MS Project Task Start Times

[JEKoenig]

Hello - I am fairly new to MS Project and am having some problems with a
Project Plan created for a class I am in.

All of the tasks that have the same predecessor automatically have the same
start date (even with resources assigned). My instructor is saying that
Project will automatically adjust task start times depending on resource
availability. My tasks just won't do this.

Is this true? She posted an example of her project plan and I noticed that
she did not use a start date constraint for these tasks yet they were
organized seemingly to resource availability.

Is there a setting (maybe work type of something) that needs to be changed?

 

[Sai]

Hello - I am fairly new to MS Project and am having some problems with a
Project Plan created for a class I am in.  

All of the tasks that have the same predecessor automatically have the same
start date (even with resources assigned).  My instructor is saying that
Project will automatically adjust task start times depending on resource
availability.  My tasks just won't do this.  

Is this true?   She posted an example of her project plan and I noticedthat
she did not use a start date constraint for these tasks yet they were
organized seemingly to resource availability.

Is there a setting (maybe work type of something) that needs to be changed?

JEKoenig - Yes, your instructor is right. Project uses the calendar of
the resource to schedule the task, but does not verify if the same
resource is available to work during that period. This is because,
Project (by default) follows CPM technique which assumes resource
availablity should be ignored.

May be your instructor, has turned ON the auto-leveling radio button
under Tools | Level Resources dialog box. Due to which, when a
resource is not available to work on that day, Project *automatically*
delays that task based on Leveling order prioirty (of Level Resources
dialog box).

If this answers your question, consider rating my response.

Thank - Sai, PMP, PMI-SP, MCT, MCTS
http://saipower.wordpress.com

 

[JEKoenig]

Thanks for the response.

I realize that the auto leveling feature works for this, but we were told
not to use it. (I did test it though and yes - it works nicely).

The whole reason I am over allocated is because everything with the same
predissesor starts on the same day. The only way that I can change it is to
add a specific start date (Constraint). I can do that, but it just does not
seem like what the instructor is going for (in fact she did not do that).

 

[Sai]

Thanks for the response.

I realize that the auto leveling feature works for this, but we were told
not to use it.  (I did test it though and yes - it works nicely).

The whole reason I am over allocated is because everything with the same
predissesor starts on the same day.  The only way that I can change it is to
add a specific start date (Constraint).   I can do that, but it just does not
seem like what the instructor is going for (in fact she did not do that). 










- Show quoted text -

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, if "Auto-leveling" is turned "ON", Project will check and level
the resource assignments for *every* change in informaiton in task,
resources and assignments. So, this will effectively degrade the
performance of your system; so that's why instructor has indicated to
turn it OFF.

So, I see you are adding constraints to the tasks to resource
overallocation. As per the definition and example of of constraints in
Project help file, it says "Example: You have a task that must start
on a particular date, so you set a Must Start On constraint. ..." -
impling you go for constraints, only if have a date by which you need
start or finish a task due to external dependency.

Looking at your response, I sense you are not yet introducted to
"manual" leveling in Project. To make it simple for you, follow the
below steps
1) Add the column "field: Leveling Delay" to your Gantt Chart.
2) Provide the number of elapsed days (which ignores the non-working
of the calendar of the task) in this column; you will observe delay
the task will be delayed

Though, you will get the same result in either way - through
constraints (or) through leveling delay; the difference is constraints
will make your schedule inflexible, but the leveling delay is updated
when you use the leveling feature (Tools | Level Resources ...
option).

If this answers your question, consider rating my response.

Thank - Sai, PMP, PMI-SP, MCT, MCTS
http://saipower.wordpress.com

 

[Steve House]

Use the leveling tool? Yes! Set it to "automatic?" No, leave it on "manual"
so you can decide when leveling should be run.