Best/Good Practice request: Resource Leveling

J. Craig Williams

Another better practice looking for.

How do you handle completed tasks and resource leveling?

If there is a 8 hour task scheduled for this week and the person knocks if off on Tuesday, they aren't needed on Wed-Fri at 20%.

For long term planning, I'd really like to know the task took 8 hours and that the person did it in hours, but for forecasting their current resources, they are "free" or should be.

I'm looking to improve my process.

Thanks.

Craig

Andy Brittain

Hi

I started down this route and ended up not micro managing. We work on a week by week basis where the tasks have been allocated based on someone not being 100% utilised 5 days a week (as its not realistic). So we are doing as you do and putting in an elapsed time of a week at 20% each day.

Andy

J. Craig Williams

Andy,

I'm concerned about under-utilization too - my target is typically 70% with many lively discussions with upper management about that. I can usuallly account for 20% of the 30% "lost productivity" -- and it isn't lost.

However, in this case, I'm more concerned with over-utilization. I've got schedules out to 18 months and can see there are a bunch of day or several day tasks that get lost in the noise if ignored. I really don't want to micromanage - but trying to figure out how the tool can help me help my direct reports accomplish all of their tasks.

Craig