Statusing Summary Tasks

[jremmc]

I am in process of planning MOPS 2007 implementation. One of our users posed
this question about summary tasks; how can we do what he is looking for?

"If you try to status a summary task, you can only do it with a % complete
number. MS Project in turn allocates this percentage to the subtasks in
proportion to the hours originally allocated for each task at the start of
the project (or baseline to be more precise)."

So, as an example, if you have 2 tasks A & B; and A takes x hours whereas B
takes 3x hours, a 50% summary task complete results in 13% (12.5) and 38%
(37.5) on tasks A & B respectively ( ½ * ¼ and ½ * ¾ ). Unbeknownst to you,
each task was work with the same number of hours and the number of hours is
exactly half of the total rolled up in the summary task. This means the
percentages don’t reflect the actual work performed which of course screws up
the Earned Value Metrics."

Thanks,
jremmc

 

[Marc Soester [MVP]]

Hi jremmc,

so what exactly is your question?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

jremmc --

What you have said is true, and is an obvious limitation of statusing a
project by statusing summary tasks. This is why I NEVER recommend doing
what your user is attempting to do. I recommend that he/she status regular
tasks and milestones.

Project Server 2007 offers three default methods of tracking progress. Your
Project Server 2007 needs to select one of these three methods, and then the
system will use that to capture the appropriate information on each user's
My Tasks page on a task by task basis. Hope this helps.

 

[jremmc]

Hi Dale,

Thanks, I will let the user know.

jremmc

 

[jremmc]

Hi Dale,

Thanks, I will let the user know.

jremmc

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

jremmc --

You are more than welcome, my friend!