Re: Task 'unit' properties
From: Mark 123 (none_at_none.com)
Date: 06/09/04
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Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 13:26:22 +1200
This may be of some help too:
http://www.orbisoft.com/products/taskmanager/2005/support/faq.htm#QMainProject
http://www.orbisoft.com/kb/taskmanager/2005/q/1030.htm
http://www.orbisoft.com/download
"A Nony Mouse" <anony@mouse.org> wrote in message
news:%23fdwILWTEHA.3872@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Scott,
>
> Thanks for your post... I appreciate the offer of help, even from another
> 'newbie'. :)
>
> >I might also note that my personal
> > inclination would be to advise you to use something like
> > Access instead of MS Project if you plan to keep more than
> > very general information about the process.
>
> Agreed, but I am actually tracking specifics... Sorry if that was unclear
> in my previous post. I spent a couple weeks trying to figure out which
> product would do what I needed, and a PM tool seemed to fit the bill most
> appropriately.
>
> > All that I can advise here is that you take this into
> > consideration when making your time estimates.
>
> Hmmmm... That sucks. Thanks for your suggested fix, I can see how that
> works so at least I have an 'out' now. I just am surprised that Project
> doesn't have a means to allow for 'production' of a number of items...
> Essentially that's what we're trying to do.
>
> I have deadlines at sandwich in the processing and review time... My hope
> is that I could have an accurate picture of how far along we are between
> those deadlines and whether or not we need to shift certain landmarks
based
> on the resources we have available.
>
> I can do all the estimating up front... I was just hoping Project could
> recalculate on the fly once the 'real' numbers are in. I have been told
> that other PM suites (like Primavera) are supposedly capable of doing
> this...
>
> I really appreciate the help... I'll prolly shoot you an email just in
case
> you aren't leeping up with this thread anymore. And I might repost just
for
> kicks.
>
> Thanks so much,
> Brian
>
> "ScottB" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1685901c44847$00a6dd30$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> > Let me preface my response by saying that I'm not far
> > ahead of you in terms of Project expertise...if you're so
> > inclined, feel free to post your message again
> > with 'second posting' added to the subject line since
> > people may not read this if they feel that it has already
> > been answered. (I'm the guy who submitted the question
> > just before yours). I might also note that my personal
> > inclination would be to advise you to use something like
> > Access instead of MS Project if you plan to keep more than
> > very general information about the process.
> >
> > In responding to your question, I'm assuming that you
> > probably don't have much latitude in terms of (a) calling
> > in additional resources to do the work and (b) moving
> > deadlines back. In this context, being able to 'show'
> > that more applications translates into the need for more
> > labor might be the program's best value for what you seem
> > to have in mind. Since each application is in itself a
> > task, one would be inclined to list each application this
> > way. Needless to say, setting this up complete with links
> > from one stage of the process to the next would quickly
> > turn into a paper nightmare.
> >
> > The way I would approach this is to meet with your team
> > and put their experience into writing in an effort to
> > figure out how long it takes a (one) person to process
> > applications along each step of the process. For example:
> > - Send out application package (20/day)
> > - Receive and review returned applications for
> > completeness (10/day)
> > - Review complete applications and separate out those not
> > meeting minimum standards (15/day)
> > - Set up interviews for those meeting minimal standards
> > (10/day)
> > - Conduct interviews (15/day)
> > - 'Score' applicants for second cut (30/day)
> > - Review short-list for acceptance (based on determined
> > acceptance levels) (15/day)
> > - Prepare and send out acceptance letters (30/day)
> > etc.
> >
> > I would then set these up as separate tasks. Then,
> > underneath each you could indent (making the above summary
> > lines) and create 'batches' with the understanding that
> > each batch covered, say, 100 applicants. For example:
> >
> > Send out applicant package ==============
> > Batch 1 ---
> > Batch 2 ---
> > Batch 3 ---
> > Receive and review... ============
> > Batch 1 ---
> > ...
> >
> > You could then link Batch 1 in one section with Batch 1 in
> > the next section. Similarly, Batch 1 in the first section
> > would be linked to Batch 2 in the same section. The
> > duration of each batch would be based on your earlier
> > discussions. For example, if a person could prepare 20
> > application packages in one day then Batch 1 would take 5
> > days (as would Batch 2 and 3). By following this
> > methodology you should get some sense of when Batch 1
> > would be completed, Batch 2 would be completed, etc.
> > This, of course, is somewhat simplistic since Batch 1
> > might start at 100 but be reduced to, say, 50 after the
> > first review, to 15 after the second review, etc. All
> > that I can advise here is that you take this into
> > consideration when making your time estimates. You would
> > insert or delete Batch numbers depending on how many
> > applications you actually receive.
> >
> > To the best of my knowledge, there is no easy way to
> > calculate and automate the durations along the lines that
> > you described. You might be better off with Excel or
> > something like that to derive level of efforts based on
> > variable inputs. Again, if it were me I would probably
> > use something other than MS Project if you want to be able
> > to track progress on each application. If this is the
> > case, feel free to contact me (shbellows@global4cit.com)
> > and I'll try to offer you some free advice to get you
> > headed in the right direction.
> >
> > I hope this helps and best of luck. Scott
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >Hi all.
> > >
> > >I'm basically a Project newbie... I'm searched through
> > archived posts for
> > >this group and couldn't find an answer to this question.
> > >
> > >BACKGROUND: I work in an admissions office at a
> > college. We're using
> > >Project to manage the office deliverables from getting
> > applications in to
> > >getting decisions out.
> > >
> > >ISSUE: On an application deadline, the processing team
> > (that I oversee)
> > >begins to do all kinds of magic to each individual file.
> > The processing
> > >time for the whole batch depends on the total number of
> > applications we
> > >receive (more apps, more processing time). In addition,
> > another team in the
> > >office responsible for reviewing applications can only
> > begin work once we
> > >have processed a 'critical mass' of files for them.
> > >
> > >HOPE: We can set up our calendar based on estimated
> > inbound applications to
> > >start with. Once the actual application number is known,
> > we would love ot
> > >be able to change the 'input' number in Project and have
> > the calendar update
> > >automagically to reflect the real timeline.
> > >
> > >QUESTIONS:
> > >1) Is it possible to tell Project that a task's length
> > should be calculated
> > >based on (in this case) # of applications divided by
> > expected daily output?
> > >I would figure that this is a 'fixed work' task where
> > units would equal the
> > >number of applications, but I can't seem to nail down how
> > to set it up.
> > >
> > >2) Can you set a dependant task to begin once 100 'units'
> > of the other task
> > >have been completed? In my case, this would be setting
> > the reading/review
> > >of the applications to begin once ~100 applications have
> > been completely
> > >processed by my team.
> > >
> > >I look forward to reading your posted responses... And I
> > thank you *very
> > >very* much for your help!
> > >
> > >Sincerely, Mouse
> > >
> > >
> > >.
> > >
>
>
- Next message: Jerry: "Re: Error in Project calculation?"
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- In reply to: A Nony Mouse: "Re: Task 'unit' properties"
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