Unique Project Management and MS Project problem

[Bob Inwater]

I have what I think is a unique Project Management and MS Project problem.

I have 3 sets of tasks that each are populated at different levels of detail
in one MS Project File.

The first phase of the project represents 43% of the days to be consumed
(SUM of the all durations) but accounts for only 15 % of the cost. The second
and third phases have much less detail (line items) so there value in terms
of total percent complete is under weighted. The workforce for each phase is
different. Consumption of hours calculates the % complete per take but since
the resources in each phase are not measured the same the Total Project %
complete is way off.

MS Project does not seem to have a way to address this. Ideas?

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Bob --

Have you examined the % Work Complete value to see if this more accurately
reflects the current project progress? To view this field, apply any task
view such as the Gantt Chart view and then click View - Table - Work. You
can also right-click on any column in a task view, select Insert Column from
the shortcut menu, and then add this field. Hope this helps.

 

[JackD]

Try using the built-in earned value metrics. And weight the second and third
phases with appropriate amounts of work. It isn't hard to enter a generic
resource with units of more than 100% if you don't want to model the fine
detail.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Bob,

Indeed, when you say you don't want the solution as it is, there is no
solution left.
You don't want to measure the resources, well yhen you lose the weighting
factor (Work) Project applies.
Apply the right level of resources to each task, use all work related
measurements and forget about duration as a measurement: that is how Project
is conceived.
Good Luck!