Duration,Work Unit and Resource equation

Hi Shahul,

I will answer about Spider Project and let others to explain what exists in MS Project and Primavera.

In Spider Project activities may be of Duration, Productivity, Hammock, Switch, and Milestone types.

Last two types are zero duration activities. You can assign resources to these activities but their duration will still be zero.

If activity is of Duration type its duration in work hours is defined directly and does not depend on assigned resources.

Duration of hammock activity is defined by some events in the project schedule and also does not depend on assigned resources.

Only for activities of Productivity type the duration directly depends on total productivity of assigned resources.

For these activities you shall define the volume (amount, quantity) of work to be done, assign resources and enter productiivities (work volume per hour) for driving resources (per 1 unit). Activity duration will be calculated basing on these data (Activity volume divided by total resource productivity if resources work together, more complicated if assigned resources work independently in different teams).

If you assign not certain resources but skills Spider Project will select resources that shall be assigned basing on their skills, availability, productivities and costs. Selection will impact activity duration.

We suggest to enter activity and resource types, and create reference-books with corporate productivity norms. In this case you will not need to enter resource productivities with each asignment.

Best Regards,

Vladimir

Thanks Mr.Vladimir

Please explain the underlined sentence

 '' for driving resources (per 1 unit). " 

Just some examples:

On breaklaying activity a crew may consist of masons and helpers. Masons are driving and you shall define productivity (number of bricks per hour) for one mason. Adding helpers does not increase crew productivity if their number is sufficient.

On earth moving activityy crew productivity is defined by excavators belonging to the crew. If there are excavators of different capacity you shall enter productivies for each type. Crew productivity will be the sum of productivities of resources (excavators) belonging to the crew. Other crew resources are necessary but do not define crew productivity.

Best Regards,

Vladimir