starting a project based on due dates

[dmac156]

One thing that seems very odd about MS Project is that it is designed to
start on todays date, put in how long it takes to do a task, then tells you
when it's done.

That's great, but I'm usually given a due date for my project. I prefer to
work backwards from that date. However MS project seems to be a nightmare if
you approach it that way. Am I missing something?

Here's an example of what I run into. Let's say I have a website release in
October 1st, and I know it takes 2 weeks for content development, 2 weeks for
programing and 2 weeks for QA. It would be easy to put in October 1st as the
finish date, put in the durations of the tasks, link them and have it spit
out the start date. I know how I can do this, but I have to force it, and it
becomes a huge mess on a large project.

How do people deal with this? Do you build your dependencies and duration
then just keep pushing the start date out until you hit the finish date?
That seems backwards, but then this is from the company that forces me to hit
"Start" to shut down my computer......

 

[Rod Gill]

No you're not. Any scheduling tool will create far more work if you schedule
backwards. When you work from a finish date forwards, every task becomes
critical which makes the time part of the project very high risk. Much
better to schedule from the earliest possible start date then schedule
forwards to the finish date you require less the contingency time you need
to handle your risks. This is quicker, more efficient and more likely to
produce results that will work for you.

 

[Jim Aksel]

ALthough I agree with tbe fitrst post, you can do it your way.

Project/Project Information... Schedule from Finish Date in the drop down.
Rather than project predessors, you need to enter successors.

Insert the successor column (Insert/Column....) use Successors.

This is a higher risk approach and allows no slack. Your time estimates
must be accurate.

Wouldn't it be easer to "schedule forward" and then just shift the project
start date to meet the requested date? Better to have margin, than none.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Is this a joke?
Project does the two, back and forth, always, and you don't even have to ask
for it.
Just display Late Start and Late Finish instead of Start and Finish.
And why not display both?