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Resource Allocation

In developing a model, people (or resources) in a number of roles might perform tasks on model structures. As a Project Manager, you can assign resources to tasks on elements (including Packages) in the model, planning and monitoring the work that they do within the timeframe you have allocated for that work to be completed. You can do this using the Project Gantt View and/or Construct facilities.

The Resource Allocation window, displays a Gantt chart that shows all of the resources assigned to a particular model element.  As you select different model elements, the Gantt chart updates to show the resources assigned to the selected element.  As you select an individual resource on the Gantt chart, the Properties window and the Notes window (if visible) will update to show the details for the selected resource.

Access

Ribbon

Construct > Resource Management > Resources,  or

Start > All Windows > Construct > Resources > Resource Allocation

Create Resource Allocations

New resource allocations are made using the 'Assign Resources' dialog.  To access the dialog, first select a model element for which you wish to create resource allocations and then, either:

  • Click on the   button in the Resource Allocation window toolbar, or
  • Right-click on the Gantt Chart and choose the context menu option 'Assign Resource...'.

Assign Resources Dialog

The initial details for a resource allocation are entered using the 'Assign Resources' dialog.

This table describes the fields appearing on the dialog.

Field

Action

See also

Resource

Click on the drop-down arrow and click on the name of the resource to assign to work associated with the element.

To assign multiple resources at once, click on the browse button, then select the resources to assign from the 'Select Resources' dialog.

(You can type the name of the resource into the 'Resource' field, as long as the name is one of those defined in the system; if it is not, the assignment will not validate. As you type, the field auto-fills with names matching the characters that you have typed.)

Role or Task

Click on the drop-down arrow and click on the required role of the resource in this task. You cannot type a role into the field.

The field initially defaults to the first role in the defined list; in subsequent assignment entries, the role defaults to the one posted for the immediately previous assignment to this or any other element.

Start Date

This field defaults to today's date.

If you want to assign a different start date for the task:

  1. Click on the drop-down arrow.
  2. If necessary, click on the Left or Right Arrow to select the previous or next month.
  3. Click on the appropriate day of the month as the start date.

The field immediately changes to the selected date.

End Date

This field defaults to today's date.

If you want to assign a different end date for the task:

  1. Click on the drop-down arrow.
  2. If necessary, click on the Right Arrow to select the next month.
  3. Click on the appropriate day of the month as the end date.

The field immediately changes to the selected date.

Save / Save & Close

To save the resource allocation you have defined, click on one of the 'Save' buttons.

If you intend to define further resource allocations for the same model element, click the Save button - the dialog will remain open, ready for you to create another allocation.

When you have finished creating allocations for the selected model element, click 'Save & Close' (or 'Close'), to close the dialog.

Modify Existing Resource Allocations

Existing resource allocations can be modified directly on the Gantt chart, by dragging the start or end dates to a new position on the time line, or by dragging the entire task to a new position.

The percentage completed can also be updated by clicking on the value and dragging a slider (or using the left and right arrow keys) to select a new value.

If the Properties window is visible, the resource allocation's properties can be updated there, by simply entering new values. Similarly, if the Notes window is visible, entries for Description and History can be updated directly in the Notes window.

Alternatively, you can use a dialog designed specifically for this purpose.

To use the dialog, first select the model element for which to modify resource allocations; then, in the Resource Allocation window, double-click the allocation to be modified, or right-click and choose the menu option 'Modify Resource'.

Modify Resource Allocations Dialog

The 'Modify Resource Allocations' dialog, is used to update the details of existing Resource Allocations.

This table presents a detailed description of each field on the 'Modify Resource Allocations' dialog and how it is intended to be used.

Field

Action

See also

Resource

Click on the drop-down arrow and click on the name of the resource to assign to work associated with the element.

To assign multiple resources at once, click on the browse button, then select the resources to assign from the 'Assign Resource' dialog.

(You can type the name of the resource into the 'Resource', as long as the name is one of those defined in the system; if it is not, the assignment will not validate. As you type, the field auto-fills with names matching the characters that you have typed.)

Role or Task

Click on the drop-down arrow and click on the required role of the resource in this task. You cannot type a role into the field.

The field initially defaults to the first role in the defined list; in subsequent assignment entries, the role defaults to the one posted for the immediately previous assignment to this or any other element.

Description

Type (and, if you prefer, format) a description of the work being done by the resources.

The Notes Window

History

As the task progresses, you add text to this tab to record the activities, progress, problems and outcomes of the task.

The Notes Window

Expected Time

Type in the number of time units the task is expected to take. (The value must be an integer, so you cannot record part units.)

The unit of time you adopt is by agreement within the project, and depends on the granularity of the work being recorded. Most tasks are completed in a number of hours or a number of days; use the smallest practical unit that you can record as a whole number.

Apply the same units as used for the 'Allocated Time' and 'Time Expended' fields.

Allocated Time

Type in the number of time units the task can be spread over. (The value must be an integer, so you cannot record part units.)

The unit of time you adopt is by agreement within the project, and depends on the granularity of the work being recorded. Most tasks are completed in a number of hours or a number of days; use the smallest practical unit that you can record as a whole number.

Apply the same units as used for the 'Expected Time' and 'Time Expended' fields.

Complete %

If the task is already in progress, type in the current percentage completion.

Time Expended

(When the task is eventually 100% complete, you will type in the number of time units it actually took. The value must be an integer, so you cannot record part units.)

The unit of time you adopt is by agreement within the project, and depends on the granularity of the work being recorded. Most tasks are completed in a number of hours or a number of days; use the smallest practical unit that you can record as a whole number.

Apply the same units as used for the 'Expected Time' and 'Allocated Time' fields.

Start Date

This field defaults to today's date.

If you want to assign a different start date for the task:

  1. Click on the drop-down arrow.
  2. If necessary, click on the Left or Right Arrow to select the previous or next month.
  3. Click on the appropriate day of the month as the start date.

The field immediately changes to the selected date.

End Date

This field defaults to today's date.

If you want to assign a different end date for the task:

  1. Click on the drop-down arrow.
  2. If necessary, click on the Right Arrow to select the next month.
  3. Click on the appropriate day of the month as the end date.

The field immediately changes to the selected date.

Notes

  • In the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate Editions of Enterprise Architect, if User Security is enabled, you must have 'Manage Project Settings' permission to perform Resource Allocation
  • If you allocate resources to Use Cases, the information you enter contributes to the Use Case Estimation calculation for estimating the project size in terms of time, resources and cost
  • To edit existing Resource Allocation items for this element, display the allocation in the 'Assigned Resources' dialog by either:
         -  Clicking on the 'Construct > Resource Management > Resources' ribbon option, right-clicking on the required item in the Resource
            Allocation window and selecting the 'Modify Selected' option
         -  Double-clicking on the item in the Resources list in the 'Details' tab of the Inspector window   or
         -  Clicking on the item in the 'Element View' tab of the Project Gantt Chart
  • You can also edit an existing Resource Allocation using the Properties window for that selected item; the fields behave in the same way as those described in this topic
  • To delete existing Resource Allocation items for an element, click on the item in the Resource Allocation window and click on Delete icon in the window toolbar

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