Help with Activities

[ccn1981]

Hello,

Please see the attached Project plan. I have to do lines 246-262 for each job model. There are 25 job models to complete with an estimated number of 14 hours to complete it. Right now the way it’s structured is as if I’m doing them all at one time, but in reality I will not be able to identify all jobs/roles (line 256) at one time but over time. So I think in order to stay on track I have to complete around 3 job models each week (which is tight). So I’m not exactly sure the best way to structure it. I have 40hr for 10 wks to complete the project…so essentially 400hrs (or 382 actual planned hours).

How can i modify this so i can efficiently track how i am doing and if im on track?

Thanks

 

[JulieInMaine]

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm having a bit of trouble following your post. I see Task 256 is a summary task made up of two subtasks. Each subtask is 3 days in duration. A resource - (Hope) is assign to the first subtask (Finalize job models) at 100% and 24 hours of work.

So, if it takes 1 week to do 3 job models and you have 25 job models to complete - the duration of the task should be approximately 6.5 weeks - correct? However, you estimate it is 14 hours of work to complete - per job model or for all 25?

If I understand it is 6.5 weeks but 14 hours spread over those 6.5 weeks, you have two choices. Set the task as fixed duration. Specify a duration of 6.5 weeks. Assign Hope and specify 14 hours of work - Project will calculate assignment units of 5% to spread the 14 hours of work out evenly over the 6.5 weeks.

OR

Set the task as Fixed Work. Specify 14 hours of work. Then change the duration. Same answer as above.

The resource "Hope" is overallocated (her peak is 400%) and all of your resources except Arthur and Katherine are in the same boat. Jackie, Heidi, and Shelia are all currently scheduled to perform over 200 hours of work in a single day.

You need to look at either spreading the duration of tasks out, specifying predecessors and successors -- or do something to modify the schedule of tasks.

Also, do not leave blank lines in your project. I'm guessing you've done that for visual reasons -- but it is a possible path to corruption of the file.

I hope this helps.

Julie

 

[ccn1981]

Great, thank you...Can you include an example in the attached document?

How to set fix hours etc pretty much you suggestions in your response.

That would really help.

Thanks

 

[JulieInMaine]

I don't know which version of Project you are using, so me editing your document (in 2010) may make it unreadable to you. So step-by-step directions below.

To make a task fixed work and have Project calculate assignment units:

1. Create the task without worrying about duration -- Project will assign a duration of 1day?.

2. Split your screen horizontally using the Window > Split command (Project 2003 or 2007) or View tab, Split View group - if necessary uncheck "Timeline" and check "Details" check box. The selection should default to Task Form.

3. Select Fixed Work from the Task Type drop-down and click the OK button in the Task Form.

4. Select the resource's name from the drop-down list under "Resources" and enter the work estimate in the Work column in the Task Form. Click the OK button in the Task Form. Project will calculate Duration based upon the work and assignment units.

5. Change the Duration, click OK and Project will re-calculate assignment units based upon Work and Duration.

If you view the Task Usage view and look at the work spread on the right, Project will have spread the work out evenly over the entire task duration.

I hope this helps.

Julie

 

[ccn1981]

Great, thanks so much!

 

[JulieInMaine]

You're very welcome and thanks for the feedback.