Transcript Project Management in Solomon Environment

Project Management in
the Solomon Environment
Project Manager orientation
AIM

To provide training/orientation for
Project and Line managers relevant to
the implementation of the MS
Dynamics -SL system with particular
reference to the production and use of
project schedules and the role of
project managers.
Agenda













Introduction
The system
Use of M/S project
M/S project set up checks
Good scheduling practice
WBS chart Pro
Allocation of resources
Rates
Synchronising and up loading projects to Solomon
Reporting on effort and progress
Time card system
Reports
Organise out of session training as required
Introduction – (Why is this
training necessary?)




The MS Dynamics- SL system creates a
“loose” integration of our financial and
project management systems.
Maximum benefit requires schedules to be
set up in a certain way
Synchronisation processes need to be
understood
Data capture process needs to be
understood
The System

System components are:
– M/S project
– Project Server
– M/S Dynamics - SL
– SQL Data bases
System Diagram

High level diagram
29/08/2007
MS Dynamics - SL
Data Flows and module relationships
Link between Project Server and Resources Labour
Rates is shown as dotted line - indicates manual data
update of Labour Rates
Off Line projects - M/S
project
Project Server - Projects
Renown Synchronisation
process - customisation
Resources Labour Rates
Time sheets
Solomon Data
base
Requisitions and
Purchasing
Orders - Accounts
Payable
General
Ledger
Accounts
Receivable
Project
Analysis
Provides output reports and queries
Use of Microsoft project


Microsoft project is the AAO wide scheduling
tool.
This training will not cover how to use M/S
project and arrangements should be made if
any key project or line staff feel they need
to develop skills and competency in this
area
MS project standard
M/S project set up


We have set up our scheduling tool to work
off a particular template and all schedules
that we create for integration into Solomon
must use the AAO template version.
We should always check to see that the
default schedule is working on the correct
setups
Good Scheduling practice






Consider the aim of the schedule and the
relationship of the schedule with the WBS
Ensure that the hierarchy set within the
schedule enables appropriate management
Protect milestones with buffers
Use contingency properly
Ensure budgets set reflect the reality of the
scheduled work
See notes on page 10
WBS chart Pro


WBS Chart Pro is a Windows-based project
management software application that is
used to create and display projects using a
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) chart.
WBS Chart Pro is integrated in our M/S
project software
WBS chart Pro standard
How to allocate resources



Resources are allocated to a schedule within M/S
project and this must be done using the Enterprise
Resource Pool.
The issue here is to ensure that the resource pool
within M/S project remains consistent with the
resource details recorded and maintained in
Solomon.
We will use M/S project schedules for human
resources and put non human resource costs
directly into Solomon (i.e. travel, materials, sub
contractors etc)
Rates



Rates are set by the Executive Officer and
input to the Solomon system by the
Accountant. These rates are then available
for transfer to our project schedules to
enable our planning and to support
estimating and budget setting.
Rates will be part of the resource pool
content and it is important to ensure that
the latest rates are being used.
A nominated PM will maintain our off line
resource pool.
How to - synchronize & upload
project details into Solomon
See notes provided – these are also on ‘p’
drive at:
P:\projects\Microsoft Dynamics_SL
implementation\MSPtoSolomon_import
procedures

– Importing Offline Projects into Project Server p
11
– Importing Server Projects into Solomon p 23
– Importing Server Project budgets into Solomon p
34
High Level Process –
(human resources)
Process
Create M/S project
schedule - off-line
Import off line projects
into Server
Import MSP Server
projects into Solomon
Import MSP Server
project budgets into
Solomon
Non Human Resources



Process is shown in notes at p 41
through 44.
The examples show how non human
resources are posted to Solomon
Implications - budgets
Reporting on effort and
progress


All staff at the AAO are required to fill in
time sheets (actually called time cards in the
Solomon system) on a weekly basis unless
otherwise requested.
The time card procedure is on our web at:
http://www2.aao.gov.au/twiki/bin/view/Busi
nessPractices/WebTimesheet
Time card system
Reports



Our Microsoft Business Partner (Renown) has made
examples of standard reports available to us, see:
P:\projects\Microsoft Dynamics_SL
implementation\Reports.
Our recommended approach is to look over the
“standard reports” and use these initially until we
are familiar and then move to an agreed suite of
customised reports.
We are currently developing a WBS roll up report
for work packages etc.
Out of session training





MS project 2003
Project Server
Time card procedures
Requisitions / Purchasing
Other (i.e. Travel, AGCC, Flexitime)