Hi,
I’ve got very good question form one of my Blog readers:
“The effect of initial resource assignment on calculation of Individual resource’s work. Suppose we want have two resources R1 (100%) and R2(50%) to work on a 20h fixed unit task. When we enter 40h of Work first, BEFORE simultaneously assigning the resources. After we assign, for example, two resources (one with 100%, an another with 50%), total work for the Task has been changed.
Why does Project disregard each resource’s assignment units and assigns total work of 40h to each resource so that the total work increases twofold?
So what is the best way to initially assign several resources to a Fixed Unit task for a given Work : that is, if I want 2 resources R1 and R2 to be assigned together to as task of 40h? Only make the task fixed work type?”
OK! I will follow the question step by step!
First I’m going to create brand new Project with one Task, and I am going to put 40 hours in the Work field
Now I’m going to create two Resources, and I will say that R1 has 100% Max Units, and R2 has 50% Max Units:
Now, I will assign them to the Task:
As you can see, work is now 80 hrs. Let’s see Task Usage View:
Q: Why does Project disregard each resource’s assignment units and assigns total work of 40h to each resource so that the total work increases twofold?
A: Because, in MS PROJECT, if you put Work for Task, for example 40 hours, it means that every Resource should spend 40 hours for completing that Task. That’s how it works!
Q: So what is the best way to initially assign several resources to a Fixed Unit task for a given Work : that is, if I want 2 resources R1 and R2 to be assigned together to as task of 40h? Only make the task fixed work type?”
A: You should do it manually. See the example below:
Let’s say that you want for your Task that Each Resource should work 20 hours for that Task.
Here I will put 20 hours for each Resource,. and II ‘will click on OK button:
In Fixed Units Task Type, if you want to assign different work for the Task, you must specify exact work for each resource. Otherwise, if you put work amount for the Task, and then assign Resources, each Resource will have same amount of work!
Hope this helps,
Regards!
Nenad Trajkovski 
Hi Nehad,
Sorry to post here but how do I send a question to you?
Regards
NL
nenadtrajk@gmail.com
Hi Nenad,
Thank you for an excellent answer.
But what should I do if I don’t know or don’t care about the anount of work for each individual resource? What I do care is that a fixed units task with a 40hr of work be performed by two resorces R1 (100%) and R2 (50%).
How can I set up such a task?
Thank you,
Alex Shafir
Than you should use Fixed work! Why? Because if you know that you will need 40 hours, and you do not care about who is working 20 or 30 hours, then you rwork is FIXED!