This document discusses task types in Microsoft Project and how to choose the appropriate type. There are three main task types: fixed units, fixed work, and fixed duration. Fixed units tasks recalculate duration when other measures change, while keeping resource units constant. Fixed work tasks always recalculate to remain effort-driven. Fixed duration tasks recalculate work when other measures change, while keeping duration constant. The document provides examples and guidelines for when each task type is most appropriate based on the primary constraint for a given task.

1. How to Choose
the Right Task Type
in Microsoft Project?
NEVENA KRAJCAR, PERPETUUM MOBILE D.O.O.
SHAREPOINT AND PROJECT CONFERENCE ADRIATICS 2013
ZAGREB, NOVEMBER 27-28 2013

2. sponsors

3. Content
• Introduction to measures and task types …
• Remember the magic formula …
• Show me how this works …
• When to use …
• Remember the magic formula …

4. Measures
• Any task can be adjusted using three measures:
UNITS, DURATION, OR WORK
UNITS
• the number of resources assigned to work on a task (%).
DURATION
• the length of a task (days).
WORK
• the amount of time needed to actually do the task (hours).

5. REMEMBER THIS!!!
DURATION
UNITS
WORK

6. Task Types
• Measures are dependent on each other
Which measure should be automatically recalculated?
• Task types:
FIXED UNITS, FIXED WORK, FIXED DURATION
Field that you change:
FIXED UNITS
FIXED WORK
FIXED DURATION
WORK
Duration is recalculated
Duration is recalculated
Units are recalculated
DURATION
Work is recalculated
Units are recalculated
Work is recalculated
UNITS
Duration is recalculated
Duration is recalculated
Work is recalculated

7. Task Types

8. FIXED UNITS – Non Effort Driven
• Change UNIT  DURATION changes
• Change WORK  DURATION changes
• Change DURATION  WORK changes
U = 50% FIXED; W = 24hrs
D*U=W
D * 0,5 = 24 hrs
D = 48 hrs (8 hrs/day) = 6 days
U = 100% FIXED; W = 40 hrs
D*U=W
D * 1 = 40 hrs
D = 40 hrs (8 hrs/day) = 5 days
U = 100% FIXED; D = 4 days = 32 hrs;
D*U=W
32 hrs * 1 = W
W = 32 hrs

9. FIXED UNITS – NON EFFORT DRIVEN

10. FIXED WORK – Non Effort Driven
• Change UNIT  DURATION changes
• Change WORK  DURATION changes
W = 24 hrs FIXED; U = 50%
D*U=W
D * 0,5 = 24 hrs
D = 48 hrs = 6 days
W = 40 hrs FIXED; U = 100%
D*U=W
D * 1 = 40 hrs
D = 40 hrs = 5 days
• Change DURATION  WORK does not change
W = 24 hrs FIXED; D = 5 days; U = 100%
D * U = W?
24 hrs work in 5 days = 24/5 = 4,8
hrs/day

11. FIXED WORK – NON EFFORT-DRIVEN

12. Important!
• Did you notice?
FIXED WORK IS ALWAYS EFFORT DRIVEN!

13. FIXED DURATION – Non Effort Driven
• Change UNIT  WORK changes
D= 3 days FIXED; U = 50%
D*U=W
24 hrs * 0,5 = W
W = 12 hrs
• Change WORK  DURATION and UNITS do not change
D = 3 days FIXED; U = 100%; W = 40 hrs;
D * U = W?!
40 hrs in 3 days = 40/3 = 13,33 hrs/day
• Change DURATION  WORK changes
D = 5 days FIXED; U = 100%
D*U=W
40 hrs * 1 = W
W = 40 hrs

14. FIXED DURATION – NON EFFORT-DRIVEN

15. Effort driven vs. Non Effort Driven
• Where is the difference?
• In redistributing Resources!
• Example:
Book reading is non effort driven!
Walls painting is effort driven!

16. Effort driven vs. Non Effort Driven
• Fixed Units

17. Effort driven vs. Non Effort Driven
• Fixed Work (always Effort Driven)

18. Effort driven vs. Non Effort Driven
• Fixed Duration

19. EFFORT DRIVEN VS. NON EFFORT DRIVEN

20. When to use …
• Fixed Units
• the number of resources you have for the task is the first or main thing you know.
• you can’t get more resources to do the work - your resources are fixed.
• you want to change the duration or the work on a task while keeping the number of people working on
the task the same (assignment units).
• you want to keep the resource working on a task at a certain percentage of his or her available hours.
• Fixed Work
• the effort required is the first thing you estimate.
• the effort required is the easiest thing to estimate.
• your resources give you task estimates in work hours.
• Fixed Duration
•
•
•
•
•
the duration is the first thing you estimate.
the duration stays the same when adding resources.
tasks that always have a group of resources assigned.
the deadline is so tight that it’s the primary driver for the duration of the task.
the workload isn’t your problem.

21. AND - REMEMBER THIS!!!
DURATION
(PEAK)
UNITS
WORK
DURATION (days)
CALENDAR (hours/day)
x
ASSIGNMENT UNITS (%)
ASSIGNMENT WORK (hours)

22. questions?
BLOG.PERPETUUM.HR
@NEVENAKRAJCAR

23. thank you.
SHAREPOINT AND PROJECT CONFERENCE ADRIATICS 2013
ZAGREB, NOVEMBER 27-28 2013