[EPM 2007] Can we set-up resource max-unit at server level ?

[Jeff1er]

Hi all,
One of my customers asked me a question I'm not able to answer, thus
I'm turning towards you:
You know that it is quite simple to set up the max unit at task or
project level by defining, when editing the resource its maximum
capability (e.g.: 50% for an half time working resource).
To view the overall capacity, we can go in the resource center and
checking availability.
But how to set up the maximum capacity of a resource, for instance
someone who's working half time in a project team?
I've been thinking of defining the resource calendar, and providing
here a reduced time slot (let's say 8:00-12:00), but it is reducing
the scope to a time schedule.
Considering the data model, I know we can only tie a resource
capability with a single project, and I'm wondering if there is
another way to do site ?
Any idea ?

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

If I understand you correctly, you wish to change the maximum availability
for a resource centrally in Project Server. To do so, assuming you have
admin rights, open the Enterprise Resource Pool using Microsoft Project,
doubleclick on the resource, and then modify availability (units) in the
General Tab.

Note that this just determines the threshhold for overallocation, and the
maximum units assigned if the PM doesn't override that. The PM can easily
override that on a specific project, but it will show up as overallocated.

Does that answer your question?

-A

 

[Jeff Gautier]

If I understand you correctly, you wish to change the maximum availability
for a resource centrally in Project Server. [...]

Does that answer your question?

Thanks Andrew for your quick reply;

I discussed with the user who asked me so if this reply match his
expectation; In fact, partially, as this can be done for a resource
whatever project it works on ...
Basically, this person was previously using Spark as project
management software; A Spark feature allowed project manager to define
for each project the maximum allocation of a resource;

Let's say a screen where you can DEFINE (not only read) availability
of a resource for each project it contributes (I translate here in
ascii a screenshot my customer provided):

My resource Allocation: w01 | w02 | w03
Project a...................................................75%| 50% |
100%
Project b...................................................25%| 30% |
0%
project c................................................... 0%| 20%
| 0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
total ......................................................100%| 100%|
100%

I'm not sure such a feature can be done on MS Project, at least on a
on a single screen...

Thanks again for your valuable help !

 

[Mark Everett | PMP]

If I understand you correctly, you wish to change the maximum availability
for a resource centrally in Project Server. [...]
Does that answer your question?

Thanks Andrew for your quick reply;

I discussed with the user who asked me so if this reply match his
expectation; In fact, partially, as this can be done for a resource
whatever project it works on ...
Basically, this person was previously using Spark as project
management software; A Spark feature allowed project manager to define
for each project the maximum allocation of a resource;

Let's say a screen where you can DEFINE (not only read) availability
of a resource for each project it contributes (I translate here in
ascii a screenshot my customer provided):

My resource Allocation:                              w01 | w02 | w03
Project a...................................................75%| 50% |
100%
Project b...................................................25%| 30% |
0%
project c...................................................  0%| 20%
| 0%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-------------
total ......................................................100%| 100%|
100%

I'm not sure such a feature can be done on MS Project, at least on a
on a single screen...

Thanks again for your valuable help !

What Andrew reported is correct and what you client wants isn't really
the way that Project and Project Server are built. It seems to me
that the client wants the system to prevent overallocations or limits
on availability and that, I think, would be a fairly intensive job to
keep that kind of special Resource Allocation sheet up to date.

It's better, IMHO, for the client to make it a training and
performance issue that PMs not routinely overallocate resources. Or
the client can make Project Server more Resource Manager centric and
have the resources assigned to projects by the Resource Managers, not
the Project Managers.

Hope that helps,
Mark Everett PMP MCITP
www.catapulsystems.com

 

[Jeff Gautier]

Thanks Mark and sorry for my late  reply

What Andrew reported is correct and what you client wants isn't really
the way that Project and Project Server are built.  

That's indeed what i assumed, but who knows, somebody could have a
brillant idea
Spark did not have the same architecture and I guess this was possible
because of that...

It seems to me
that the client wants the system to prevent overallocations or limits
on availability and that, I think, would be a fairly intensive job to
keep that kind of special Resource Allocation sheet up to date.

You're absolutely right. But if the resource manager set the upper
availability limit for each project this job does not need so frequent
updates.
But on top of that his aim was also to allow resource manager to
preserve some availability on non project activities (support, cross-
divisional projects…) that can be tracked in EPM as a project with
timesheeting to report in financial corp systems; in this way, suppose
that you spend 20% of your time in a "support" project, with single
task (or recurrent one); system should prohibits assigning more than
20% of your time of this particular project. Good idea, I think.

It's better, IMHO, for the client to make it a training and
performance issue that PMs not routinely overallocate resources.  Or
the client can make Project Server more Resource Manager centric and
have the resources assigned to projects by the Resource Managers, not
the Project Managers.

This particular server is quite complex, as it owns more than 2300
resources, structured by RBS. Some belong to competence centres and
can work in cross divisional projects, but not all.
That means that the security model cannot be ONLY resource manager
centric, but it has to also...

Thought, I cannot even figure how to build some custom dev to reach
this expectation, even on a functional point of view.

Hope that helps,

Sure it helped ! I take all opinions

Thanks !

Jeff