Re: Predecessors!

From: JulieD (JulieD_at_hctsReMoVeThIs.net.au)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:26:56 +0800

Hi Steve

good example ... but i seriously think you need to get out more :)

Cheers
JulieD

"Steve House" <sjhouse.remove.this@to.send.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eJLu%23kUjEHA.1764@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> LOL Ain't it the truth! Last night I dreamt about that problem (have to
> stop with the pizza and salami just before bedtime) trying to figure out
> where linking the summary tasks might have a clear advantage and I came up
> with one. Imagine a project with 3 phases A, B, and C. The three phases
are
> such that all of A needs to be completed before B starts and all of B
> completed before C starts. A & C have several, say 5, subtasks under them
> that are linked within the phase FS. BUT phase B consists of 10 1 day
tasks
> that are completely arbitrary in the order in which they're done. Thus
> links to sequence them are superfluous and in fact in the scenario I'm
> developing they would be a negative. There is no predefined order of
tasks
> in B and no single task can be identified as the "first task" or the "last
> task" (yes I could put milestones in as subtasks as well and have one as a
> predecessor to all 10 activities and another as a successor to all 10 but
> that results in a spaghetti bowl of links). I assign resource Barney to
all
> the tasks in B. Resource leveling sequences out the tasks in B to set its
> duration. But how best to model its relationship to phases A & C? This
is
> one case where I think I'd use a link from Summary A to B and another link
> from B to summary C. One reason is that it does indeed preserve the
> arbitrary nature of the task sequencing in B as part of the model. We
don't
> care at all which subtask is done first, we 'll leave that to the
> resource(s) to decide for themselves. At that matters to us from a
> scheduling standpoint is how long it will take them to get all 10 done.
If
> we now acquire additional resource Fred who is also capable of doing those
B
> subtasks, we can substitute him for Barney on half of those tasks and when
> we re-level the duration of phase B and the start of phase C automatically
> adjusts without us having to worry about WHICH B level subtask each
resource
> is on or how we should rearrange the links. B gets done sooner so C can
> start earlier and that's all we need to deal with.
> --
> Steve House [MVP]
> MS Project Trainer/Consultant
> Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
>
>
> "Mark Durrenberger" <durrenm@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:e2JdylSjEHA.2932@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > "It depends" is the classic consultant answer :-)
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > --
> > _________________________________________________________
> > Mark Durrenberger, PMP
> > Principal, Oak Associates, Inc, www.oakinc.com
> > "Advancing the Theory and Practice of Project Management"
> > ________________________________________________________
> >
> > The nicest thing about NOT planning is that failure
> > comes as a complete surprise and is not preceded by
> > a period of worry and depression.
> >
> > - Sir John Harvey-Jones
> > "Steve House" <sjhouse.remove.this@to.send.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:OvcBRFGjEHA.1776@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > > Some people will argue to never link summary tasks while others will
say
> > > it's ok. I'd say, it depends <grin> - how's that for precise and
> > > definitive?). If Summary task A with all it's subtasks must be
finished
> > in
> > > it's entirety before any part of Summary task B begins AND if you know
> for
> > > sure which subtask in A will be the last one done and can identify the
> one
> > > task in B that will always be first, then you can link from the last
sub
> > in
> > > A to the first sub in B. If A and B have several parallel chains of
> tasks
> > > in each and you don't necessarily know in advance which task in A will
> end
> > > being the last one or whoch in B will end up being the first one, you
> > could
> > > link the two summaries. I've seem perfectly workable project plans
> using
> > > both methids, indeed, even using both methods in different parts of
the
> > same
> > > plan. The bottom line is what gives you the most readily understood
> > > schedule that serves as a valid predictive model of the project work
> > itself.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Steve House [MVP]
> > > MS Project Trainer/Consultant
> > > Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs
> > >
> > > "ak" <ak@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:9E64AEB9-9820-409B-BBB3-CAE8052F7D96@microsoft.com...
> > > > Hello,
> > > > My question is: Is it preferable to use summary tasks as
predecessor,
> > and
> > > > if not why?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Predecessors!
    ... A & C have several, say 5, subtasks under them ... I assign resource Barney to all ... "Mark Durrenberger" wrote in message ... >> Some people will argue to never link summary tasks while others will say ...
    (microsoft.public.project)
  • Re: How Does Project calculate
    ... will fix that but first I want to look at the desired sequence the tasks ... I set precedences for the tasks in order to try to set the sequential order of tasks to be completed by any given resource - this is how the resource knows what to tackle next. ... This is almost as if you would start working on assembling the roof while you wait for more woods to arrive for the completion of the wall, once you complete the wall, you can finish up on the roof and assemble the house... ...
    (microsoft.public.project)
  • Update and a detailed example of a problem Im having...
    ... Right now I am self-teaching via 2 books - one is the ... But since a resource may not always be able to ... Subtask1 19.75 Hrs 1 Hr ... the Subtasks Work Hours add up to 18 hours ...
    (microsoft.public.project)
  • Re: How Does Project calculate
    ... If this Priority/Leveling method is not feasible for such a large implementation, ... > will fix that but first I want to look at the desired sequence the tasks ... I substitute him for Jim on task B, ... > tasks to be completed by any given resource - this is how the resource knows ...
    (microsoft.public.project)
  • Re: Cost Estimate for Resources and Hours
    ... Due to the wonders of newsgroup formatting, ... Assign resources to the subtasks to generate work. ... The cost will be calculated by work * rate = cost. ... the hours by resource are totaled and multiplied ...
    (microsoft.public.project)