How to Combine Resource Leveling and Staggered Release Dates?

[DPD]

Hi,

I’m scheduling a project that has five eLearning modules in it. A single
Instructional Designer is a resource for the development of all five modules.
I’m using MS Project 2003.

I have two goals:

1) Level the work of the Instructional Designer on a day-by-day basis across
the five modules so he is not overallocated.
2) Ensure that there is a staggered handoff of the modules as they are
complete. That is, I’d like the first to be completed as soon as possible,
then the second, etc. Ideally the Instructional Designer would give priority
to completing tasks in the first module, but work on the second module when
he has down time from the first, etc.

I realize second goal includes elements of optimization rather than
leveling, and that all leveling will do is delay tasks to prevent the
Instructional Designer from being overallocated. But I wonder if anyone
could help me refine the results of leveling my schedule.

I set up the project schedule with the WBS for each module starting on the
same date. Then I set the start dates for each module based on when raw
materials will be handed off to us. This staggered the module start dates
somewhat, but the Instructional Designer was still overallocated.

At this point I tried to level just the Instructional Designer resource. I
tried leveling two ways, using the Standard and ID Only options.

The result of the standard leveling is that the complete set of five modules
is completed sooner. The Instructional Designer is allocated for a full 8
hours many days of the project. However, the end dates for each module are
not staggered; they tend to clump together, with modules 4 and 5 actually
getting done before modules 2 and 3.

The result of leveling by ID only is that the complete set of five modules
is completed later. The Instructional Designer is less heavily allocated
throughout the project. However, the end dates for each module are staggered
as I would like, allowing for a rolling handoff as each module is completed.

Is there any way to achieve the efficiency and earlier overall completion of
the Standard leveling while maintaining the staggered module completion of
the leveling by ID Only?

Thanks for any ideas you may offer.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi DPD,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

To start you off, you could try using priorities. Select all of your first
module and then Project/Task Information/General tab, enter 1000 in the
Priority box. Then repeat for module 2 entering a lower figure, etc. Now
level, but in the Levelling dialog, select Priority,Standard.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials

 

[DPD]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your suggestion; it gave me the results I was looking for.

The Priority settings enforce a staggered handoff when I apply the Priority,
Standard leveling. Yet the timeline is still quite efficient. The first
three modules now get done even sooner than predicted with the Standard
leveling alone. The last two modules lag further behind, but it's reasonable
to expect those would get done later since they are of lowest priority.

Once again, thanks for your help. I don't post questions to the newsgroup
often, but when I do I consistently get quick and valuable responses. I
appreciate that you take the time to share your expertise.

Thanks,
DPD

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome, DPD - glad you've got a solution and thanks for the feedback


Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials