Forum Discussion
Why is project leaving unused capacity in days?
- Joe1250,
If there is no dependency between tasks do not create one just to make the flow easier.
I think I've given you a good foundation for setting up your Project plan. It's up to you to develop the concepts presented and go forth. It will be an iterative process, you just have to see what works best for you.
John
Wow, almost too much information but I gotta ask, is Snagglepus one of your resources?
Don't confuse manual structuring with manual scheduling. I probably used a wrong term. As long as all of your tasks as set as "auto-scheduled" (Task Mode field), you are good to go. When leveling is applied to help alleviate overallocations, the leveling algorithm does it's best to shift resource assignments based on how the leveling options are set. However, there are times when the algorithm just can't resolve everything. The user must first take a look at what the leveling algorithm did (sometimes it does assignment shifting that is undesireable) and then make some adjustments such as: reviewing dependencies to insure they are valid, reviewing estimated durations and work for tasks, adding more resources, eliminating tasks that may not be absolutely necessary to achieve the end goal. It all comes down to "negotiating" with the plan to reach an acceptable end result.
On your screen shot, if you remove various summary groups from the plan, the dependency structure of all remaining summary groups remains intact, BUT, you may need to add dependencies to the first task of some summary groups to regain the desired waterfall structure. Do NOT put dependencies on summary lines, it may seem like an "easy out" but it is bad practice and normally results in schedule havoc.
John
Hey John-project , if you're referring to the screen shot, it's a program called Snagit 🙂
Thanks for the tips! I've gone down another rabbit hole... So the first task in subgroup 1 is the first task no matter what. If there is more than one sample set, then I'm thinking the first task in each subgroup is dependent on all the first tasks of the subgroups above it (ie. Create Mailout 1 -> Create Mailout 2 -> Create Mailout 3). So in the image below, the first task in each subgroup is "Create Sample Set" and I've set the predecessors to include all of the previous task rows for that task type... I think this is correct?
But the next part is where I'm kind of struggling... The next task type after the Samples have been created is to "Create the Mailout". So if there is more than 1 sample set, then is the logic that the predecessors flow with the task type? ie. Create Mailout 1 -> Create Mailout 2 -> Create Mailout 3...? or is it that Create Mailout 3 can be preceded by Create Mailout 1 and 2 AND Create Sample Set 3? Maybe this image will help clarify that question...
Thanks,
Joe
- Joe1250,
Ask yourself, is creating sample set 002 dependent on the completion of creating sample set 001? Generally I would think not, so there is no valid dependency unless creating those sample sets can only be done by one resource, or creating sample set 002 requires something from sample set 001.
However, creating a sample set, preparing that set for mailing and then sending it out is a valid sequence wherein the previous task needs to be completed before the next can begin. How many of those groups can be done simultaneously is dependent on available resources. That's where leveling can help.
In your case there may be other, not quite so obvious dependencies. For example, maybe you need to get feedback on responses from one or more sample sets before other sample sets are created and sent out.
For whatever you are planning to do, first define the tasks necessary to achieve the goal, link them in a logical sequence of how and when they need to be done, and assign resources to do the work. If the result meets the goal in the desired time frame, press forth. If not, revise the plan as necessary. Don't overthink it.
Oh, and in the screen shot I was referring to the resource Murgatroyd as in "heavens to Murgatroyd". Google it.
JohnThanks John-project , you are correct that creating sample set 002 is not physically dependent on the creation of sample set 001 however it will pretty much always be done by the same person. Kind of like that example in the Microsoft learning about trying to have 2 people write an essay that should only take 2 hrs.... it would probably take longer and be more work to try to share these tasks between multiple resources, so i was thinking making them dependant or nonconcurrent would make sense and help with leveling. In this case would you recommend creating the dependency?
Thank you for the further explanation and I did google Heaven's to Murgatroyd, a little before my time, but I do vaguely recall that expression now, I'd forgotten all about it!
Thanks,
Joe
- Joe1250,
If there is no dependency between tasks do not create one just to make the flow easier.
I think I've given you a good foundation for setting up your Project plan. It's up to you to develop the concepts presented and go forth. It will be an iterative process, you just have to see what works best for you.
John