Update Your Microsoft Project 2013 File MPP To Include Resou

Update Your Microsoft Project 2013 File Mpp To Include Resources

Update your Microsoft Project 2013 file (.mpp) to include resources and resource assignments using the Microsoft Project files that you updated for Assignment 5. Add resources to your project using the resources sheet. Please define all types of resources including Work, Material, and Cost. At a minimum, complete the following fields for each human resource: Resource Name, Type, Initials, Max, Std. Rate, Base (Calendar). You can choose to use role names or birth names.

For other resource types, complete Cost/Use. Once the resources have been added to the project file, assign those resources to the tasks that you defined in the project schedule. Multiple resources can be assigned to the same task. Resources should not be assigned to summary-level tasks. Chapters 7 and 8 of the Ambriz book include step-by-step instructions for completing these tasks. The sample file link is a Microsoft Project file that will give you an idea of what your completed Unit 6 assignment will look like.

Paper For Above instruction

Updating a Microsoft Project 2013 file to include detailed resources and their assignments is an essential step in effective project management, ensuring that every aspect of resource allocation is meticulously planned and tracked. This process enables project managers to optimize resource utilization, prevent overallocation, and improve project scheduling accuracy. The following discussion elaborates on the procedures, considerations, and best practices involved in enriching a project file with diverse resource data and properly assigning these resources to project tasks.

Introduction

Microsoft Project 2013 is a powerful tool widely used in project planning and management, enabling users to create, modify, and analyze project schedules. Central to its functionality is the ability to manage resources – human, material, and cost-related – and link them effectively to specific tasks. Incorporating detailed and accurate resource data helps ensure project success by aligning resource availability with project timelines and requirements.

Adding Resources to the Project File

The initial step involves accessing the Resources sheet within Microsoft Project. This sheet functions as a repository where all resource-related information is stored and managed. When updating the project file, it is crucial to define all relevant resource types comprehensively: Work, Material, and Cost resources.

Work Resources

Work resources refer to personnel, equipment, or any entity that performs work on project tasks. For each human resource, it is necessary to input essential details such as Resource Name, Resource Type (which should be set to Work), Initials for quick identification, Maximum Units (indicating availability), Standard Rate (the cost per hour), and Base Calendar (detailing working hours). Selecting between role names or actual names depends on project scope and team structure, but consistency is key for effective tracking.

Material Resources

Material resources include tangible items like supplies or components required for project tasks. For these, the Cost/Use field should be completed to assign costs per use or per unit, facilitating accurate cost tracking and resource procurement planning.

Cost Resources

Cost resources are used for budgeting non-physical expenses such as permits or consultants. Like material resources, they require Cost/Use data and should be populated with specific cost information to aid financial tracking.

Assigning Resources to Tasks

With resources defined, the next step involves assigning them to specific project tasks. This is achieved through the Task Usage or Assignments view, where resources can be linked to individual tasks. It is important to ensure that resources are assigned only to task-level activities, not to summary or milestone tasks, to maintain schedule clarity and accuracy.

Multiple resources can be associated with a single task, which is particularly useful for complex activities requiring teamwork or combined efforts from different resource types. Such multiple assignments should be managed carefully to prevent overallocation, which occurs when a resource is assigned more work than it can deliver within the designated timeframe.

Best Practices and Considerations

Effective resource management requires attention to detail. When defining resources, including precise information about availability, rates, and calendar schedules ensures that the project plan reflects realistic constraints. Regularly reviewing resource allocation and utilization reports within Microsoft Project helps identify potential conflicts or bottlenecks early, enabling timely adjustments.

Chapters 7 and 8 of Ambriz’s textbook offer detailed, step-by-step instructions for entering resources and performing assignments, which are invaluable for ensuring correctness and thoroughness. Following these guidelines ensures consistency and helps prevent common mistakes such as over-allocation or missing resource costs.

Conclusion

In summary, updating a Microsoft Project 2013 file to incorporate detailed resource data and assignments is fundamental to successful project management. Properly defining human, material, and cost resources, and attaching them accurately to project tasks, supports effective scheduling, resource utilization, and cost control. Using the structured approach outlined above, along with the guidance provided in Ambriz’s chapters, project managers can enhance the fidelity and functionality of their project plans, facilitating better decision-making and project outcomes.

References

• Ambriz, J. (2012). Project Management with Microsoft Project 2013: The Official Curriculum. Microsoft Press.
• Gido, J., & Clements, J. (2018). Effective Project Management. Cengage Learning.
• Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management JumpStart. Wiley.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
• Larson, E., & Gray, C. (2017). Project Management: The Managerial Process. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Microsoft. (2013). Microsoft Project 2013 Step by Step. Microsoft Press.
• PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition. Project Management Institute.
• Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
• Verzuh, E. (2015). The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management. Wiley.
• Wysocki, R. K. (2014). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Wiley.