Setting resource %

[Pam]

How do I get project to calculate start and end dates
correctly when I have a resource that is 50% allocated - 4
hrs each day based on a 40 hr week? I have set this
resource up in the resource sheet at 50% and I have
changed their working time to reflect 4 hrs a day M-F but
when I assign them to a 20 hour task, project calculates
that the task will be complete in 2.5 days instead of in 5
days.

The task is set up as a fixed unit/effort driven task.

I am using project 2000.

thanks!

 

[JulieD]

Hi Pam

if you want the resource to work 20hr in a 40 hr week then put their max
units to 50% and leave their calendar showing the full 8hr working day &
assign them to the task (don't type anything in the units column) , project
should assign them at 50% giving work ... therefore, if you're assigning
them to a 20hr (duration) task then project will make them work 10hrs

Alternatively, leave their max units at 100% and change their caledar to
show 4 hrs/day of working time. Then assign them to the task - if it is a
20hr (duration) task then project will give them 20hrs of work - the gantt
bar chart may however look strange.

Cheers
JulieD

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

Adding a bit to Julie's excellent answer ... I'm a believer that the
resource's calendar should reflect the hours that they are "on the property"
as they used to call it in the old railroad days, i.e., physically present.
So a full-time employee would have an 8 hour a day calendar, assuming
typical working conditions. A part-time working 4 hours per day would have
a calendar reflecting a 4-hour workday, etc. If a full timer was only
available to the project 4 hours a day, their calendar would still show 8
hours but their maximum availability would be 50%. This shows that in each
workday they will accomplish up to a maximum of 4 man-hours work on my
project but I'm going to let them organize their own workday and decide for
themselves which hours during the day they're going to do project stuff and
which hours will be spent on other things.

Also note, Project will never change the duration estimate for a task with
the first resource assignment, regardless of the percentage you specify. It
assumes that whatever percentage you say the resource will be working at,
that was what you had in mind when you came up with the initial duration
estimate. So a 4-day task will stay at 4 days whether you assign the
resource to it 100%, 50%, 25%, or what have you. At that first assignment
the work is calculated. If you then *modify* the assignment later, the
duration, work, or effort will get recalculated based on the task type
settings.