Is this 5 separate and distinct one day tasks producing 5 different
deliverables or a single task producing one deliverable that will require 5
days of total work? If it's latter, 30 days duration to accomplish 5 days
of work would mean enter the task with a 30 day duration and assign the
resource to it at an effort units of 16% (5/30 or 1/6). If it's the former,
why be so indefinite? It's the job of the PM to tell the resources when
they need to do the work in order to get the project done as soon as
possible. So instead of giving them 30 days to do those 5 tasks, set up the
schedule for tasks in whatever sequence you need them, 1-2-3-4-5, one right
after the other, tell the resources that's when you expect them to work on
them, and get 'em done in 5 days of full-time effort so you can get them out
of the way and move forward <grin>. If they say they have other things
they're committed for, ask them how much time a day they can put in on these
tasks and schedule them accordingly - but don't give 'em 30 days if they're
able to do them sooner and don't let them tell you when they're going to
work on them - you tell them (or their supervisor) when they need to work on
them.
