Control When a Resource Starts Working on a Task

When you assign resources to a task, Microsoft Project assumes by default that each resource begins working on the task on that task’s start date. But that scenario might not match reality. One resource might begin work on the start date, but another might not be available until several hours or days later.

With Microsoft Project, you can specify exactly when a resource begins working on a task. For example, you can stagger the times that multiple resources begin working on the same task by delaying the starting time of one or more of the resources. This is true even if you have only one resource assigned to a task. When you delay the start of a resource assignment, Microsoft Project recalculates the start date and time for the resource’s work on the task.

To control when a resource works on a task

1. On the View Bar, click Gantt Chart .
2. On the Window menu, click Split.
3. In the Task Name field, select the task for which you want the resource’s work to be delayed.
4. Click the Task Form view in the bottom pane.
5. On the Format menu, point to Details, and then click Resource Schedule.
6. If there is no work for the resource in the Work field, enter the work in the field, and then press ENTER.
7. In the Delay field for the resource, enter the duration by which you want to delay the start of the resource’s work.
   For example, type 2h for a delay of 2 hours; type 2d for a delay of 2 days.
8. Click OK.
9. On the Window menu, click Remove Split.

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