Fixed Work vs. Fixed Duration

[jmeadows7]

This has probably been answered several times in here before, but I couldn't put my hands on it readily:

Generic Issue:
I have a resource that is available to work on projects - lets say 50% of the time
I have a task that will take 80 hours to do.
I want to assign this resource to the project and MS Project expand the duration to 4 weeks but still keep 80 hours as the budget for the task.
How do you accomplish this? It seems I've tried all of the combinations of work, duration, and units, but can't seem to make it work. It seems that if you have 40 hours of work to do and assign a resource that is 50% that it should work IF you have everyting set up right.


Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[JulieInMaine]

A couple of options:

1)In the resource sheet, set the resource's max units to 50%.
2)Split the screen from the Gantt chart view to show the Task Form.
3)Enter the 80 hours in the work field and Project will calculate the duration based upon 80 hours of work / assignment units.

The other option is to modify the resource's calendar to only allow 4 hours of work per day. Then assign the resource at 100% and enter 80 hours of work.

 

[PDQBach]

Julie is correct but hit "send" before adding one additional piece of information:

If the task type is "Fixed Duration" then the task duration will not change and the resource can be overallocated without any warning from MS Project.

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I've never been a fan of using Max Units. During schedule creation I'll talk with the resource to get a good handle on the task work and, at the same time, get the resource to give me the task duration. That way, if the resource is temporarily only available 50% of the time and later on will be available 100% (or vice versa) I don't have to keep constantly checking "Max Units" for that resource.

In addition, estimates of work and duration are *always* highly suspect and need to be confirmed on a regular (weekly? bi-weekly? monthly?) basis -- and *please* NOT at the regular status meeting with all/most/key resources but, instead, during regular progress 1x1 with the individual resources.

 

[jmeadows7]

Thanks to you both. I played around with it a bit more and I think I understand what project is doing with it, and it's not really what I want, but what I'll have to live with.

Thanks,