Underallocation of resource

[TimB]

I have a resource allocated at 80%. Looking at the resources usage I can see
that rather than being applied at 80% the resource is often used at much less
and even not at all. If I look at remaining availability the resource is
shown to have availability to the maximum 80% in each of these cases.

I have looked everywhere I can think to try and identify why the resource is
being underallocated but so far without luck. Any thoughts as to how I can
track this down and resolve it.

Thanks

 

[JulieS]

Hi TimB,

I'm not sure I follow exactly. Setting up a resource's maximum units at 80%
does not guarantee that he/she will be assigned at 80% every day of the
project. If I am a resource in a project but I am not assigned to any tasks
during a specific week, my remaining availability will be 80% for that week.

Are you using resource leveling? Many folks assume that the resource
leveling command is an optimization tool and it isn't. The resource
leveling command simply delays tasks when a resource is overallocated on
multiple tasks but it will not change assignment.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along and/or give us some more
details.

Julie

 

[TimB]

Thanks for the response. Let me see if I can clarify further the problem as I
see it.

The resource is allocated a number of tasks to be undertaken sequentially
(using links). The resource usage shows that the resource is only allocated a
single task at any one time. At no time is the resopurce overallocated.
Indeed it is the reverse the resource is underallocated so instead of working
at a daily rate of .8 (80%) the resource is shown at say .12 and more at 0
for a week. I have discovered the resource graph gives a false impression of
allocation. The default (1 week) timescale implies the resource is allocated
at 80%. If you drill down to a daily resource graph the picture changes and
then matches the task allocation view. i.e. The resource is not fully
allocated to the max of 80%.

I do use resource levelling.

As I have looked at this some more today, 2 tasks allocated to this resource
have a split. In one case this is at the start of the task essentially
resulting in a delay to the start. In the other a task has been split
resulting in a delay of the remaining work. I have tried removing the split
in both cases without success.

The only other thing I have noted is that resource loading was set to
contoured. I have reset this to the default Flat as with other tasks but not
change noted in the problem.

I have tried everything I can think of to remove the split without luck.

 

[JulieS]

Hi Tim,
You're welcome for the assistance thus far and thanks for the additional
information.
The scenario you describe about contoured work for a resource frequently
comes about as a result of tracking actual data. For example: a resource is
initially assigned at 80% to a 5 day duration tasks, the planned work is 6.4
hours per day. If I record 5 hours of actual work on day 1 the percent
allocation for that day drops to 63% -- the resource didn't work the
original hours scheduled and the remaining 1.4 hours of work is scheduled
into day 6 at an allocation of 18%. Even if I change the contour of the
assignment back to flat, it does not affect any actual work recorded.

The splits you are seeing may be as a result of either resource leveling
(leaving the option "Leveling can create splits in remaining work" enabled)
or by using the Update Project command and rescheduling incomplete work.

I hope this helps. Please post again if this doesn't describe your
scenario.

Julie