Resource request for a project

R

Ritsaert

Hi,
I'm implementing MS EPM 2007 at a client at the moment. One of the main
goals of the client is to improve the process of resource utilization. I'm
having trouble to facilitate this with EPM.
What I would like to do is:
- with a new project let a project manager request a resource
- let the resourcemanager recieve this resource request
- give the resourcemanager the opportunity to approve/deny the resource
request
- let the projectmanager assign the resource in his project

Is there some functionality that I am overlooking?
Thanks in advance for helping me out!
Regard,
Ritsaert
 
N

NZ Projects

One way to achieve this is to use the team assignment pool.

With the RM as the default assignment owner, any tasks assigned to the team
will go to the RM, he/she can then delegate to members of the team.
 
R

Ritsaert

thanks for your reply, you're fast!
where can I find this functionality? is it in PWA?

you mentioned that this is one way, does this mean you know alternatives?
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Ritaert --

Gee, I don't know if I would recommend the Team resource option. I think
you will be disappointed with the behavior of Team resources. I know I'm
disappointed with them, anyway. Instead, he's a couple of possibilities:

1. Create the new project, but instead of adding resources to the team,
build a Resource Plan instead. In your Resource Plan, indicate the
resources you would like to use in each time period during the life span of
the project. From there, the RM can review these needs and then use the
Build Team feature in the PWA Project Center page to add the approved
resources to the project. The PM must still assign the resources to tasks,
however.

2. Create the new project and assign the RM to each task in the project.
The then RM delegates each task to the appropriate resource using the
Delegation feature on the My Tasks page in PWA. The limitation of this
functionality is that it is a "one to one" delegation, that is, the RM can
delegate each task to only one resource.

3. Create the new project and add resources to the project team. The RM
can then use the Build Team feature in PWA Project Center page to leave the
proposed resources, or replace them with the approved resources. If the RM
uses Project Professional 2007, he/she can open the project, apply the Build
Team dialog, leave the proposed resources, or replace them with the approved
resources. If necessary, the RM could also assign the resources to tasks in
the project as well.

A couple of ideas for you to "chew on." Hope this helps.
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Ritaert --

You are more than welcome, my friend! Let us know how that turns out.
 
R

Ritsaert

I must be doing something wrong... :s

I'm performing these steps:
- I made a new project as a Projectmanager
- Saved and published it to the projectserver
- I filled out a resourceplan in PWA
- Saved and Published it
- I sign out as PM and sign in as Resourcemanager

I don't see the resourceplan?? where should this be? the new project is also
not in the Project Center.....

What did I miss??
Thanks again!
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Ritaert --

You have to publish the project. Then the RM can see the Resource Plan from
the Project Center page in PWA. Click File - Publish to publish the plan.
Hope this helps.
 
R

Ritsaert

I did this, but still the project is not in the project center of the
resourcemanager. Should the resourcemanager be asigned to that project in
some way?

btw it is Ritsaert ;)
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Ritaert --

I wasn't thinking clearly when I gave you that last reply. By default,
Resource Managers DO NOT have permission to see any projects in the Project
Center. This would explain why you can see the project but your RM's
cannot.

I'm assuming that you probably need your RM's to be able to see and staff
all projects in the system. To solve this problem, the easiest thing to do
would be to add your RMs to the Executives group in PWA. This will give
them the global visibility they need for projects, while allowing them to
manage their own resources. Let us know if this helps.
 
R

Ritsaert

Dale,
mayby i'm pushing the limits of EPM now, but is the following possible?

- have the PM make a skillbased planning (no authorization to plan
non-generic resources)
- import the planned generic resources into a resource plan (so you dont
have to retype it)
- and then let the RM assign them by replacing them with non-generic resources

another question,
What happens with the requested number of day the PM enters in the resource
plan?? is there a limitation of the assigned number of days a PM can assign
the resource?
can you track in any way how the actual usage performs against the resource
plan??

I understand if this is too much ;)

thanks again!
regards,
Ritsaert
 
D

Dale Howard [MVP]

Ritaert --

Yes, this is possible. The RM can replace Generic resources with human
resources in either Project Professional or in PWA.

I do not believe there is a limit to the time periods specified in the
Resource Plan. After you assign resources to the tasks in the project plan,
however, I am not aware of any default way to compare the task assignment
information for each resource against the original Resource Plan. Hope this
helps.
 
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