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Assign Work Resources to Tasks

In this exercise, youll assign various work resources to tasks, and examine the results of overallocation.

1. Open the Home

file 3B file
Construction Projectfrom from
your the course
course dataset
dataset folder.folder.

The project plan opens with the Gantt Chart view displayed.

2. Select Assign project team members (Task 1

2).

3. Choose TaskEditingScroll to Task to display the Gantt bar for Task 1.

2.

Assign this task to company owner Mason Alexander.

4. Choose ResourceAssign Resources to display the Assign

Assign Resources
Resources dialog box.

Notice that the project resources are listed in alphabetical order in the Resource Name column.

5. Follow the steps below to assign

assign Mason Alexander to Task 2.
1

B
A

C
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A. Verify that the correct task is selected.

B. If necessary, use the scroll bar to scroll down to locate Mason Alexander.

C. Select Mason Alexander from the Resource Name column.

D. Click Assign.

A checkmark appears next to Mason Alexanders name in the Resource Name column. Note that
units and cost for Mason Alexander are also calculated and displayed.

The Assign Resources dialog box floats on top of the task list and you can position it
anywhere you want in the Gantt Chart view.

6. Position the Assign

Assign Resources
Resources dialog box at a convenient location, then assign Mason Alexander
to task 4 Select Architect, to task 6 Review blueprints with client, and to task 9 Sign
contract with client.

7. Assign the architect Michelle Elizabeth to task 5 Draw blueprints.

Michelle Elizabeth

As you assign resources to tasks, the name of the assigned resource appears on the right side
of the Gantt chart view. The name is placed to the right of the Gantt bar for each assigned task.

8. Click Close on the Assign

Assign Resources
Resources dialog box.

Next, you'll
youlluse
use a different method to assign resources to tasks.

9. Choose task 7 Develop construction estimate.

10. Drag the cursor between the Task list and the Gantt bars on the right until you see the
Resource Names column.

Notice the resource names for all previously assigned resources appear. The resource name cell
for task 7 is empty.
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11. Click in the empty Resource Names cell for task 7, and then click on the downward arrow.

An alphabetical list of resources is displayed.

12. From the list, check thename

check the namePaul
PaulJacob
Jacob and tap (Enter).

13. Using the same technique as in step 6 , assign Adam Bennett to task 8 Verify financing and
Paul Jacob to task 10 Order materials.

Use the Assign Resources dialog box to assign multiple tasks to a given resource.

14. Select
Select tasks 12, 13, andand 14 by clicking task number 12 on the left side of the Task list, then
hold (Shift) and click task number 14.

These tasks are for permit applications necessary to build the custom home. Assign all three of
these tasks to one of your construction foremen, Steven Michael.

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

16. Choose Steven Michael from the Resource Names column, click Assign,
Assig , and close the Assign
Assign
Resources dialog box.
Resources

17. Choose TaskEditingScroll to Task to display the Gantt bars for Tasks 12-14.

Examine the Gantt Chart view for tasks 12 through 14. Notice the red-colored symbols in the
leftmost column of the task list indicating resource overallocation. Overallocation of resources
(when a resource is given too much work in too brief a time period) is addressed by adding
resources to a task or by increasing a tasks duration.

In this instance, there is no reason to take action now because the three tasks have a Start -to-
Start relationship and each has a duration of three days. Assigning these tasks to Steven
Michael makes it appear as if he has three days to perform nine days of work. But that is not
really the case: Steven can apply for all three permits on one day, but they will take three days
to move through the approval process. Therefore, the apparent overallocation is acceptable.
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18. Compare your project plan to the illustration below: they should look the same.

19. Save the file and close it.