Project 2013 Introduction

Project 2013

Lesson 4 – Working with Resources

In the bottom pane, click in the blank Resource Name field under the Laborer . Select the Resource Name list, scroll as necessary and select Doors . Select the Units field for the Doors resource and type 10 .

Return to the table and continue on to the next step (step 6).

Practice the Concept: Click the Next button in the bottom pane to select the next task. Use the Task Details Form view to add the Laborer at 100 % units and Windows with 24 units to the 21 Install Windows task.

C HANGING THE T ASK T YPE

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Discussion

Microsoft Project includes three types of tasks: fixed duration, fixed units, and fixed work. The default type for tasks in Microsoft Project 2013 is fixed units. You can change the task type to fix the duration, units, or work for a given task.

A fixed units task is a task in which the resource amount you assign is a fixed value that will not change even if the duration or amount of work changes. The only way to affect the fixed unit is to change it. For example, if you initially assign a resource to a task (units = 100%) and then add an additional resource (units = 100%), the assignment value for the first resource remains at 100%. If you later add another resource (units = 100%), the assignment value for the first and second resources assigned to the task will remain at 100%. The unit value will remain fixed; however, the duration of the task and work assigned to each resource will change. A fixed duration task is a task in which the duration is a fixed value; any changes you make to the resource or work amount do not change the duration of the task. If you do not want the duration of a task to be affected when you alter resource assignments, you can use this task type (referred to as fixed duration scheduling). For example, you assign a resource (units = 100%) to a task with a fixed duration of three days. You later assign another resource (units = 100%) to the task. The duration of the task remains at three days since it is fixed, however, each resource is only required to work part-time (50%) on the task. In this example, the amount of work assigned to each resource is cut in half.

A fixed work task is a task in which the amount of work is a fixed value that will not change even if the resource value or duration changes. For example, you schedule a fixed work task for two days and assign a resource (units = 100%) to it. The resource is assigned 16 hours of work based on two 8-hour days. You later change the task

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