Chapter 8: Fine-Tuning Resource and Assignment Details

Chapter at a Glance

Change resource availability over time, page 176. Control when a resource starts work on an assignment, page 178. Contour resource assignments manually or with built-in contour patterns, page 180. Assign material resources to tasks using variable consumption rates, page 186.

In This Chapter, You will Learn How to:

• Set up different pay rates for resources.

• Set up pay rates that will change over time for a resource.

• Set resource availability to change over time.

• Delay the start of a resource assignment.

• Control how a resource’s work on a task is scheduled over time by using work contours.

• Apply different cost rates for a resource assigned to different kinds of tasks.

• Enter variable consumption rates for material resources.

Tip 

Do you need only a quick refresher on the topics in this chapter? See the Quick Reference entries on pages xxv–xlviii.

Because work resources (people and equipment) are often the most expensive part of a project, understanding how to make the best use of resources’ time is an important project planning skill. In this chapter, you examine and use a variety of advanced Microsoft Office Project 2007 features relating to resources and their assignments to tasks.

Important 

Before you can use the practice files provided for this chapter, you need to install them from the book’s companion CD to their default locations. See “Using the Book’s CD” on page xix for more information.