Managing Time Worked

[JBJC]

We are in the planning stages to implement Project Server 2003 (Proj
Professional 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services). As a company we only
require time-tracking at the project level (rather than task) by day. We
want to publish fully detailed project plans with assigned resources within
Project Server. However, we don't want team members to be forced to log
actual work at the task level. How can we accomplish both objectives? Can
worked time be entered at a summary level?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

JBJC --

You cannot accomplish both objectives. Therefore, when you build your
project team on a project using Tools - Build Team from Enterprise, set the
Booking value to Proposed for each resource. After doing this, assign
resources to individual tasks as you wish, but DO NOT assign these resources
to summary tasks. When you publish the project, the tasks will NOT show up
on each team member's timesheet. They really don't need to see the tasks on
their timesheet since you won't require them to enter time there. Your PM's
should status each project manually by updating the % Complete value for the
relevant summary tasks in the actual Microsoft Project plan. Hope this
helps.

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

I don't understand. Managing the project means managing all the myriad
individual details that are required to successfully complete it - as the
saying goes, the devil lies in the details. Why would you make the very
substantial hardware, software, and manpower expenditure - many thousands of
dollars - required to acquire and install a Project Server/Project Pro
environment and then only use it at the most superficial level, something
you could accomplish equally as for literally pennies by simply recording
timecard summaries into an Excel spreadsheet? Without managing tasks, the
only thing using Server does for you is allow the resources to enter their
own time tracking, something that could just as easliy be accomplished by
creating a form for them to email to the PMO. Why would you make the
investmant in a system designed to manage all the details if you have
decided expressly not to use it to its fullest capability? No offense
intended, but it seems like a major waste of resources and doesn't make a
lot of sense to me.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi JBJC ,

Try posting on the server newsgroup. Please see FAQ Item: 24. Project
Newsgroups. FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information
can be seen at this web address: http://www.mvps.org/project/.

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Steve,

I know you are absolutely right, but at least half of the customers I see
think like that. You simply can't ask people to report of their time on a
detailed level. A customer I know used the word unthinkable, and "if that is
the price to use MS Project, we'll do without".

Greetings,

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

I know it happens a lot and can't quite figure out why. If clients like
yours don't want to take advantage of the greatly enhanced business controls
detailed project management that using tools like Project server can
provide, why buy it at all? It seems rather like buying a Ferrari racing
car and never driving it over 25km/hr. Sure one can do it, but why in the
world would you WANT to, what's the point of spending the money and never
fully exploiting what you've paid for?
--
Steve House [MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

 

[JBJC]

Dale,

Thanks for the helpful information. Based on additional reading I've done,
this looks like it will work for us.

JBJC

 

[JBJC]

Mike,

Will do. Thanks for the additional lead.

JBJC

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome, JBJC

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP