Step 5: Adding additional resources to a task

In this exercise you will finalise your project plan.

Checkpoint:

Before you continue, you can check whether you have carried out all the assignments exactly as stated in the previous exercise. Open the Project Statistics window and compare the project information:

Does your screen look the same? The assignment of resources to the tasks had the effect that the project duration has been extended from 41,5 days before the assignment to 47,5 days.
What do you think is the reason for this? If you do not know the answer then move your mouse over the graphic above.

The work associated with the project is 480 hours and the project cost is € 13.500,-

If your project plan shows different values it does not necessarily mean that you have done something wrong - maybe you have just assigned a resource differently. If you want to continue with my project plan so that you can compare your work later, you can download the project plan with the resource assignments. Right-click on project plan and 'Save target as ...'. Open this plan in MS Project and save it.

Adding additional resources to a task

When you assign additional resources to a task after the first assignment, Project uses a scheduling method called effort-driven scheduling. This means that the task's initial work value remains constant, regardless of the number of additional resources you assign. The most visible effect of effort-driven scheduling is that as you assign additional resources to a task, that task's duration decreases. Project applies effort-driven scheduling only when you assign resources to or remove resources from tasks after the first assignment.

In the next exercise you will add Tina Turner as an additional resource to task 7 - Library Research - and see what effect that has on the project schedule.

Exercise:

1. Open the project 'Writing a Bachelor Thesis' in the Gantt Chart view.
   
   
2. Click on task 7 in the task list. Mick Jagger is already assigned to this task.
   
   
3. Assign Tina Turner, too. After having assigned Tina Turner, close the Assign Resource window. If you cannot remember how to assign a resource go back to Step 4 of this tutorial.
   
   
4. What effect does this additional assignment have on the task duration? Make a note of the new duration and email it to me after you have completed this tutorial.
   
   
5. Tip: Note the Smart Tag indicator that appears left to the name of task 7 in the indicator column. Smart Tags generally appear when you might otherwise ask yourself, "Why did MS Project just do that?". The Smart Tag Actions list gives you the chance to change how Project responds to your actions.
   When you click on the Smart Tag your screen should look like the following illustration:

6. For taks 7, you want the additional resource Tina Turner to reduce the task's duration. Click the Smart Tag Actions button again to close the list.
   
   
7. This additional assignment also had an effect on the project costs. What are the costs for the project now? Make a note of the costs and send the figure to me in an email after you have completed the tutorial. In the unlikely event that you cannot remember where to find the project cost, have a look at the top of this page.

Congratulations - you have now successfully completed Step 5 and can move on to the next step.