Ms Project resource levelling algorithm

[Elena Osipova]

Dear All,

I've heard that Ms Project (from version 2002 on) is using one of the top
ten resource levelling algorithms in the world. It was specially bought by
Microsoft company to incorporate into Project. Is that true? And where can I
access any information about this algorithm - how it is formally working, who
was the author, etc.?

Thanks,
Elena.

 

[davegb]

Who evaluates leveling algorithms?

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

You can find a discussion of the criteria it uses in the help files but the
details of the algorithm are considered proprietary and quite closely
guarded. Even us MVPs don't have access to the details other than what
we've been able to deduce from usage and experience.

 

[JackD]

Microsoft for Project Server 2002 bought the resource substitution stuff
from a company called ELabor. It is NOT the resource leveling algorithm
though. It is resource substitution. The leveling is the same as it always
has been.
It is likely to be one of the top ten resource levelling algorithms, but
that is because there are only nine of them

 

[davegb]

I can't imagine that anyone would know which are the top ten leveling
algorithms. Never heard of anyone tracking that, and it seems it would
be highly subjective anyway.
Besides, in my experience, MS doesn't "buy" technology. They copy it
(read "steal") and use it, and if they get sued, they buy the company
thats suing them. Then complain bitterly about software piracy huring
their business...

 

[JackD]

Here are more details.
http://www.google.com/search?q=elabor+microsoft
Microsoft has bought a lot of things. Visio and powerpoint for example.
Their antispyware thing as well.

 

[Karen M]

Elena, there is a graph that shows the MS Project Leveling engine and how it
works and believe me it does work as advertised and is dependent on all your
settings in tools/options, tools/tracking, tools/levelling. I have a copy if
you want. You can write to me at (e-mail address removed) if you want a picture.

 

[Elena Osipova]

I'm originally from information security field. As a rule, information
encrypting algorithms are patented and are of highly commercial value. But
most popular of them (like DES or RSA) are openly published. Mane specialists
study their safety and other characteristics. You only pay for their
implementation, not for description. That's why I wonder why resource
levelling algorithms are so secret things.

Especially because for enterprise users it's important to understand how
resource levelling work and be able to predict the results of resource
overload in some situations. Re: by "understand" I mean not simple things
like the task will be splitted" or "task duration will be increased" but deep
understanding of the influence on levelling on project portfolio.

BR
Elena

"davegb" пишет:

 

[Elena Osipova]

Thank you all for responses.


"Elena Osipova" пишет:

 

[davegb]

Thanks for the information, Jack. I know that they have bought a lot of
companies, some of whom weren't suing them at the time. I use a
technique called "exaggeration" to make a satirical commentary on some
organizations business practices. Just my weird sense of humor. Lot's
of people don't get it. And of course, harder to "get" online.

 

[JackD]

Actually, the technique is properly called "hyperbole".
I would never stoop so low as to actually use it.

 

[JackD]

Elena,

The algorithm is hardly what I would call "sophisticated". With an afternoon
of study and experimentation you could easily figure out what it does and
why. You should realize that all the algorithm does is delay tasks to
prevent over allocation. The order in which they are delayed can be based on
a number of factors which you can choose. Task duration is never increased.
Resource allocation is never changed. I have seen more sophisticated
algorithms out there and using some vba it is possible to code your own if
you like.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as "deep understanding of the
influence" of levelling. It is more akin to a tractor smoothing a field than
anything else.

Security algorithms are a different story. They are elaborate locks and must
work perfectly so people spend a lot of time on them. In this regard the
project levelling algorithm is the equivalent of XOR.

 

[davegb]

JackD wrote:
I would never stoop so low as to actually use it.

Someone told me, when I was a kid, "Do what you do best"! Been stooping
low ever since!