Resource workload constraints donot affect task dates!!

[galeena]

If I have two tasks A and B and I want to assign them to Marc.
Both are actually independent tasks and if we have enough resources they could be done in Parallel.
When I chose

Task StartDate EndDate Resources
A 2004/01/13 2004/01/16 Marc(100%)
B 2004/01/13 2004/01/15 Marc (100%)

MS project did not adjust the dates so that when Marc is done with his first task A, the second task B is started. This is a case of an overallocated resource.
In my opinion MS project should adjust the Starting Date of the second task so that it starts when the first task is over. Right now, I can solve this by creating a predecessor rule (FS) but in real there is no relation between the tasks other than the common resource working on them both.

Is there a way where I can set MS project to do this checking and consequently changing the start dates of some tasks according to the resources availability? is this offered in what they call resource leveling? Can you explain where to find it?

 

[PDQBach]

You wrote "in your opinion MS project should adjust the Starting Date".

Your opinion is wrong.

MS Project doesn't know what your company's overtime policy is nor does it know if you (like many others) deliberately schedule the same resource on multiple concurrent tasks at 100% because that's a quick way to do the scheduling. Nor does it know if the resource is actually a team of resources that will "wander" back and forth between the tasks. Nor does it know ...

Well, I'm sure you get the idea now.

You can do all sorts of things like create predecessor/successor links, change priorities, level tasks and resources, and set a whole bunch of settings and relationships where those settings and relationships will work with you to adjust task scheduling and sequencing so that it reflects the reality of the environment you're actually working in and not the "in a perfect world" scenario that you've described.

The one thing you can't do is get MS to change Project to work the inflexible way you think it should when there are so many others who need the flexibility that it offers.

 

[galeena]

If you read my posting carefully you will notice that I m looking for a place where I can configure MS Project to do what I expect from it.


"Is there a way where I can set MS project to do this checking and consequently changing the start dates of some tasks according to the resources availability? is this offered in what they call resource leveling? Can you explain where to find it?"

So I dont expect this to be the general behavior but it makes sense to be able to set it according to PM's needs. I also mentioned that Marc has been assigned to work 100% on the task A. So how can MS Project still accept him to work 100% on Task B at the same time!!! Is there an implicit meaning for 100% in your opinion?!!

In my opinion this is a major bug in MS Project.

Anyone with Primavera experience here??

 

[PDQBach]

What you are asking for is called dynamic levelling and is rather useless since, for any given task on any given non-trivial project the computational demands would be overwhelming.

You enter a task. You assign your resources. (Dynamic level). You establish the first predecessor. (Dynamic level). You establish the next predecessor. (Dynamic level). You establish a task successor. (Dynamic level). You apply a task calendar. (Dynamic level).

And every time you do that dynamic level, the changes have to cascade and propagate through all affected tasks.

I suppose if you're working on a small 500-750 task project then you might have a point. Otherwise you're asking Project to incorporate something that almost everyone but you would turn off immediately.

You asked "is there an implicit meaning for 100% in my opinion?" Your question is deliberately tendentious and adds nothing to the discussion.