How do I enable Approving Timesheets for Resource Managers?

R

RedmoatACG

I am trying to set up the ability for resource managers to accept and approve
time without owning any projects. According to MS documentation I have seen,
there should be a "Timesheet" section on the PWA home page. Resource managers
should also have a "View timesheet summary" link in the side pane of the
Resource Center; both of which can be used to approve time. I can find
neither and I cannot find any info about how to get these links to appear.
HELP!
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

RedmoatACG --

Please be aware that in the reporting of progress in Project Server, there
are two entirely different processes on the manager side of the
communications life cycle. The manager of the project (the person who
created, saved, and published the project) can receive, approve, and process
task updates into the actual Microsoft Project plan. Optionally, the
resource manager can approve timesheets. The timesheet approval feature is
not enabled in Project Server 2003 by default, and will require your
organization to use the Managed Time Periods feature in addition to the
Timesheet Approval feature. Be forewarned that the Managed Time Periods
feature of Project Server 2003 is very cumbersome and can be very
frustrating to any organization that uses it.

Now that I have given you the above information, which of these processes do
you wish your resource managers to do:

1. Approve and process task updates into the Microsoft Project plan
2. Approve timesheets only

Let us know.
 
R

RedmoatACG

Dale,

Thanks for your prompt response. I am aware that Managed Time Periods is
cumbersome, but dealing with resource managers' trying to manage projects is
even more cumbersome. I would like them to only be able to approve timesheets.

Don Redmond
Project Management Consultant
Arapahoe County Government
Littleton, Colorado
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Don --

Given your requirements, I would recommend the use of Managed Time Periods.
Before you begin using this feature, make sure you have defined the RBS
field in the Enterprise Global to show your company's "org chart" and have
specified an RBS value for every resource in the Enterprise Resource Pool to
show Project Server "who reports to whom" in the organization. Also, make
sure you have added your resource managers to the Resource Managers group in
PWA, as this Group has the Timesheet Approval permissions by default. You
will then need to enable the Timesheet Approval functionality in Project
Server and then create new time periods. If you are going to completely use
the Managed Time Periods feature, you will need to close past time periods
to prevent the entry of actuals in closed time periods. Hope this helps.
 
R

RedmoatACG

Dale,

Thanks. That's very helpful. One more question: is it possible to envoke
this feature on a project-by-project basis? In other words, can we specify
which projects the resource managers need to accept (approve) time for? I
have a specific need to get the resource managers out of the need to own
Administrative projects, but I don't want them to be getting time approval
requests for all the projects their resources are assigned to.

Don
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Don --

No, you cannot set the Timesheet Approval permission on a project by project
basis. Instead, timesheet approval is based on which resources report to
each manager, based on the resource's RBS value. When you set up the RBS
outline code structure to match your company's "org chart" and then specify
an RBS value for each resource in the Enterprise Resource Pool, this shows
Project Server "who reports to whom" in the organization. Therefore, the
timesheets of any resource BELOW a particular resource manager in the RBS
outline code structure will show up on that particular resource manager's
timesheet approval page. That's how the system works. Hope this helps.
 
R

RedmoatACG

Dale,

Thanks again. That isn't the answer I was hoping for, but at least I don't
have to wonder any more.

Don
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Don --

You are more than welcome for the answer, my friend, even if it was the
answer you didn't want to hear! :)
 
M

Mike Reeves

Is there a way to automate the approving of non-project time (Admin Time?)?
I looked at the Project server 2003 SDK and the PDSTest.Net sample briefly,
but I want to verify that this can be done with the SDK and not some other
easy method.

Thanks!
Mike Reeves
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Mike --

You could create a Rule to approve non-project time in an Administrative
project, but you must run the Rule manually by clicking the Run Rules Now
button. Hope this helps.
 
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