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Adding and Removing Resources

In this exercise, youll add resources to, and remove resources from, tasks and observe the effects on work,
duration, and units. Then, youll check project statistics to see the impact your adjustments have on the
duration of the project.

1. Open Home Construction Project 3C.

The project plan opens with the Gantt Chart view displayed and showing the same information
from the last exercise, except that it does not display the Predecessors or Resource Names
columns.

As you examine the resource assignments, notice several places where additional resources can
help to complete tasks.

2. Choose task 6 Review blueprints with client.

This task is currently assigned to Mason Alexander, however the home buyer Rita Langdon
needs to be included in the review.

3. Choose Task >Editing >Scroll to Task to display the Gantt bar for Task 6.

4. Modify the Timescale by choosing View >Zoom >Timescale, and setting the value to Days.

The Gantt bars on the right side of the screen grow larger. With the timescale set to Days it will
be easier to see changes to the Gantt bars as resources are added or removed.

Note that the current duration of task 6 is one day.

5. Choose ResourceAssign Resources to display the Assign Resources dialog box.

6. Select Rita Langdon from the Resource Names column, click Assign, and close the Assign
Resources dialog box.

Microsoft Project displays the Action button next to the task name you just modified.
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7. Follow the steps below to select your Action options:

A. Click this drop-down button to display the Action Options menu.

B. Make sure the default option is chosen.

Selecting the default option (Increase the amount of work but keep the same duration.) causes
the scheduling formula to assume this task still takes one day, but that it will require two
resources.

Next, youll modify additional resource assignments.

8. Choose task 5 Draw blueprints.

9. Choose TaskEditingScroll to Task to display the Gantt bar for task 5.

The duration of this task is currently set to two weeks using the project architect (your most
expensive resource). Youll want to add a less expensive resource and reduce the amount of
time the task takes to complete.

10. Choose ResourceAssign Resources to display the Assign Resources dialog box.

11. Select construction foreman Christopher Allen from the Resource Names column, click
Assign, and close the Assign Resources dialog box.

Microsoft Project displays the Action button next to the task name you just modified.
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12. Click Action and select the first option displayed (Reduce duration but keep the same amount
of work).

Notice the duration of this task has been reduced from two weeks to one week. Because the
construction foreman is less expensive than the architect, your project costs have just gone
down. Additionally, the duration of your project has been reduced by five days.

13. Choose task 40 Install electrical infrastructure.

Presently, task 40 has no resources assigned and has a duration of eight days.

14. Using the technique in steps 10 through 12, assign the Electrical Contractors resource to
this task.

The duration of task 40 remains at eight days. You believe that by assigning construction
foreman Steven Michael you can reduce the duration of this task.

15. Assign Steven Michael as a second resource to task 40.

The Actions button is displayed.

16. From Actions, choose the first option (to reduce the duration of the task).

Task 40 is now scheduled to take four days. Unfortunately, you learn that Steven Michael will
not be available to help with this task. You must now remove this resource.

17. Remove Steven Michael as a resource for task 40.

18. Click Action and review the options displayed.

You decide to pay the electrical contractors overtime in order to get this task done in four days.

19. Click on the third option (Increase the hours resources work per day (units), but keep the same
duration and work.).

This task will now be completed in four days, but the project will incur higher costs because of
the overtime hours youve elected to pay.
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20. Choose ProjectPropertiesProject InformationStatistics.

Examine the Statistics screen. The last time you reviewed project statistics, your project
duration was estimated to be 104 days, starting on 6/16/14 and ending on11/10/14. Now the
project duration is 95 days, ending on 10/28/14. Because of the additional resource
assignments, the project will take less time to complete. Microsoft Project is also able to
estimate the amount of work (296 hours) and the cost ($23,
($25,500)
804.00) forentire
for the the entire project.
project.

21. Close the Project Statistics box.

22. Save the file and close it.