Timesheet v. Task Update Approval

[hinrgsunshine2]

In a recent posting, someone asked about configuring mulitple approvers for
tasks.
Dale responded,
"If you are using Project Server 2003, this is not possible. The best
you
can do is to use Managed Time periods, have a Resource Manager approve
timesheets, and then the Project Manager approve the task updates into the
actual Microsoft Project plan."

We're using 2003, managed time periods. We would like to have
resource managers approve timesheets and project managers approve task
updates? Is this something we can configure in 2003 or do we have to
go to 2007?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

hinrgsunshine2 --

You will need to ask your Project Server administrator to enable the Approve
Timesheets for Resources and Timesheet Approval permissions on the Server
Configuration page. You also need to make sure that you have the RBS
outline code structure created and an RBS value specified for every human
resource in your Enterprise Resource Pool. Project Server 2003 uses this
information to determine which timesheets each resource manager must
approve. You also need to place your resource managers in the Resource
Managers group in PWA.

Finally, a word of warning about timesheet approval: the timesheet approval
process does not prevent PM's from updating progress updates that have not
been approved by the RM's. Therefore, you need to make that a training and
performance issue with your PM's and RM's. Hope this helps.

 

[hinrgsunshine2]

Dale-
I was afraid that it would come down to "... a training and performance
issue with
your PMs and RMs." Have you ever tried to herd cats??? ...lol

RBS created.. check
RBS value for each resource in the ERP... check
Resource managers in the RM Group in PWA ... check
Default Method for reporting progress... Hours of work done per day per week
Lock Down defaults... Force project managers
Time period settings... managed

I think we're trying to get my 2003 system to act like a 2007 system.
We want to manage timesheets separate from task updates.
We'd like our resource managers to approve time (hours worked) on a weekly
basis. Then have the resource manager submit task updates (% complete) to
the project manager for approval.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

hinrgunshine2 --

Unforatunately, Project Server 2007 does not work the way you think it
would. Timesheet updates and task updates (progress updates) are two
entirely different things. Team members submit timesheet updates from their
My Timesheet page to their RM for approval, but the timesheet updates don't
go to the PM. Instead, team members have a separate My Tasks page where
they enter and submit task progress that goes to the PM. Hope this helps.

 

[hinrgsunshine2]

Dale-
Yes, that is the way that I understand that 2007 works, where timesheet
updates
are task updates are separate. But that isn't the case in 2003, correct?
Is there
a way to make my 2003 system such that timesheets can be submitted to RMs
and task updates can be submitted to PMs?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

hingsunshine2 --

No, there's no way to make Project Server 2003 work like Project Server
2007. If you absolutely need this functionality, then you might want to
consider upgrading to Project Server 2007. Hope this helps.

 

[hinrgsunshine2]

that's what I thought. Thank you very much for confirming it!