Using cost resources

[FrankC]

We are using MOPP 2007 and MOPS 2007. I want to use cost resources to build
and track budgets on projects, rather than assiging a cost to each named
resource, by assigining a Cost Resource to each task. The project budget will
then be compared to the "contract value" (another Cost Resource that is used
at the project summary level [line 0]) for financial analysis.

As we use a single resource on multiple projects in multiple roles and at
multiple rates, and we have an external time reporitng/financial system,
assiging rates to named resources just isn't workable for us at this time.

I have created cost resources for the Contract Value plus seven general
labor categories we use for bid development but I can't seem to assign rates
to labor categories.

Anyone doing something similar? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dharmesh Patel]

Before you begin to use cost resources, I would like to make you aware that
the infrastructure Update Release has changed the way cost resources are now
calculated.

Some Best Practices of the use of Cost Resources are:

1. Whenever possible, avoid assigning cost resources to tasks where there
exists work and/or material resources assigned that may be updated in Project
Server.
2. It is all right to plan costs at Monthly or within another summary time
unit, but we strongly discourage users from making complex updates to cost
resource assignment actual cost contours at that granularity.
3. Avoid using cost resources when the task or project has a 24-hour elapsed
calendar associated. Costs spreading from one day to another can have
unexpected results in this configuration.
4. Always pay attention to your cost values when editing in the “Usageâ€
views. With user control of both cost and actual cost contours you are in
the best position to make sure that the right costs are on the right days.

Please do come back if you require any further information

Regards,