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Adding resources to a fixed-duration effort-driven scheduled task in Project 2010

Answered Adding resources to a fixed-duration effort-driven scheduled task in Project 2010

  • Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:49 AM
     
     
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    I have a one-day task with a single full time work resource assigned. Task mode is set to auto scheduled,
    scheduling method is effort-driven and task type is fixed-duration. All settings are the defaults. I now add
    a resource without specifying the units and then Project 2010 reduces each resource's work amount to 4h
    as expected but does not change the assignment units accordingly (keeps at 100%). If I do the same in
    Project 2007, the assignment units both are reduced to 50%.  Am I missing something ?

    Another point; Project 2010 creates new tasks non-effort driven in contrary to Project 2007. Does that
    mean the default scheduling method in Project 2010 is non-effort driven ?
     

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  • Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:04 AM
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    Hello Ismet Kocaman,

    Yes, the default in Project 2010 is all tasks are non-effort driven.  In earlier releases the default was effort driven.  You can change the defaults in Project 2010 by going to the backstage (click the File tab) and choosing Options.

    I hope this helps.

    Julie
    • Marked As Answer by Project User Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:58 PM
    • Unmarked As Answer by Project User Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:00 PM
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  • Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:43 AM
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    Hi Ismet,

    in addition to Julie's post regarding scheduling methods....

    There was a change regarding calculation of assignments units. It was discussed in http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/projectprofessional2010general/thread/6d55f1f8-70e2-436a-8cff-4d031d2b4278. Julie gave there the explanation that there was "... is a change in the manner from previous releases.  The decision was made to leave the display of assignment units field stable.  As you discovered you can see the true units through the peak units field. ..."

    Does that apply to your question?

    Regards
    Barbara
    • Marked As Answer by Project User Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:59 PM
    • Unmarked As Answer by Project User Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:00 PM
    • Marked As Answer by Project User Friday, March 12, 2010 7:15 AM
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  • Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:55 PM
     
     
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    Thank you Julie, Barbara,

    So we need to check peak units field to see the calculated units.

    To summarize and verify; Project 2010 leaves assignment units field stable in the following cases:

    Fixed work task, duration changes
    Fixed duration task, work changes
    Fixed duration task, Effort driven [x], adding/removing resources

    I have two more points to add and no further questions:
    -  We can see "the little red man" when the task is overallocated but there is no visual sign in
       case of underallocation as a result of a change in units of stable fields.

    -  Let's consider the case, adding a resource R2 to task T1:
       T1 (8hrs, fixed-duration, effort-driven [x]), R1: 100%, 8hrs

       If I add R2 by entering 100%, Project 2010 changes both work hours to 4h, keeps units stable -does not 
       display 50%-; 
       On the other hand, if I add R2 by entering work hours (4h) + editing the hours for R1 from 8h to 4h,
       Project 2010 calculates and displays the assignment unit for R2 as 50% and still keeps R1's units stable. 
       That may create a confusion.

    Best Regards.
    Ismet.
     
  • Friday, March 12, 2010 12:09 AM
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    >Thank you Julie, Barbara,

    You're most welcome.

    >So we need to check peak units field to see the calculated units.

    Correct.

    >To summarize and verify; Project 2010 leaves assignment units field stable in the following cases:
    >
    >Fixed work task, duration changes
    >Fixed duration task, work changes
    >Fixed duration task, Effort driven [x], adding/removing resources

    Well, sort of .  The display of the assignment units stays stable.  However, if you look at either the task usage or resource usage view you can see that the calculated amount of work (and therefore the peak units) does change.  You can add the peak units field to the right side of the view to see the peak units per day.

    >I have two more points to add and no further questions:
    >-  We can see "the little red man" when the task is overallocated but there is no visual sign in
      > case of underallocation as a resfult of a change in units of stable fields.

    Project does not "flag" for underallocation as it does for overallocation.

    I hope this helps
    • Marked As Answer by Project User Friday, March 12, 2010 7:11 AM
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  • Friday, March 12, 2010 7:13 AM
     
     
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    Thank you so much Julie.

    Best Regards,
    Ismet Kocaman
    MCTS, PMP