Remaining Work and Work fields

M

Murthyu

I have a question related to updating tasks using PWA. My resources are
updating the Remaining work for their tasks, however, when updates are made,
PWA seems to change the work field also at the same time - and gives the work
field the same value as the remaining work that they just entered.
This is obviously causing a mess in my plan

Using Project 2003.
Interestingly, I have the field "% of work complete" checked in the
Customize Project Web Access/Tracking page under Admin. I had wanted to
ensure that everyone was tracking % of work complete instead of remaining
hours - but I guess that is a different problem :)

Can someone pls let me know what I am doing wrong?
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Murthyu --

When a team member adjusts the Remaining Work value, Project Server
automatically adjusts the Work value in response. The Work field contains
the total amount of Work for the task, which is calculated as follows:

Work = Actual Work + Remaining Work

If the resource increases the Remaining Work, the Work increases by the same
amount. If a resource decreases the Remaining Work, then the Work decreases
by the same amount. You cannot change this behavior, as this is the default
behavior of the tool.

If you remember to baseline your project before you begin tracking actuals,
then the Baseline Work field contains your original planned Work value for
the task. Hope this helps.
 
B

Brian K - Project MVP

I have a question related to updating tasks using PWA. My resources are
updating the Remaining work for their tasks, however, when updates are made,
PWA seems to change the work field also at the same time - and gives the work
field the same value as the remaining work that they just entered.
This is obviously causing a mess in my plan
Click to expand...

Work = Actual Work + Remaining Work. Updating Remaining Work will ALWAYS
change Work. The act of the resources changing Rem.Work is a signal to
you that the original Work value was wrong and the new one is a
'better' estimate.

There should not be a problem in your project. For sure it will change
either the duration of your task or the Units value of that assignment
but it will not 'harm' your project
Using Project 2003.
Interestingly, I have the field "% of work complete" checked in the
Customize Project Web Access/Tracking page under Admin. I had wanted to
ensure that everyone was tracking % of work complete instead of remaining
hours - but I guess that is a different problem :)
Click to expand...

If you want this then change the tracking method for your projects to %
Work Complete. That method also allows for the update of remaining work.

Remaining Work getting updated is a CRITIAL component of good process.
If you dont have the resources updating the remaining work then you are
assuming that the estimates you made as the PM are ALWAYS right and that
you know better than your resources how much more work there is to be
done.

% Complete is a MUCH less accurate method. I ALWAYS recommend against
using this method with customers except in very specific cases.
 
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