Planning Page

Overview

The Planning page is a valuable tool to use to quickly and easily establish resource demand on a proposed project without the need to perform time-consuming resource-loading on a detailed project plan. This high-level allocation data can be maintained through the life of the project and referenced when planning resources at a more detailed level. While resources may not be assigned to specific activities at this point, a portion of their time can be allocated towards the project, which informs project managers of the intended commitment of the resource to the project. This helps to avoid overallocation of resources during project planning.

Use the Planning page spreadsheet to specify, review, or modify project-level and WBS-level allocation data for individual resources and roles across a project lifecycle. For each resource or role assignment, you can record total allocated units, which are calculated live and distributed across the project timescale, or you can record individual timescale allocated values, which are summed to provide an allocation units total. For resource assignments, you can base your allocation decisions on the resources' current availability, which is recalculated live as you edit allocated values.

On this page, you can choose to work with a single project or all projects associated with a single portfolio, project code, resource, resource team, resource code, role, or role team.

Screen Elements

Synchronize Resource Dates link

Ensures all assignments are based on the current project timeline.

Export Spreadsheet link

Exports the current spreadsheet to a Microsoft Excel .xls file.

Full Screen mode link

Expands the current work area so it fills the entire display in a separate window. Nonessential controls are hidden from this mode.

Resource Analysis link

Redirects you to the Analysis page in order to evaluate resource usage and costs in customizable chart formats. Examine units or costs for an individual resource or summary values for all resources belonging to a resource team or code. See Resource Analysis Tab of the Analysis Page.

Customize link

Displays a dialog box with configurable options for customizing the Planning page. See Customize Spreadsheet Dialog Box of the Planning Page.

Filter and group by

The items to be displayed.

If portfolio or project code value is selected, all projects you have access to within the portfolio or project code value are displayed in the Resource Planning spreadsheet.

If resource is selected, all projects the resource is assigned to, and that you have access to, are displayed.

If resource team is selected, all projects that all resources on the team are assigned to, and that you have access to, are displayed.

If resource code is selected, all projects that all resources on the resource code are assigned to, and that you have access to, are displayed.

If role is selected, all projects that the selected role is assigned to and that you have access to, are displayed.

If role team team is selected, all projects that all roles on the team are assigned to, and that you have access to, are displayed.

Planning Toolbar

See Planning Toolbar.

Name field

The name of the project element.

Role field

The name of the role assigned to the project or WBS.

Search Criteria field

The indication of whether there is saved search criteria.

Committed field

Determines whether a resource is committed.

The resource assignment is stable and unlikely to change. When calculating availability, only assignments that are marked as committed are considered.

Start Date field

The planned start date of the project, or the start date for the WBS, or resource or role assignment. If the spreadsheet is grouped by portfolio, the start date is the earliest planned start date of all projects within the portfolio.

Finish Date field

The scheduled finish date of the project, or the finish date for the WBS, or resource or role assignment. If the spreadsheet is grouped by portfolio, the finish date is the latest scheduled finish date of all projects within the portfolio.

Project Forecast Start field

The planned start date of the project based on a what-if scenario designed to simulate project performance and outcomes.

Forecast Finish Date field

The planned finish date of a project or WBS based in a what-if scenario designed to stimulate project performance and outcomes and plan resource allocation.

Life of Project option

Determines whether to assign the resource or role for the full project duration.

Status field

The status codes used to classify resource or role assignments.

Usage field

Determines whether the resource or role is allocated.

Total Units field

The total number of units allocated to the project.

View Total Units by Hour, Day, Week, or Month.

% Allocation field

The percentage of available resource units.

As you make changes to the % Allocation field, the total units and corresponding timescale allocated units are recalculated and displayed in the spreadsheet.

Tips

  • Designating a resource or role assignment as Life of Project sets the assignment start and finish dates to match these project dates, if there is a scheduled finish date.
  • At the WBS level, Start and Finish reflect the earliest assignment start date and latest assignment finish date, respectively.
  • At the portfolio, project code value, and resource levels, Start and Finish reflect the earliest Planned Start and latest scheduled Finish, respectively.
  • At the portfolios, project codes, and project levels, the total units column (labeled as Total Hours, Days, Weeks, or Months) and timescale interval columns display a summary total of allocated units for all resources and roles. For example, if you choose project A when filtering the spreadsheet by projects, allocated units of all resources belonging to project A would roll up and show summary totals in the total units column and timescale interval columns in the spreadsheet. To show the summary totals at the WBS level, expand the WBS to show assignments.

Getting Here

  1. Click "" Resources
  2. On the Resources navigation bar, click"" Planning.

Related Topics

About Resource Planning

Customizing the Resource Planning Spreadsheet

Assigning Projects or WBS Elements to Resources or Roles

Assigning Resources or Roles to Projects or WBS Elements

Modifying Resource or Role Assignment Dates

Allocating Units or the Percentage of Available Units to Resources or Roles

Synchronizing Resource Planning Dates

Splitting a Resource or Role Assignment

Categorizing Resource or Role Assignments using Status Codes

Exporting the Resource Planning Spreadsheet


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