Resource Allocation

[Gary]

One of my project managers has created a project that has her resources
tasked out for the duration of the year. These tasks are not contingent on
eachother, however they are to be completed simultaneously. This project has
the resources working 20 + hours a day. How do I fix this over allocation
without skewing the finish date to 2013. In reality these tasks take 14
weeks at the most and start as soon as we get a work order from the customer.
These tasks are close to the actual start dates plus or minus a few days. I
changed the units percentage as well as the work hours, but I still get
overallocation.

Microsoft Project 2003 Professional

 

[John]

One of my project managers has created a project that has her resources
tasked out for the duration of the year. These tasks are not contingent on
eachother, however they are to be completed simultaneously. This project has
the resources working 20 + hours a day. How do I fix this over allocation
without skewing the finish date to 2013. In reality these tasks take 14
weeks at the most and start as soon as we get a work order from the customer.
These tasks are close to the actual start dates plus or minus a few days. I
changed the units percentage as well as the work hours, but I still get
overallocation.

Microsoft Project 2003 Professional

Gary,
Well yeah! If your resources are working 20+ hours per day then they are
going to be overallocated. It isn't real clear whether all the tasks
HAVE to be completed in the 14 week window. If so, then you are going to
have overallocation and a very overworked team. If on the other hand,
the work content of the tasks is 14 weeks (i.e. 560 hours) and those
tasks must be completed sometime during the year, then you have a chance
of setting it up without overallocation.

We need more definitive information before we can suggest a solution.

John
Project MVP

 

[Jim Aksel]

So, you have tasks approximately 14 weeks in length and mulitple tasks
happening simultaneously. Can the work effort be quantified over those 14
weeks? Is it 8x5x14 hours or something less?

If you reduce units % on a fixed units task duration increases as work
increases. Might you need fixed duration and then reduce work (units)?

 

[Gary]

The first few tasks started at the beginning of the year, the next tasks
start in the middle of January the next start the beginning of February,
etc.. The duration of the tasks are 14 wks plus or minus 2 to 3 weeks.
These tasks overlap eachother, but that is the way we work. If i need to fix
the duration how do i do that.

 

[John]

The first few tasks started at the beginning of the year, the next tasks
start in the middle of January the next start the beginning of February,
etc.. The duration of the tasks are 14 wks plus or minus 2 to 3 weeks.
These tasks overlap eachother, but that is the way we work. If i need to fix
the duration how do i do that.

Gary,
It sounds like your duration is already "fixed" at 14 wks plus or minus.
It also sounds like the start of any group of tasks is determined by an
outside source (e.g. customer) rather than being related to a previous
task. If that's the case and your resources work on some tasks
simultaneously because of some end date requirement, then you will have
overallocation during those times - no way to get around it. Something
has be give to allow you to keep your resources on a more reasonable
schedule.

John
Project MVP