Forcing Resources to work for a specific time frame in a project

[Andrew Skouloudis]

Hello everybody.

I have a question about assigning resources on tasks.

Let's say I want to assign a resource on a specific task, that will
work on a specific , strictly defined time frame. For example I want to
add a resource on Task1 that will work for 3 consequent days full time
*but* only for these days. How can I manage to do that?

The only possible solutions I have found so far are the following two :


1. to modify the calendar of this resource to work only in these days
but this wont do the trick since there is a possibilty for this
resource to work to other tasks the rest of the remaining days that I
have set as nonworking days.

2. To set the availabilty of the resource (using the Resource
Availability in the Resource Properties box) for this specific time
frame but this wont do the trick either since the resource will work on
other days as overallocated resource. I can however modify manually the
rest of the days but this is a bit cumbersome.

Thank you in advance (sorry for my english).

 

[John Sitka]

Set the task to
Must Start on <date>,
fixed duration,
not effort driven,
scheduling ignores resource calendars,
priority = 1000 to turn off levelling

then manipulate the task duration value to lock out those 3 days,

there are other variations, this is effective at static booking.

 

[Andrew Skouloudis]

Ο/Η John Sitka έγÏαψε:

Set the task to
Must Start on <date>,
fixed duration,
not effort driven,
scheduling ignores resource calendars,
priority = 1000 to turn off levelling

then manipulate the task duration value to lock out those 3 days,

there are other variations, this is effective at static booking.

Mr Sitka thank you very much for your answer.

Every task has the "Scheduling ignores resource calendars" disabled by
default, which means I cannot modify it since their is no calendar
selected (the calendar combo box value is set to "none" by default).
Should I set a calendar in the combo box (for example standard ) to
make the "Scheduling ignores resource calendars" option available for
modification ?

To be more specific the reason I made the initial post is the
following.

Let's say I have created a project where a resource ( worker1) is
assigned to a task. This task begins in 24 of August and ends in 4
September. However when worker1 learns about that he tells me that 28,
29 and 30 he will be out of country so I have to replace him with
another reousrce for that time . What I am trying to do is to add
resource (worker2) that will not extend or reduce the duration of the
task and will work *only* for these 3 days (suppose that the task is
essential for my company and cannot be postoponed).

Thank you in advance.

 

[John Sitka]

Should I set a calendar in the combo box (for example standard ) to

make the "Scheduling ignores resource calendars" option available for
modification ?

Yes. Sorry forgot to mention that one. There is a sound reson for this in that the task calendar icon shows up as such in the
information column, that task
is under the influence of a task calendar which means regular behaviour will be different. I use 24 hour calendar and count
the days 24hrs(n) that the person will be gone and put that into the duration, then mouse over the task and see if that represents
what is
actually going to happen. Your example is common to my approach, Rather than manage the resources availability I have one approach
to
block off their availability for contributing effort as a fixed block of time which behaves the same way as any other assignment.
This helps in a finite resource
system where all scheduling is done with zero allocation on a daily basis. The resource static assignment can cause the correct
levelling split
task in the schedule. Or if needed once that split is known fixed then the matching task portion can be mirrored to a new resource.
Or the Assign resource button/dialog can be used to pass the assignment back and forth between the two resources seamlessly, using
the replace feature.
That is a more work as it must happen at the time the change of resource takes place but it makes most sense if you are in an
situation where the task progress
can not be compromised which is more rare than people just getting delayed or just going away for a few days.

so a person has to go to an emergecncy 2 days mid week,
Must start on Aug 25 2006 7:00 AM
24 hour task calendar
duration 48 hours.
they will be back Aug 27 2006 7:00 AM to participate in the schedule once again.
their original asignment however must be adjusted to have less remaining work as the substite made progress while they were gone.

The "stand in" assignment would also be a similar fixed duration task, presicely filling in the gap and having acutal work counted
to it.(and subtracted from the original)
because the original resources has less to do once they resume.

It depends, on the exact situation, I don't think there is one answer.
Realize if a task cannot stand a slight progress compromise a day or two then the plan or schedule may be so tightly constrained as
to be doomed.
It should be a rare occurance, even with zero task safety built in as the overall project should make use of consolidated buffers at
key deliverables
and final delivery that absorb such delay, without so much as a blip.


?/? John Sitka ??????:

Set the task to
Must Start on <date>,
fixed duration,
not effort driven,
scheduling ignores resource calendars,
priority = 1000 to turn off levelling

then manipulate the task duration value to lock out those 3 days,

there are other variations, this is effective at static booking.

Mr Sitka thank you very much for your answer.

Every task has the "Scheduling ignores resource calendars" disabled by
default, which means I cannot modify it since their is no calendar
selected (the calendar combo box value is set to "none" by default).
Should I set a calendar in the combo box (for example standard ) to
make the "Scheduling ignores resource calendars" option available for
modification ?

To be more specific the reason I made the initial post is the
following.

Let's say I have created a project where a resource ( worker1) is
assigned to a task. This task begins in 24 of August and ends in 4
September. However when worker1 learns about that he tells me that 28,
29 and 30 he will be out of country so I have to replace him with
another reousrce for that time . What I am trying to do is to add
resource (worker2) that will not extend or reduce the duration of the
task and will work *only* for these 3 days (suppose that the task is
essential for my company and cannot be postoponed).

Thank you in advance.

 

[Andrew Skouloudis]

Ο/Η John Sitka έγÏαψε:

Yes. Sorry forgot to mention that one. There is a sound reson for this inthat the task calendar icon shows up as such in the
information column, that task
is under the influence of a task calendar which means regular behaviour will be different. I use 24 hour calendar and count
the days 24hrs(n) that the person will be gone and put that into the duration, then mouse over the task and see if that represents
what is
actually going to happen. Your example is common to my approach, Rather than manage the resources availability I have one approach
to
block off their availability for contributing effort as a fixed block of time which behaves the same way as any other assignment.
This helps in a finite resource
system where all scheduling is done with zero allocation on a daily basis.. The resource static assignment can cause the correct
levelling split
task in the schedule. Or if needed once that split is known fixed then the matching task portion can be mirrored to a new resource.
Or the Assign resource button/dialog can be used to pass the assignment back and forth between the two resources seamlessly, using
the replace feature.
That is a more work as it must happen at the time the change of resource takes place but it makes most sense if you are in an
situation where the task progress
can not be compromised which is more rare than people just getting delayed or just going away for a few days.

so a person has to go to an emergecncy 2 days mid week,
Must start on Aug 25 2006 7:00 AM
24 hour task calendar
duration 48 hours.
they will be back Aug 27 2006 7:00 AM to participate in the schedule onceagain.
their original asignment however must be adjusted to have less remaining work as the substite made progress while they were gone.

The "stand in" assignment would also be a similar fixed duration task, presicely filling in the gap and having acutal work counted
to it.(and subtracted from the original)
because the original resources has less to do once they resume.

It depends, on the exact situation, I don't think there is one answer.
Realize if a task cannot stand a slight progress compromise a day or two then the plan or schedule may be so tightly constrained as
to be doomed.
It should be a rare occurance, even with zero task safety built in as theoverall project should make use of consolidated buffers at
key deliverables
and final delivery that absorb such delay, without so much as a blip.

Mr Sitka thank you again for replying to my question,
i will experiment with your answer and if additional questions appear I
will ask you again