JOE WIGGINS Development Manager, Workfront CHRIS SAVOIE Product Manager, Workfront EXPLORING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
YOUR SESSION LEADERS Chris Savoie Product Manager Focused on enterprise Worked at NASA Believes in science Knows some of you Is a real life Cajun Joe Wiggins Development Manager Focuses on enterprise, marketing, education, support, partners and performance teams. Lacks focus Hails from Modesto CA
WHY ARE YOU HERE? What is resource management? Wrong room Can we just do one more project? Silver bullet If you would only just... Who is free to do this work? Extra tomatoes
AGENDA Background and Design History Overview of Existing Tools Common Pitfalls and Limitations Future of Resource Management
WHAT IS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT? When planning a project: What will it take to do the project? Do we have the resources to do the project? When will we have the resources? During a project: What roles are needed now? Who is available to fill those roles? What if changes need to be made mid-flight?
WORKFRONT RM TOOLS HISTORY Age: 7 years Team Size: 20-40 people Teams: Few Technology: Flash Work style: Pure PMP
PLANNING TOOLS Can we fit a new project in with the existing resources? Resource Estimates Capacity Planner Resource Grid Resource Budget Manager
RESOURCE ESTIMATES Reflects resource estimates for a project Can plan or pull in scheduled resources Best guess for how much you will need them Steps to Succeed Project Details: Business Case: Resource Estimate Add Resource Pool Add Resources Estimate Resources Update to scheduled once project planned
CAPACITY PLANNER High level view of Available resources Projects using this resource pool Remaining resources Per resource pool Available Projects = Remaining Steps to Succeed People: Resource Planning: Resource Pools Test idea projects Modify resource estimates Deconflict projects
RESOURCE GRID Shows you existing resources by role Highlights when resources are more or less efficient than predicted Intended to identify when to add help or reallocate resources Steps for Success Projects: Staffing: Resource Grid Show actuals in preferences Assess your resources
RESOURCE BUDGET MANAGER Similar to capacity planner, but overarching for all resources Active allocation of time to users Used by resource manager Steps to Succeed People: Resource Planning: Resource Budget Manager Manage roles for all resource pools and projects Keep resource pools accurate
ASSIGNMENT TOOLS Who is available to do the approved work? Team Builder User Utilization Working on Calendar
TEAM BUILDER Unique to each project Quick way to overlay task assignment with resource allocation Requires duration, level of effort in order to be effective Steps to Succeed Project: Staffing: Team Builder Review current allocation Assign team members to tasks Ensure resources are not overallocated
USER UTILIZATION Shows how much of a resource is available Used when you are concerned your resource may not be available Reports are a nice alternative Steps to Succeed People: Resource Planning: User Utilization Use filters on left hand side to filter by
WORKING ON CALENDAR Calendar view of task assignments Focused on teams rather than projects Allows drag and drop reassignment, rescheduling of tasks Steps to Succeed: People: Teams: Working On Select Team Move tasks left or right to change dates Move up or down to reassign
COMMON PITFALLS AND ADVICE Can only use one resource pool Secondary roles are meaningless Single team assignment Access levels can hide resources More granular roles the better One user per task Limit project duration Deactivate rather than remove or delete users
THE FUTURE: WORK PLANNING Combine existing interfaces for planning Allow you to shape and filter around resource availability, prioritization, and context Goal is to facilitate long term planning of projects and resources
THE FUTURE: WORK ASSIGNMENT Working on calendar may be used as base Expand beyond teams: projects, departments, roles, etc Goal is to facilitate assignment of people to approved work
THE FUTURE: CHARACTERISTICS Work Planning Primary and secondary roles are considered Multiple resource pools may be utilized Flag contractor resources Support real world rate card scenario based planning Flexibility to consider all actuals that impact availability Work Assignment Allow contoured allocation on a task Block out unavailable time Swap out resources and roles
Want to continue the discussion? Join us for a outside the Lion s Den immediately following this session