How can I add an approval step when specifying enterprise resourc.

M

Moses Bunting

We have set up an enterprise resource pool with both named resources and
generic resources. Typically, a project manager will either designate a
generic resource or conditionally request a specific person. We need to have
an approval step that either designates a name resource in replacement for
the generic one or approves the specific resource requested. Any ideas?
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Moses --

I assume by "reading between the lines" in your message that someone, such
as a resource manager, needs to approve the final selection of resources on
a project. The one default method you can use to accomplish this would be
for the project manager to assign the resource manager to each task needing
approval. Once done, the resource manager would then use the task
delegation feature of PWA to assign the approved resource to the task.
However, the limitation of this approach is that task delegation is a "one
to one" relationship, meaning that the resource manager could delegate a
task to only one other resource.

Frankly, I think you would find this process cumbersome. A better approach,
I believe, would be for you to establish a project management process within
your organization that requires the resource manager and project manager to
meet together to make final resource assignments in a project. Just a
thought. I would welcome the comments from others as well. Hope this
helps.
 
M

Moses Bunting

Yes, you read between the lines correctly. Thank you for answering my
question, allbeit with a different answer than we wanted to hear.
 
M

Mark

Moses Bunting said:
We have set up an enterprise resource pool with both named resources and
generic resources. Typically, a project manager will either designate a
generic resource or conditionally request a specific person. We need to have
an approval step that either designates a name resource in replacement for
the generic one or approves the specific resource requested. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I agree with Dale that doing this on a task by task basis would be
cumbersome (not to mention annoying). One method I have used, and
taught, is for the Project Manager to staff his/her project with
generic resources. Then the Resource Manager woulld use the Build
Team In Project Web Access functionality to substitute the generic
with named resources. Here is a process I wrote. It's coming from
Word and Information Mapping, so I hope it will be readable. I can
send you part of the document if you like.

Mark

Build Team in Project Web Access

Overview Build Team in Project Web Access is similar to the Build Team
from Enterprise feature in Project Professional. You can use Build
Team in Project Web Access to propose or commit resources that you
manage. You must have been assigned the appropriate user and group
rights by the Project Web Access administrator in order to be able to
use this feature.

Once you assign resources to a project, the project manager can then
approve and commit the resources to the project plan.



Figure 3. Build Team On Project
Continued on next page

Build Team in Project Web Access, Continued

Using Build Team in Project Web Access To use the Build Team in
Project Web Access feature, follow the steps shown below. The screen
is shown on the following page, as Figure 4 – Build Team Page.

Step Action
1 After logging into Project Web Access, navigate to the Project
Center by clicking on Projects.
2 In the Project Center, select the row that contains the project that
you want to build a team on, and then click Build Team to open the
Build Team page.
3 Expand Filter enterprise resources and select and Enterprise Outline
Code in the Enterprise Outline Code column that you want to use to
filter resources. Then select a Test and a Value.
4 When you have finished filtering on Enterprise Outline Codes, click
Apply Filter. This will update the list of filtered enterprise
resources that under Build Team.
5 Under Build Team, select resources in the Filtered Enterprise
Resources and Resource in the project list boxes. Resources shown in
the Resources in the project list box are either Committed or
Proposed. To change the booking type for a resource, click Change
Booking Type.
6 To determine a resource's availability, select the resource and
click Availability. You can determine availability for resources in
both the Filtered Enterprise Resources and Resources in the project
list boxes.

To match resources based on the Enterprise Resource Outline Codes
defined for a particular resource, select a resource under Resources
in the project, and then click Match. All matching resources will
appear under Filtered Enterprise Resources.
7 You can expand Project Detail (bottom left of page) for more
information about the task, duration, duration, start date, finish
date, percent complete, and the resources already assigned to the
task.
8 When you are finished, click Save Changes. All remaining resources
in the Resources in the project list box will be part of the project
team.
Continued on next page

Build Team in Project Web Access, Continued



Figure 4. Build Team Page

Build Team On Project Summary Recall that as a Resource Manager, you
assign resources to a project. The project manager can then approve
and commit the resources to the project plan. This provides the
Resource Manager with control over project assignments for their
resources, while providing the project manager with the flexibility to
utilize the resources as required on the project plan.
 
R

RickD

Hi Mark. That is the same process we use. It works well.

The only problem I have not resolved is that I can't notify the owning
Resource Managers (preferably on the Home page) that they have resource
fullfilment actions (i.e. confirm a proposed resource or substitute a generic
one using Build Team).

Any thoughts?
 
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