Timesheets modified without resource's intervention

[AndyS]

Hi


I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to resource's
timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets automatically in
future timesheets and also in the existing, submitted timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h total in the
'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on the 'my timesheet' link
the actual time amounts in the timesheet add up to 57.25 hours with a task
that I haven’t booked to appearing with actual time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for tasks, and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is, project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I’m not correct in my assumption that this comes from ‘Actual Work’ in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource’s timesheets.

The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records of time
spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to customers will be
incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in timesheets has
been put there by the resource and not by some other means.

Thanks in advance

Andrew

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures. They may
be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into the project, then
publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

 

[AndyS]

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply

In the PWA server settings, we're using 'Actual work done and work
remaining.' as the task tracking method. I assume if I set 'Restrict updates
to Project Web Access' this will prevent actuals in timesheets from appearing
due to project managers modifying the actual work in the project plan.

Andy

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures. They may
be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into the project, then
publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi

I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to
resource's timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets
automatically in future timesheets and also in the existing, submitted
timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h total
in the 'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on the 'my
timesheet' link the actual time amounts in the timesheet add up to
57.25 hours with a task that I haven't booked to appearing with actual
time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for tasks,
and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are
appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is,
project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can
this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I'm not correct in my assumption that this comes from 'Actual Work'
in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource's timesheets.
The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records of
time spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to customers
will be incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in
timesheets has been put there by the resource and not by some other
means.

Thanks in advance

Andrew

.

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

You probably should try Hours per Period. I admit that I haven't used that
setting, but I would be surprised if the task doesn't just progress as scheduled
without regard to the status or current date - this would then put work in
future periods.

Still sounds like an update methodology issue to me.

- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply

In the PWA server settings, we're using 'Actual work done and work
remaining.' as the task tracking method. I assume if I set 'Restrict
updates to Project Web Access' this will prevent actuals in timesheets
from appearing due to project managers modifying the actual work in
the project plan.

Andy

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures.
They may be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into
the project, then publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the
future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?

- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi

I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to
resource's timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets
automatically in future timesheets and also in the existing,
submitted timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h
total in the 'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on
the 'my timesheet' link the actual time amounts in the timesheet add
up to 57.25 hours with a task that I haven't booked to appearing
with actual time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for
tasks,
and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are
appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is,
project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can
this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I'm not correct in my assumption that this comes from 'Actual
Work'
in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource's timesheets.
The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records
of
time spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to
customers
will be incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in
timesheets has been put there by the resource and not by some other
means.
Thanks in advance

Andrew

.

 

[Jonathan Sofer [MVP]]

You are correct that setting the option "Restrict updates to Project Web
Access" will prevent actuals appearing in timesheets due to PMs modifying
the actual work in the plan. Just be prepared to hear from frustrated PMs
who are suddenly getting messages about not being allowed to update tasks %
complete for example.

Jonathan

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply

In the PWA server settings, we're using 'Actual work done and work
remaining.' as the task tracking method. I assume if I set 'Restrict
updates
to Project Web Access' this will prevent actuals in timesheets from
appearing
due to project managers modifying the actual work in the project plan.

Andy

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures. They
may
be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into the project,
then
publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the
future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi

I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to
resource's timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets
automatically in future timesheets and also in the existing, submitted
timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h total
in the 'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on the 'my
timesheet' link the actual time amounts in the timesheet add up to
57.25 hours with a task that I haven't booked to appearing with actual
time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for tasks,
and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are
appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is,
project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can
this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I'm not correct in my assumption that this comes from 'Actual Work'
in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource's timesheets.
The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records of
time spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to customers
will be incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in
timesheets has been put there by the resource and not by some other
means.

Thanks in advance

Andrew

.

 

[Ben Howard]

Following on from Andrew and Jonathan's excellent posts, whatever you do,
this will impact PMs and TMs (changing the update method is a big issue from
a process perspective), so make sure you test, document and communicate this
before you change any settings.
--
Thanks, Ben.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
http://appleparkltd.spaces.live.com/

You are correct that setting the option "Restrict updates to Project Web
Access" will prevent actuals appearing in timesheets due to PMs modifying
the actual work in the plan. Just be prepared to hear from frustrated PMs
who are suddenly getting messages about not being allowed to update tasks %
complete for example.

Jonathan

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply

In the PWA server settings, we're using 'Actual work done and work
remaining.' as the task tracking method. I assume if I set 'Restrict
updates
to Project Web Access' this will prevent actuals in timesheets from
appearing
due to project managers modifying the actual work in the project plan.

Andy

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures. They
may
be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into the project,
then
publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the
future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi

I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to
resource's timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets
automatically in future timesheets and also in the existing, submitted
timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h total
in the 'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on the 'my
timesheet' link the actual time amounts in the timesheet add up to
57.25 hours with a task that I haven't booked to appearing with actual
time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for tasks,
and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are
appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is,
project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can
this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I'm not correct in my assumption that this comes from 'Actual Work'
in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource's timesheets.
The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records of
time spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to customers
will be incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in
timesheets has been put there by the resource and not by some other
means.

Thanks in advance

Andrew



.

 

[AndyS]

Thanks all for your advice, we obviously need to look at this part of our
process more carefully.

Regards

Andy

Following on from Andrew and Jonathan's excellent posts, whatever you do,
this will impact PMs and TMs (changing the update method is a big issue from
a process perspective), so make sure you test, document and communicate this
before you change any settings.
--
Thanks, Ben.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
http://appleparkltd.spaces.live.com/

You are correct that setting the option "Restrict updates to Project Web
Access" will prevent actuals appearing in timesheets due to PMs modifying
the actual work in the plan. Just be prepared to hear from frustrated PMs
who are suddenly getting messages about not being allowed to update tasks %
complete for example.

Jonathan

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply

In the PWA server settings, we're using 'Actual work done and work
remaining.' as the task tracking method. I assume if I set 'Restrict
updates
to Project Web Access' this will prevent actuals in timesheets from
appearing
due to project managers modifying the actual work in the project plan.

Andy

:

Sounds like the PM's may need to work on their update procedures. They
may
be indadvertently introducing future actual work time into the project,
then
publishing it.

The following formula will flag tasks that have work booked into the
future:

IIf([Stop]<>ProjDateValue("NA"),IIf([Stop]>[Status Date],Yes,No),No)

I assume that you are not using "% Complete" as an update mechanism?


- Andrew Lavinsky
Blog: http://blogs.catapultsystems.com/epm

Hi

I have noticed very strange and worrying things happening to
resource's timesheets where actual time is appearing in timesheets
automatically in future timesheets and also in the existing, submitted
timesheets.

For example looking at my timesheet for week 10, 2008 shows 26h total
in the 'my timesheets' list view in PWA but when I click on the 'my
timesheet' link the actual time amounts in the timesheet add up to
57.25 hours with a task that I haven't booked to appearing with actual
time matching planned time.

I suspect that this time has appeared in timesheets from project
professional where 'actual work' values have been specified for tasks,
and as
a result of the changes due to SP2 changes deleted or new tasks are
appearing
in timesheets automatically. Are my suspicions correct on this is,
project
assignments altering the actual values in timesheets, if so how can
this be
undone and prevented in future.
If I'm not correct in my assumption that this comes from 'Actual Work'
in
project plans could anyone give me some clues as to how this time is
automatically appearing in resource's timesheets.
The result of these automatic changes could be disasterous, records of
time spent on projects would not be accurate and billing to customers
will be incorrect unless we can be assured that the information in
timesheets has been put there by the resource and not by some other
means.

Thanks in advance

Andrew



.

 

[Gary Chefetz]

Andy:

I'm going to throw in a few more thoughts here. Using Actual work and work
remaining without using hours by day forces the system to spread the work
across the time period. I also suggest that you download and install the
December CU which has fixes for actual work issues in the Project Client.
Without knowing more about your system, I can't say for certain that are
experiencing actual work moving because of bugs, but it is a possibility as
well.