I work on a fairly large program which currently has about 160 active task orders assigned to it. We've created an excel spreadsheet with each task order having it's own tab and shows the people working the task order and how many estimated hours it will take to complete. Each task order has a workforce HOWEVER, engineers can be allocated across multiple task orders.
Each task order has it's own period of performance and it's own funding. My manager now wants a roll up of all the hours each person is assigned to work by month and on which task order he/she is working. The spreadsheet I have now is getting out of hand and I need to know if there is anything else I can be using to make things a little easier.
Joseph PanganSenior Principal Consultant| Genpact PhilippinesAngeles City, Philippines, Philippines
Use Microsoft Project. Schedule Management, Task Management, Resource and Funding management, etc are easier done with Microsoft Project. Saving Changes...
To elaborate on the last response, using MS Project, you can create a blank master project and then add related task orders as subprojects. This way, you can manage each individually AND rolled up into the master project.
I don't know if this is the best solution, but given the information provided, it sounds like it will help you accomplish your objective. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
You can also check out ProjectLibre, which is a Microsoft Project compatible open source appilcation. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
In the meantime, you could make your life easier if all task order assignments were set up as a table, on one tab. You could then create a pivot table to provide the information requested by your manager.
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1 reply by Richard Infusino
Nov 27, 2017 5:15 PM
Richard Infusino
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Hi Stephane - do you happen to have an example I could see for the technique you describe? Thank you.
Unfortunately we operate on our customer's network and trying to get access to MS Project would be a mission - especially for all our project managers.
I did think about changing the format to have everything on one tab and then do a pivot table to extract what I need - that may be the only solution.
Thanks everyone for the feedback! Saving Changes...
Seem you have very specific need, pivot table is a nice solution, hope it work.
ProjectLibre could be a good solution, has suggested by Stéphane. Saving Changes...
Barbaros DemirMENA Business Development Lead, Project Management| HalliburtonDubai, United Arab Emirates
It would be good to use Microsoft Project (with most features of it), but on the other hand, in case you need to share the source file, it would be harder to share and explain during reporting.
I believe in MS Project and its capabilities, but it is not handy as MS Excel. And everybody knows Excel and they can play around (if you have macros, or some other interactive functions built in your Excel tracker). And people would like to check your basis, so Excel would be more beneficial for you. Saving Changes...
Richard InfusinoProject Manager| Washington StateLakewood, Wa, United States
Oct 05, 2017 12:16 PM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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In the meantime, you could make your life easier if all task order assignments were set up as a table, on one tab. You could then create a pivot table to provide the information requested by your manager.
Hi Stephane - do you happen to have an example I could see for the technique you describe? Thank you. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
The only examples I have are work-related. It's probably easier for me to create a "sample" than try to sanitize an existing one. I'll put one together and submit it as community content. I'll let you know when it's posted.
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1 reply by Richard Infusino
Nov 28, 2017 10:35 AM
Richard Infusino
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If you find time for that, I’ll be very appreciative. Thank you, Stephane.
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