H
Hugo G. Ruiz
SOME SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE MICROSOFT PROJECT SOFTWARE
Hugo G. Ruiz
ABSTRACT
After studying the Microsoft Project 2000 Users’ Manual and the Step by Step
books (2000 and 2002) on the software, a suggestion is presented, hoping to
be useful in improving some of MS Project’s reports.
The possibility of implementing instructions in the Microsoft Project
Manuals to manage not only recurring tasks, but also repetitive processes
within a project. A simple procedure can be established to manage such cases
using the adequate precedence.
REPETITIVE PROCESSES
In Microsoft Project, recurring tasks can be included in a project; however,
apparently it is not possible to manage cases where a given process must be
performed many times during project implementation. The installation of
domestic satellite systems (DOMSAT), and condominium building are some
examples of such projects.
In such cases, total project duration could be established as follows:
, where:
Tp = total project duration;
M = duration of each process;
R = rhythm (the longest critical task of a process); and,
n = number of processes.
Due to the direct proportionality among total project duration (Tp), the
duration of each process (M), the rhythm (R), and the number of processes
(n), a reduction of any of these parameters will allow to decrease the total
project implementation time.
This procedure establishes that: for the first process, all critical tasks
prior to the rhythm remain critical; for the last process, all critical tasks
after the rhythm also remain critical; but for any intermediate processes
only the rhythm is critical.
I have a procedure to establish projects with repetitive processes in
Microsoft Project.
Hugo G. Ruiz
ABSTRACT
After studying the Microsoft Project 2000 Users’ Manual and the Step by Step
books (2000 and 2002) on the software, a suggestion is presented, hoping to
be useful in improving some of MS Project’s reports.
The possibility of implementing instructions in the Microsoft Project
Manuals to manage not only recurring tasks, but also repetitive processes
within a project. A simple procedure can be established to manage such cases
using the adequate precedence.
REPETITIVE PROCESSES
In Microsoft Project, recurring tasks can be included in a project; however,
apparently it is not possible to manage cases where a given process must be
performed many times during project implementation. The installation of
domestic satellite systems (DOMSAT), and condominium building are some
examples of such projects.
In such cases, total project duration could be established as follows:
, where:
Tp = total project duration;
M = duration of each process;
R = rhythm (the longest critical task of a process); and,
n = number of processes.
Due to the direct proportionality among total project duration (Tp), the
duration of each process (M), the rhythm (R), and the number of processes
(n), a reduction of any of these parameters will allow to decrease the total
project implementation time.
This procedure establishes that: for the first process, all critical tasks
prior to the rhythm remain critical; for the last process, all critical tasks
after the rhythm also remain critical; but for any intermediate processes
only the rhythm is critical.
I have a procedure to establish projects with repetitive processes in
Microsoft Project.