get the project completed on-time and within budget. You have informed
the resources as to what they are supposed to do and when they are supposed
to do it. It is reasonable to require that they don't signifigantly deviate
from that plan without your express prior consent and approval. If they're
not doing what they are supposed to do, it's time to get the senior
managment that you report to involved and take some corrective, perhaps
disciplinary, action.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Thank you Jim for your advice I will keep that in mind.

My schedule is very big with hundreds of tasks and a bit out of control
with
many people changing it over time. I think I really need to check the
dependencies first before moving on your advise.

Any other advice would be highly appreciated.

Once again thank youâ?¦

--
Saviz

Start and finish dates should be determined by the predecessor and
successor
relationships on that task. Are you properly assigning these?

Example> Task 2 cannot start until task1 is complete. The only
(internal)
reason to delay 2 is becuase 1 is finishing late or there is a resource
issue
(which we will leave alone for now). If task1 is late, increase its
duration
which will move task2 right. If task1 finishes early, you can key in an
actual finish date into the [Actual Finsh] column, not the [Finish]
column.
Similaryly, it the task just starts late, enter the [Actual Start] in the
column with that title.

You may also insrt lag on predecessors/successors to move tasks around.
However, we find that we forget why the lag is thre and tend to be
directed
to remove all lag to recover schedule.

Hi,
Scenario : I am working on a schedule with several hundred tasks, Just
need
advice on how to update the Start/Finish date. I have read that
changing the
these dates manually is not a good approach...

However what should I do if I simply would like to change a start date
for a
task?

In general what is the best approach when it comes to updating
start/finish
dates?


Many Thanks

 

[Steve House]

....

As for date changes, the only way you should do it is as I described
earlier. It appears Steve concurrs.

You betcha! <grin>