May 2012 RAG Indicators
by System Account
on 08 May 2012 10:54 Project Server RAG Custom Fields
It is a regular occurrence for clients to request the creation of various project level RAG (Red, Amber Green) indicators. For example these can be used to provide indications of how the project is doing in terms of schedule, cost, work, etc.
There are two main ways in which these individual RAG indicators can be generated:
- It is possible to create a simple look up table, containing the three values; Red, Amber and Green. This look up table can then be referenced by one or more custom fields and the project manager can manually select a value. For example, if the project manager believes that the project is still going ahead in line with the original scope definition then he may set the RAG Scope field to “Green”. The advantage of this type of custom field is that, being based on a look up table it may be added to the OLAP cube configuration and reported on through Excel Services.
- It is possible to use a formula to calculate the RAG status based on the currently scheduled, or actual, value versus the baseline value. For example the RAG Schedule may use the following formula:
Switch(
[Baseline Start]=ProjDateValue('NA') Or [Baseline Finish]=ProjDateValue('NA'),"Not baselined",
[% Complete]=100 And [Finish]<[Baseline Finish],"Finished ahead of schedule",
[% Complete]=100 And [Finish]=[Baseline Finish],"Finished on schedule",
[% Complete]=100 And [Finish Variance]<=[Tolerance for Schedule],"Finished late",
[% Complete]=100 And [Finish Variance]>[Tolerance for Schedule],"Finished outside tolerance",
[Finish]<[Baseline Finish],"Ahead of schedule",
[Finish]=[Baseline Finish],"On schedule",
[Finish Variance]<=[Tolerance for Schedule],"Behind schedule",
[Finish Variance]>[Tolerance for Schedule],"Outside tolerance")
Graphical indicators can then be used to display an appropriate image:
While the individual RAG indicators are undoubtedly useful by themselves to give an indication of how particular aspects of a project are progressing, it is common for clients to want to create an overall summary RAG indicator based on some logic surrounding the other indicators. For example; if there are six RAG indicators then the overall RAG indicator may be determined by the following logic:
If 75% or more of the indicators are Green then the Overall RAG is Green
If 50% - 74% of the indicators are Green then the Overall RAG is Amber
If 49% or less of the indicators are Green then the Overall RAG is Red.
Since, in this situation we are only interested in Green indicators it is possible to apply the following:
75% x 6 = 4.5 |
If the value of the RAG Overall is 5 or 6 then the Overall RAG is Green |
50% x 6 = 3
|
If the value of the RAG Overall is 3 or 4 then the Overall RAG is Amber |
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If the value of the RAG Overall is 1 or 2 then the Overall RAG is Red |
Therefore, we need to assign a score to Green indicators but not to anything else. It is then possible to sum all the scores:
IIF([RAG Schedule]="Ahead of schedule" OR [RAG Schedule]="On schedule" OR [RAG Schedule]="Finished ahead of schedule" OR [RAG Schedule]="Finished on schedule",1,0)
+
IIF([RAG Cost]=”Green”,1,0)
+
IIF([RAG Resources]=”Green”,1,0)
+
IIF([RAG Risk]=”Green”,1,0)
+
IIF([RAG Issues]=”Green”,1,0)
+
IIF([RAG Change]=”Green”,1,0)
Note: if required any of the last five expressions can be replaced by something similar to the first expression. This formula will sum to a value between 1 and 6, depending on the values of each RAG indicator. It will then be possible to check for the sum value and apply an appropriate graphical indicator.
Written by Lester Lovelock, CPS Principal Consultant.
April 2012 SharePoint 2010 Calendar features
by System Account
on 17 Apr 2012 11:39 The SharePoint 2010 calendar has some interesting features for those clients NOT using exchange.
In the calendar General Settings page, there is a sharing option, this seems to change the calendars default view to the one shown below
If you then activate the site feature Group Work Lists, you will see 3 more lists, and a load more content types
Also the Calendar General Settings page now has an option for resource reservation.
So if we add some resources to our resource list
We can then book a meeting and add a resource and check availability
Written by Lester Lovelock, CPS Principal Consultant.
March 2012 CPS developed ProjectWire mobile App features in Project Magazine.
by System Account
on 21 Mar 2012 17:04 Project Magazine, the UK's best-read project management magazine, read by over 19,000 project professionals every month has featured the ProjectWire App within the Tried and Tested section of the February edition. CPS recently launched the App, dedicated to Microsoft Project Server with the support of Microsoft UK.
Collecting together all of the leading Blog, Twitter and You Tube feeds, ProjectWire gives you the most up-to-date Microsoft Project Server information from one useful location.
The full article can be viewed online now. PMI UK Chapter – South West Event – Thursday 29th March 2012
by System Account
on 15 Mar 2012 11:36 David Dunning, CPS Director of Professional Services will be presenting at the PMI UK Chapter South West event on the 29 March. The event is a unique opportunity for delegates to network within the PM community in the South West and South Wales area and to share and listen to high quality speakers discussing a wide variety of PM topics.
The registration link for the event is on the PMI UK Chapter website: http://www.pmi.org.uk/en/events/south-west.cfm/SW29Mar
PMI UK members can attend free of charge, non-members are welcome although attendance is charged at £40.
David’s presentation is entitled: Resource Management? – I’ve got Excel and half a day a week thank you very much. What do I need to know?
Overview: There is a perception in some quarters that resource management is either what you do in SAP when we are playing with a headcount model or what line managers do in Excel to keep track of what their folks are up to. David will go into a bit more depth around what is resource management, what are the components you need in place to make it happen such that we can be efficient with use of resources and reliable with delivery.
David has more than 15 years experience in implementing project management processes, technology and training. He has been with CPS since its creation in 1995 and is responsible for developing ideas for new company products and services, managing training, ensuring customer support grows and widening the CPS service portfolio. He is also responsible for pushing the business to work more effectively and efficiently.
The two other speakers at this event will be announced shortly.
When: - 29th March 2012, 13:00
Where:-Hewlett Packard Campus, Long Down Avenue, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8QZ. Tel: 0117 3127000 Portfolio Management Survey launched to understand the use of PfM principles within organisations – Take part today!
by System Account
on 09 Mar 2012 17:01 The Association for Project Management (APM) Portfolio Management SIG has recently opened a survey to understand the shape of portfolio management as practiced currently.
David Dunning, CPS Professional Services Director is a Committee member of the SIG and has asked CPS to promote this activity.
This is an excellent opportunity for the most senior levels in business to tell the APM exactly what they think and to contribute to the body of primary research on PfM . There is also an opportunity for individuals and organisations to submit case studies.
Please do participate! The preliminary results will be blogged on the APM website soon, but we need more data to deliver better results.
About the APM PfM SIG
The Portfolio Management SIG was established in September 2012 with the aim to:
Promote awareness of portfolio management best practices and to help organisations deliver more effective outcomes with less resources. Provide an active forum for interested professionals to debate and share experiences, ideas, tools and techniques. Encourage cross-professional collaboration within the world of strategic organisational change management, programme and project management, both inside and outside the APM. To undertake primary research into PfM through surveying stakeholders and secondary research through review of existing PfM documentation.
The vision of the APM PfM SIG is to be recognised across public and private sector organisations, by senior business executives and by existing/aspiring PfM and PPM practitioners, as the professional source of expertise and knowledge for PfM practices, guidance and information.
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