Assignments

Once you define resource requirements for a job and identify an appropriate resource, you create an assignment to assign the resource to the job. Assignments are the goal of the staffing process. Each assignment pairs a resource with a unit of work. You can create assignments that specify the exact number of hours and minutes a resource is to be assigned to a job. You create assignments as the final step in a business process that usually begins with one of the following actions:

• The creation and fulfillment of a service order.

  You create an assignment when you select a resource to fulfill a resource request. You can request one or more resources—each with identical qualification and date requirements—for the same resource request. Each resource that is selected for the job has a unique assignment. In this way, you can change the assignment schedule or status for one resource without affecting the assignments for other resources who are associated with the resource request.

• The creation and execution of an express search.

  You can create an assignment by using the Express Search feature—also known as orderless searching—to find a resource that matches a specified list of competencies and accomplishments.

• A direct assignment without a service order or express search.

  You can use this process if you have already identified the appropriate resource to fulfill a requirement and you don't need to track the requirement on a service order.

• The creation and fulfillment of generic resource requests.

  You can use this process if you manage your resources with resource pools. Project managers can create generic resource requests from their project team. The requests are sent to the pool manager for approval and staffing.

If you use PeopleSoft Program Management, you can select a resource and create an assignment using any of the preceding processes. The resource must be managed in PeopleSoft Resource Management. In PeopleSoft Resource Management, you associate a project with each assignment. This enables new assignments to update the project's Resources page in PeopleSoft Program Management. Changes to the resource's project schedule in PeopleSoft Program Management are reflected on the assignment, resource schedule, and resource profile in PeopleSoft Resource Management. Conversely, changes to the assignment in PeopleSoft Resource Management are reflected in PeopleSoft Program Management.

If you use PeopleSoft Project Costing, a resource is added to the project team in Project Costing when you create an assignment for the resource in PeopleSoft Resource Management. Any changes made in the PeopleSoft Resource Management project schedule are reflected on the project team in PeopleSoft Project Costing. Changes made to the project team in PeopleSoft Project Costing are not updated in PeopleSoft Resource Management.

You can access assignment details by clicking a link in the Staffing Workbench component or My Assignments component, from Resource Management reports, or on a service order if the assignment is associated with a resource request on the order. Assigning a resource may require the approval of the resource's manager, based on the options that are selected for the business unit during PeopleSoft Resource Management implementation.