Cost Rate Table.

Question

You use the tabs to assign different rate types for a resource.  If a rate changes from one year to the next, you add an effective date for the change on each tab.  I'm working with fixed cost projects where the rate will not change across years once a project begins, but new projects should use the new year's rates.  How can I accomplish this? If I don't put the new year's effective rate, new projects will have old rate; if I do, the old projects will change per the effective date for new rate.

Also, for specially negotiated projects, a non-standard rate is used for all resources.  Is there a way to select the non-standard rate cost rate table at a project level rather than having to go through each task/resource and select the cost rate table to use?

Answer 1

Shaunda101,

That's right, cost rate table A is the default and no, unfortunately you cannot set a cost rate table at a resource or task level, it must be done at the assignment level. However, through the use of filters or grouping, you could set the cost rate table of multiple resource assignments using fill down.

John

Answer 2

Shaunda101,

As you indicate you can vary a resource's rate by using different tables. However, if you modify rate table A for example, that modified rate will apply to every assignment, in every project, that uses rate table A.

If the 5 rate tables aren't enough to cover all your cases I suggest the following approach. As necessary create alternate resources with unique rate structures. For example resource A uses rate tables A-E for a given project. Resource A-1 (same guy), has another set of rate tables that is a modified version of the base rate. When you want the full rate, assign resource A. When you need a discounted rate, assign resource A-1.

John

Answer 3

Shaunda101,

Maybe there is some terminology issues here but in my mind a "new" project will ordinarily have its own file and therefore the resources will be in that file so setting up the labor rate is straightforward. However, you are apparently doing it a little differently. Are you saying that a given resource may have one rate on a project that spans multiple years and then have a different rate for that same resource if he/she works on a new project?

Let's assume that your "projects" are in one file. Set up resource rate tables as appropriate for the project involved. For example use rate table A for the long term project where the rates do not change over the span of the project and rate table B for a new project that starts next year with a different rate. Go to the Resource Usage or Task Usage view and add the Cost Rate Table field as a column. Assign the appropriate rate table to each assignment row.

For your second question I'd set up the non-standard rate as you would any rate on the Resource Sheet and then use fill down to set that rate for all resources.

Hope this helps.

John

Answer 4

A slightly different scenario is:  Rates are defined for the year.  For example:

Project Manager: $100 standard rate;   $125 Premium rate;  $150 SME rate

I have these rates in cost rate table, tabs A-C.  If for a particular project the company gives the client a 10% discount across the board for a particular project, how would I do this?  If I put an effective date on each of the tabs with the 10% if would work, but then that rate would be in effect for all projects, which I do not want. Any ideas?