Fixed Duration vs Fixed Work

[Lilly]

Hi,

Could someone explain how "fixed duration" and "fixed work" work? I
understand how the fixed unit w/ effort driven works but not fully understand
how the above 2 works.

Thanks much,
Lilly

 

[Rob Schneider]

Here's how I think of it.

It's triangle: duration x units x work. This is often called the
"project triangle".

Fix one, input a second, and Project computes the third.

So:

Fixed Duration. Input Units, Project computes Work. Input Work, Project
computes Units.

Fixed Units. Input Duration, Project computes Work. Input Work,
Project computes Duration.

Fixed Work. Input Duration, Project computes Units. Input Units,
Project computes Duration.

When you input the task and decide which use "fix", you have to
visualize and think about it. Examples.

: task to watch concrete harden ... probably a fixed duration.
: task to lay brick pavement ... probably fixed word (estimated by
number of bricks times time per brick)
: assembling scaffolding ... probably fixed units (only so many
scaffolders can work as a team).



--rms

www.rmschneider.com

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi ,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my free series for beginners on Microsoft
Project in the TechTrax ezine, particularly #11 Task Types, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the article before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Lilly,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my free series for beginners on Microsoft
Project in the TechTrax ezine, particularly #11 Task Types, at this site:
http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc or this:
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMFrame.asp?CMD=ArticleSearch&AUTH=23
(Perhaps you'd care to rate the article before leaving the site,
Thanks.)

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: <http://www.mvps.org/project/>

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP