Assigning Resources to Project Tasks
Assign resources to define who should complete a project task. You can assign one or more resources to each task.
You can assign resources either when you first create the project task, or later as the project progresses.
If you use Resource Allocations, you can allocate resources directly to project tasks. For more information, see Assigning Resources with Allocations.
Overbooking Resources
Since a resource can be assigned to lots of tasks without time limits, keep in mind not to overbook them. Resource workloads aren’t assessed when you assign someone to a task.
For example, Bob can be assigned to three project tasks at one time, even if each task requires 10 hours of daily work, meaning Bob's total work requirement is 30 hours per day.
If a task gets rescheduled, someone who was underbooked might suddenly become overbooked due to the rescheduling.
To assess resource booking, you can run the Current Backlog by Resource report. This report lists employees who are assigned to open projects, the number of open projects per employee and the total hours remaining assigned.
For details on this report, read Current Backlog By Resource Report.
Resource Assignment and Profit Margins
When you assign resources to a task, keep in mind that your choice affects the cost of the task and therefore the cost of the whole project. The service item selected for the resource dictates the revenue generated from the task.
The service item sources the cost from the resource record. This cost is then multiplied by the units of work to find the cost of using the resource on the task. Selecting a resource with a higher cost can lead to a higher overall cost for the project and lower margins. Selecting a resource with a lower cost can increase profit margins.
You can see project costs and revenues on the Financial subtab of the project record.