How to model what-if scenarios

[David]

I have a backlog of tasks to perform, and I need to perform what-if
scenarious where I can answer questions like "what if I perform Task B
instead of Task A?". Ideally, I would like to leave Task A in the plan while
I'm testing scenarious, and simply disable it so that it doesn't affect any
calculations.

The second problem I have is resource allocation across different skill
sets. I would like to create a plan where each task specifies skill set
requirements, e.g. Build Table Task requires a Resource with the Carpenter
Skill, and then have Project automatically assign resources that match the
skill set requirements. The situation I have is that there are senior
resources with multiple skills, and I'm want them to fill in the gaps when I
don't have enough junior resources.

Any suggestions on how to perform either of these?

 

[John]

I have a backlog of tasks to perform, and I need to perform what-if
scenarious where I can answer questions like "what if I perform Task B
instead of Task A?". Ideally, I would like to leave Task A in the plan while
I'm testing scenarious, and simply disable it so that it doesn't affect any
calculations.

The second problem I have is resource allocation across different skill
sets. I would like to create a plan where each task specifies skill set
requirements, e.g. Build Table Task requires a Resource with the Carpenter
Skill, and then have Project automatically assign resources that match the
skill set requirements. The situation I have is that there are senior
resources with multiple skills, and I'm want them to fill in the gaps when I
don't have enough junior resources.

Any suggestions on how to perform either of these?

David,
With regard to your question on testing scenarios. If a task is
physically in the plan then it is part of the plan whether or not it is
linked to other tasks. The only real way to "disable" it is to delete it
but as a secondary approach, it can be rendered pretty much null if the
duration is set to 0, no resources are assigned, no fixed cost is
attached, and links are removed. Then it will not materially affect the
critical path (often used for analyzing what-if scenarios) and it won't
affect resources or cost (if those are part of your what-if analysis).

With regard to skill set assignments. The only real way to have Project
automatically assign skill set resources is with VBA. As the user, you
can set up individual resources, group resources or generic resources
(Project 2003). Of those, generic resources comes closest to what you
are after but you must still select them yourself (i.e it isn't
automated). If you want to know more about generic resources check the
Project help file.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[David]

Thank you John. I suspected as much. This would be great addition to Project.
Right now there seems to be an assumption in Project that you know exactly
what you want to do and you're only trying to optimize how to do it. In my
case, I'm trying to optimize both at the same time.

Guess I'll be looking into VBA,
David

 

[John]

Thank you John. I suspected as much. This would be great addition to Project.
Right now there seems to be an assumption in Project that you know exactly
what you want to do and you're only trying to optimize how to do it. In my
case, I'm trying to optimize both at the same time.

Guess I'll be looking into VBA,
David

David,
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

There are probably a lot of automated processes that users would like
Project to do and some of those users have expressed their desires in
this newsgroup. However, you have to remember that Project is a tool and
it does not replace the project manager - us lowly humans still have to
do some work. Nonetheless, I think Microsoft recognized way back that
users would have a strong desire to customize applications. That is why
VBA is an included component of virtually all applications, and I for
one am very thankful they took that approach.

John
Project MVP