Fixed Duration Obvious and Not So Obvious Characteristics

Fixed Duration: Obvious and Not So Obvious Characteristics of Fixed Duration Daniel T. Renier President, Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Agenda l Activity Duration Estimating l Fixed Duration: a Definition l Obvious Characteristics l Not so Obvious Characteristics l Questions / Answers Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Activity Duration Estimating l Popular Task Level Scheduling Technique l PMBOK Definition Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Fixed Duration: a Definition l. A task in which the Duration is a fixed value and any changes to the work or the assigned units don’t affect the task’s duration Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Obvious Characteristics l Duration is Fixed – The duration of the task is fixed; therefore, Microsoft Project will do its best to maintain the fixed duration value Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Obvious Characteristics l Schedule is Set – An activity duration estimate sets the schedule Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Not so Obvious Characteristics l Fixed Duration (Does not mean Fixed Dates) – Fixed Duration is not a Constraint Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Not so Obvious Characteristics l The Fixed Duration Value can Change – Splits can force a change – Fixed Duration and Effort Driven – Tracking can force a change Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Not so Obvious Characteristics l Fixed Duration vs. Fixed Units and Fixed Work – Splits and changes in duration – Project calendar Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Not so Obvious Characteristics l Grids Behavior: Fixed Duration – Fixed Units and Fixed Work Scheduling: work is distributed in an Fixed Duration manner Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Summary l Fixed Duration: Activity Duration Estimating l Fixed Duration: a Definition l Obvious Characteristics l Not so Obvious Characteristics Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Questions and Answers Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Additional Sources of Information l Online – www. mpug. org l In person – MPUG Meetings – MPUG/PMI Workshops Twin Cities MPUG: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN