non 100% reasource units

[dave]

I have some task on a project that require staff to spend
say 20% of there time. If I set this tasks reasource usage
to 20% other tasks that are set as 100% will not fill the
time automatically. If I manually set the task to 80% then
it will, but this means I need to know which task is
likely to be at the same time as the 20% task. Is there a
checkbox/option that will allow project to change the
reasource units on a task and extend the time to allow
that task to be performed over the same period as the
first task.

thanks
dave

 

[Gérard DUCOURET]

Hello Dave,
Sorry, there is no checkbox/option which does that.

Gérard Ducouret

 

[Steve House]

It's up to you, the project manager, to make such decisions. You said you
would need to know "which task is likely to be at the same time" but that's
what the scheduling software is there to help you decide - proactive
scheduling rather than reactive <grin>. For the most part 100% (or max
available) is a better choice for resource assignments anyway. Assuming the
standard default calendars, if I have a task that takes 40 man-hours of
work, I can assign my resource at 100% and get it done in 5 days or 50% and
get it done in 10. What reasoning would lead me to use the 10 day option
when I could get it done sooner? The only time I'd assign at 50% would be
when I needed to keep the resource free for part of those days so I could
put on something else that needs to run in parallel or that's a higher
priority; otherwise I'd assign him 100% so we could get the project done as
expeditiously as possible.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Dave,

Well, my learned colleagues are right to say that there isn't exactly what
you want but there is a feature in MS project that can deliver equivalent
results without you having to calculate much.
Just assign the percentages needed, and give your tasks a priority (Priority
field, 0-1000).
Now go to Tools, Resource Leveling, WEEK BY WEEK (don't ask why, but the
solution doesn't work when you select day by day or hour by hour :-((),
Order=Priority, Standard, Level Now.
And look, it has done what you wanted...

Reading the help on all these features would also be a very, very good idea.
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
Project Management Consultancy
Prom+ade BVBA
32-495-300 620

 

[Ed Kilner]

20% is one day per week. So, create a resource calendar for Mondays only and
assign at 100%. Remember, this establishes a plan, but the resource is free
to put in hours whenever.

--
Ed Kilner, P.Eng., PMP

(e-mail address removed) (416) 822-4835

Project Solutions Unlimited www.psu.ca