Overview

With the tasks, estimates, dependencies, constraints (and deadlines) entered, we now have a Gantt Chart that is a dynamic model of the project. You could stop here if resources, their workloads and their costs are of little concern to you. If they are important in your schedule, you may have to add them to the model and assign them to tasks. The result is called a resource-loaded schedule.

After reading this chapter you will:

• know what resources are and when to add a resource to the project model

• know the different types of resources: human, facilities, machines and materials

• be aware of important resource-related fields

• be able to efficiently enter the resources into the schedule using the enterprise resource pool, download resources from your address book, or manual data entry

• know to use generic resources if you don't know who will be on your team

• know how to enter the different types of resource availability

• be able to create resource calendars

• know the cost management features of MS Project

• be able to check the list of resources against scheduling best practices

• know how to create a resource report