Start & Finish Dates Not Computing Correctly

Question

I created a project in version 2010 and I used auto scheduling

when entering my tasks.  I assigned resources & estimated

durations to each task in the hopes that MS Project would

compute the correct start & finish dates, but it isn't.  For example,

I have a resource which I entered with 20% maximum units

(thus denoting he can only spend 20% of his 8 hour day on the

project) and I assigned him to a task that has an estimated

duration of 1 day (8 hours).   MS Project calculates the start

and finish date as the same day, which can't be correct because

he only can spend 20% of his time on the task.  It should take

him about 7 days.  I am using the "Standard" calendar.

I have tried a number of different things to try to fix it, but

to no avail.  Has someone encountered this before and can

shed some light on how to fix this?  Thanks for your assistance.

Answer 1

Hi,

Did you hope to get a different reply in a different newsgroup? Alas! For the benefit of the readers in this NG, here is a copy/paste of my reply in the technet forum:

This is Project's normal behaviour; Project calculates as follows: Work=Duration * Units. Since you haven't entered Work Project cannot recalculate duration as you hope. The tasks takes 1 day (duration) as you have set.

There are books written about this but just to get you started insert a Column Work and fill in the estimated work before assigning the resource. OR after you assign the resource as you did, reset Work to 1 day. In both cases Duration will be re-estimated.

THEN buy a book or otherwise learn about task types, Effoirt Driven scheduling, contoured assignments...

Answer 2

AscendCFO Consultant --

You are not handling the resource assignment correctly.  Here is what you need to do:

1. Apply the Gantt Chart view, if not already visible.
2. Click the View tab to display the View ribbon.
3. In the Split View section of the View ribbon, select the Details checkbox. Microsoft Project 2010 displays the Task Entry view, with the Gantt Chart view in the primary pane (top pane) and the Task Form view in the secondary pane (bottom pane).
4. Select the task to which you want to assign the resource at 20% Units.
5. In the Task Form pane, select the resource from the pick list in the Resource Name column.
6. In the Units column for the resource, enter 20%.
7. In the Work field, enter the amount of work you estimate the resource will perform on this task.
8. Click the OK button.

The system will now calculate the Duration of the task using the Units and Work values you supplied.  Hope this helps.

---

Dale A. Howard [MVP]

VP of Educational Services

msProjectExperts

http://www.msprojectexperts.com

http://www.projectserverexperts.com

"We write the books on Project Server"