Global Resource

[orflyg1rl]

Hello -

I'm new to MS Project 2003 and was hoping I could tap into ideas from the
more experienced users in this forum.

Is it possible to see how common resources are impacted by multiple
projects? If so, how?

Step One
First I'm assuming all project info and the resources used would first need
to be entered into MS Project.

Step Two
Somehow - I'd like to see how various resources are impacted by multiple
projects
(i.e how a particular department could be overloaded by multiple projects).
My goal is identify how future projects could impact existing resources. This
info could help determine if additional resources are needed to move a
project forward and/or hold -off etc.

Step Three
Can I get a visual on resources impacted? Ideally having a chart of some
kind would help MGMTsee "The Big Picture" for better planning. The "Big
Picture" being a visual of what the common resources are between existing
projects and how much they are being used vs how future projects will effect
current resource usage.

If any of this can be done - how on earth do ya do it?
Is there a book available for purchase that could teach me how to figure out
the more complicated tasks such as this?

Maybe Project is the wrong tool for this. Should I export resource data to
Excel and crunch the "What If" senarios there?

 

[Jim Reid]

Hi IT Girl,

Need more information. Are you using MSProject Pro 2003? Are you using
MSProject Server? Is this an ERP system or just MS Project on your desktop
only. Makes a difference.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Jim,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

You might like to have a look at my series on Microsoft Project in the
TechTrax ezine, particularly #17 & 18 on Multiple Resources, 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 articles 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

 

[orflyg1rl]

Thanks for your prompt response ;-)

I'm using MS Project Pro 2003 (stand alone). I have it running on my desktop
and we do not have an MS Project server (boo-hoo).

 

[Jim Reid]

There are several ways to do what your looking for but for a short and quick
way is to create a new Master Project. Do not put any tasks in this project
just link in all the projects that you want to compare resources on. Then
without any recalculations look at the resource views. It should show your
the allocation for a resource across all the projects within the Master.

Some people will disagree with this method but it is short an easy.