Project Server 2013 for Resource Planning & Project Portfolio Management

We are looking to use project server 2013 for resource and project portfolio management. We are an IT department of approximately 600 growing to 1,000 within the next several years.
We would like to us PS2013 to do the following :
Manage Portfolio of Projects
Manage Resources against this Portfolio
Calculate Project Finances using resource roles and rates
I would be grateful to have both comments on experience , both positive and negative.
Thank You

Many teams within organizations are turning to Project Server to help them control resources, deliverables and costs better. It does resource management very well with work & cost resources, baseline costs, material costs, budget costs and
out of the box earned value analysis (EV). The Strategy (portfolio) component is very powerful and it will help you identify project that align to your objects then do what if analysis to find the right mix of projects.
Here are a couple of things you should think about when moving to PS2013:
1) Who will be using the tool? If it is a mix of onsite staff, remote staff, vendors, contractors etc. you may want to think about a hosted solution.
2) Training. Don't assume everyone will just magically 'know' how to use the tool. Train everyone (team members, PMs, Executives) then train them again. It's the only way to truly get the value out of the tool.
3) Who will manage the system? This is not a typical application. The right administrator needs SharePoint, Project Server, SQL Server, MS Project, Analysis Services and SQL Report writing skills. Please note that much of this can
be learned by the right person but DEFINITELY find the right person.
4) Don't start customizing right out of the box. You will get frustrated. Adjust your organization to the tool early on. I know that is easier said than done but you need a realistic approach to get tool acceptance moving early.
5) Use workflows but don't use them right out of the gate. Workflows are great but I suggest you wait until phase 2 or 3 to start aligning them to your business processes.
6) Lastly and most importantly, you must first establish your own business processes THEN align them to the tool. DO NOT assume the tool will create business process for you. You must think about how you are going to initiate a project,
how are you going to track deliverables, how will time sheets be managed, etc. Get to a whiteboard, crack open Visio and start building and establishing your processes now. PS 2013 is pretty flexible and usually will align well with existing business
processes.
And don't forget to hire a good consultant. They can be brought in during key phases of your roll-out to add value, help you avoid risks, and provide you with best practice advice.
Good luck.

Similar Messages

Project Server 2013: I am using Project Server Permission Mode and need help with permission assignments?

Hi
Project Server 2013: I am using Project Server Permission Mode and need help with permission assignments?
How can I change Permissions for the individual users to see specific projects or all projects in project center and to see specific quick launch items?
For Example: if i have 4 users, A, B, C and D. what i want is:
User A can see everything and act as a project manager or Admin.
User B can view all projects in project centre but can change the schedule or resource assignment etc.
User C can only act as approver of projects and can view all projects in project centre.
User D can only view specific projects for which permissions are given.
can i have some expert help in sorting and understanding permission modes... as i was playing with project server mode permissions and can't figure out how to apply the above scenario to set of my user.
Thanks in Advance
Cheers
AJ
Ajay Kumar

Hi Ajay,
Please refer to this link for detailed explanations about PS2013 security model.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc197638(v=office.15).aspx
Actually, it will take a couple of days to explain in detail the security model that is a fundamental and tricky aspect of every PS implementation. But basically, you NEVER set permissions for a single user. You have groups in which your insert users. Groups
define "what users can do". Then you associate groups to a corresponding category. Categories define "what user can see". Thus the association of a group with a category will set "what the user can do on the objects he can see". Then, for more advanced security
level, you can use the RBS that will consist in "branches" in which you'll insert users. Based on those branches, you'll customize categories to fine-tune what user can see (for projects and resources) depending on the RBS branch and level.
I'd advice you to start "playing" in a test environment with the default categories/groups that might probably cover your need.
Concerning your 4 users:
user A : add him to the "administrator" group. Be careful that you're mentionning either project manager or administrator, which are 2 groups/categories with totally different permissions level.
user B : basically can see everything and change everything? it could be in the project manager group, assuming that there are no project visibility restrictions on the category via the RBS.
user C : waht do you mean by "approver"? Workflow approvals? Then it will be the portfolio manager group. Task update or timesheet approval? Then it is another long topic: please refer in the documentation to the "status manager" and "timesheet manager"
concepts. There are not related to the security model. In a few words, the status manager is the owner of the project plan, is defined for each task and approves tasks updates. The timesheet manager is an attribute defined for each resource in its parameters
and approves resource timesheet.
user D : you have to define which permission level must be given to this user. Basically it could be a team member that will see only projects he's in the project team. Note that team member cannot interact with the project plan in another way than submitting
timesheets and/or tasks updates which must be approved.
Once more, those are large and complex subjects that require a deep dive into your business model and tons of tests in a test environment.
Hope this helps.
Guillaume Rouyre - MBA, MCP, MCTS

I'm an admin of this site, but now can't access some pages in Project Server 2013 e.g. Project center, PWA setting

I'm an admin of this site, but now can't access some pages in Project Server 2013 e.g. Project center, PWA setting

it may be your browser. CHeck the folloinwg
1) Turn on Compatibilty mode
2) Security Options / Make it a local trusted site
3) Turn of Protected Mode in the browser under Security
and have you tried it from Chrome
CHeers!
Michael Wharton, MVP, MBA, PMP, MCT, MCTS, MCSD, MCSE+I, MCDBA
Website http://www.WhartonComputer.com
Blog http://MyProjectExpert.com contains my field notes and SQL queries

Project Server 2013 PWA resource view

Hi all,
Is there any way to see the detail information of a resource in PWA? In Project Professional 2013, we can check all the task\project the resource is assigned and all the planned work for the resource under resource usage view. However, we can not find it
in PWA. Any suggestion?
Regards,
Anna

Hi Anna,
From the resource center, you can select one or more resources and check for their availability. You'll have a graph will all resources assignments by time periods and projects with a grid for the details.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-server-help/view-resource-availability-HA010059812.aspx
Hope this helps,
Guillaume Rouyre, MBA, MCP, MCTS |

Project Server 2013 Tasks differ in project site and plan

I have an Project Server 2013 enterprise plan that I created with an associated project site. The plan has tasks added to the timeline. The project site has a timeline webpart but the problem is the tasks added to the timeline differ.
Does anyone have any ideas what could be the problem here? I checked the timeline webpart and it's correct.
Thanks!
[Images below].
The following image is taken from the schedule PDP.
This image taken from the project site depicts what is out of sync.

Hi Guillaume,
Yes, I've checked the queue while publishing the project. It's successful without any errors. I don't remember if I checked the ULS logs, but what I suspect is that it will say something along the lines of orphaned tasks in the project site.
Anyways I've tried a number of things and I think the only 2 options I have are:
Re-create the project site then sync the plan to it
Ask MSFT for a script to resolve the orphaned tasks
For the same of time, I'm going to assess how long it would take to re-create the project site.
Thanks,
Roland

Project Server 2013 : How to Change Project owner Using PSI

Hi,
I have the following sets of codes for changing the project owner but both of them have not worked.
1>
private static bool UpdateProjectOwner()
   bool projUpdated = false;
   try
     User newOwner = projContext.Web.SiteUsers.GetByLoginName(Username);
     Guid ProjectGuid = ProjectUID;
     //Console.Write("\nUpdating owner to {1} on project: {0} ...," ProjectGuid, Username);
     DraftProject draftProjectToUpdate = projContext.Projects.GetByGuid(ProjectGuid).CheckOut();
     draftProjectToUpdate.Owner = newOwner;
     QueueJob qJob = draftProjectToUpdate.Update();
     projContext.Load(qJob);
     projContext.ExecuteQuery();
     JobState jobState = projContext.WaitForQueue(qJob, timeoutSeconds);
      QueueJob qJob2 = draftProjectToUpdate.CheckIn(false);
      projContext.Load(qJob2);
      projContext.ExecuteQuery();
      JobState jobState2 = projContext.WaitForQueue(qJob2, timeoutSeconds);
     catch (Exception ex)
       Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red;
       Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
       Console.ResetColor();
   return projUpdated;
2>
String projectOwnerIDstrNew = Convert.ToString(dr["ProjectOwnerUID"]);
String projectOwnerIDstrOriginal = Convert.ToString(project_Ds.Project[0].ProjectOwnerID);
if (!projectOwnerIDstrNew.Equals(projectOwnerIDstrOriginal))
Guid ownerID = new Guid(projectOwnerIDstrNew);
project_Ds.Project[0].ProjectOwnerID = ownerID;
project_Ds.AcceptChanges();
bool managerChanged = true;
Is there any mistake in these above functions ?
If Not, then is there any other way of updating the project owner with help of PSI.

Hi Steve,
Are you talking about PWA or Project Pro?
In PWA: the project has to be checked in first, then go to the "options" tab in the ribbon and unselect the checkbox that allows displaying time with the date.
In Project Pro, it is up to users to set in the date format without the time in file\options\schedule, date format.
In the PDP, date custom fields are displayed by default with time, the only suggestion I could make would be to create an associated custom field equal to your date field with a formula displaying only the date.
Hope this helps.
Guillaume Rouyre - MBA, MCP, MCTS

Project Plan/Schedule for Project Pro and Project Server 2013 Install

Looking for a project plan/schedule for a dept. wide install of Project Pro and Project Server 2013. Anyone have one to share?

In Project Professional 2013 there are two templates:
Install Project Server 2013 and Upgrade to Project Server 2013. You may search for either template.
Here is a direct link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/results.aspx?qu=project&av=zpj150&queryid=312801ca-a859-48dd-af56-714e81c97cf4#ai:TC103345703|

Resource time phased data in project server 2013/project 2013

Hi all,
I am using project server 2013 .
one resource availability percentage is set as 80% ie 6.4 hrs per day. But when we are doin task assignment, only 5.6 is taken for a day and rest is pushed to next day ( i have noticed this in the timephased data in the task usage screen).
for eg. if 6.4 work is assigned to the resources for a task with start date 1/1/2014 and end date 1/1/2014. 5.6hrs is taken for first day and 0.8 hr is moved to next day. Also the duration still shows as 1 eventhough task finish date is changed to 1/2/2014.
Please help to understand is there any settings where 5.6 is taken for a day though the resource capacity is set as 80% ie, 6.4hrs.
Thanks, Rose

Hi Rose,
is there any chance you have auto leveling turned on? Menu Resource > Leveling Options > Automatic.

Baseline timephased data disappeared in MS Project 2013 with Project Server 2013!!!

Hi,
I am facing a very strange problem within a custom "task usage" view that I'
ve created. In the right pane I have three timephased fields (work, baseline
work and actual work). When I first add resources to tasks and save baseline
everything works great and the baseline work data are distributed normally in
the respective line next to the resource name and also in the summary tasks
lines. A few days after saving and publishing the project to the Project
Server 2013, I opened the project from the PrjProfessional and the timephased
baseline data had disappeared. However, the total values of baseline work
(shown in the respective column at the left pane) were all still there. In
other words, I cannot see the distribution of baseline work into the timephased
schedule. When I check the database the data is also gone (MSP_EpmAssignmentBaselineByDay table).
This has a huge impact for the customer!
If found a similar issue reported with Project 2007 --> http://www.44342.com/Microsoft-Project-f1227-t2482-p1.htm
Regards,
Philip
Verlinden Philip

Hi Philip,
Please refer to thjis thread:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/projectserver/en-US/5f721eaf-6424-4b32-9c96-fed646e94f88/cumulative-timephased-data-in-ps-2013-db-wrong-or-just-misunderstood?forum=projserv2010setup
I think it is a known bug that Elli identified a few weeks ago. I don't know if there is a fix planned soon by MS.
Hope this helps,
Guillaume Rouyre, MBA, MVP, MCP |

Project Server 2013 licensing

I was reviewing the Microsoft Project Server 2013 licensing terms and noticed the following:
PPM solutions require a Project Server 2013 license for each running
instance of the software
(source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-001/project/microsoft-project-licensing-project-for-multiple-users-online-and-on-premises-project-management-software-FX103802201.aspx)
The PUR mentions something similar:
For each license, you may use one Running Instance of server software
(source: http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/ProductPage.aspx?pid=443)
You have to install Project Server on each SharePoint server in your farm. In the past it has always been said that you need one Project Server License for each installed copy (so for every SharePoint server in the farm).
Has anything changed for Project Server 2013?
Is a Project Server License only required for the SharePoint Server where you activate the Project Server Application Service?
Or does running equals installed when it comes to licensing?
Anyone can shed some light on this? Thank you!

I agree with Bernhard on this one....there's been no real change for on-prem licensing....you still need a Project Server license for each server in the farm.
That being said, there was a significant change (and confirm with your local MSFT rep), but in some cases, the online subscription pricing may be used for on-prem installations, i.e. I can pay by user by month instead of buying the CAL. I don't think
this impacts the server licensing, but worth noting.
The "Running Instance" terminology is maybe meant to capture the VM scenario where I have one physical server running multiple VMs, each one running Project Server?
Andrew Lavinsky [MVP] Blog: http://azlav.umtblog.com Twitter: @alavinsky

Error creating Project Server 2013 Server Side Event Handlers

Hi,
I have created a WCF service and deployed it successfully. Now when trying to add a new event receiver for Project CheckIn event, nothing happens. Checking the service using Services panel, it shows Microsoft Project Server Events Service 2013
is started. I check the ULS logs and see exception:
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException (0x80131904): Could not find stored procedure 'pub.MSP_ADMIN_SetEventReceivers15RTM'
I have service pack 1 installed for Project Server and SharePoint, version 15.0.4571.1502. Any ideas? I see there is a stored procedure without '15RTM' suffixed in PWA database. I read another post on the forum relating to this same issue
but didn't want to create each additional item in the DB (table, data type, stored procedure, etc). Am I missing something? Looking for suggestions here. Your help is always appreciated.
Thanks,
kashif

Hi Gokulraj,
What permission mode are you using in project server 2013? Is it "project permissions mode" or "SharePoint permissions mode"?
If you are using "project permissions mode", then go to Server Settings -> Manage users and click on the user with "team member" permissions to edit.
In the next page, expand "Global Permissions" and "View Approval" permission.
It could be the issue with the categories and category level permissions.
Happy troubleshooting...
Vikram Daruru - MSFT

Project Server 2013 not saving custom field data

Hello all,
I have a Project Server 2013 deployment with several Project-level custom fields.
One of them, never saves the info typed in. All others work just fine but this one does not like to save anything. There's no error in queues or the ULS.
I'm so lost with it. Any thoughts?
Rene Alvarez

An update on this issue.
I could isolate it to the project plan template. If I use my custom fields with an EPT without a plan template, I have no problem.
So the problem is the template right? Well, I did the following:
Create a blank template and attach it to the EPT. Result: all Ok.
Create a template with 10 tasks (task name only) and attach it to the EPT. Result: all Ok.
Create a template with my full 135 tasks (task name only) and attach it to the EPT. Result: all Ok.
Create a template with the 135 tasks (task name and WBS) and attach it to the EPT. Result: all Ok.
Create a template with the 135 tasks (task name, WBS and milestones) and attach it to the EPT. Result: FAIL. Cannot save custom fields again.
A user noticed something. If he opens a problematic project in Project Pro, and publish it again (no changes) then the project accepts data in the custom fields.
Rene Alvarez

Getting Project Site Provisioning Pop-up even after Operational Policies set as Do not create a sites in project server 2013.

In Project server 2013, users are getting Project Site Provisioning Pop-up even after Operational Policies set as Do
not create a sites.
We can use “Deny” Global Permission, “Manage SharePoint Foundation”, which controls Project site creation/ delete
as temporary workaround however want to know is this know defect in Project server 2013?
Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.
Thank you

Hi Raushan,
I can reproduce the same behaviour in my environment. It pops-up the dialog box when Project Site Provisioning settings set to 'Do Not Create' in the Central admin for the Project Web App.
As you mentioned already you can control it via permissions as an work-around.
Alternatively, you can also ask users to select the check box 'Don't show this again for this project'
Cheers, Badal

Error in Project Server 2013

Hi,
I set myself as team member in Project Server 2013, when i click on Project,Approvals and Timesheet i receive the below error:
"Cannot communicate with the server. Verify your connection and try again"
I have other account with Project Manager rights, with that account i can open these pages.
Please help.
K.Gokulraj

Hi Gokulraj,
What permission mode are you using in project server 2013? Is it "project permissions mode" or "SharePoint permissions mode"?
If you are using "project permissions mode", then go to Server Settings -> Manage users and click on the user with "team member" permissions to edit.
In the next page, expand "Global Permissions" and "View Approval" permission.
It could be the issue with the categories and category level permissions.
Happy troubleshooting...
Vikram Daruru - MSFT

Project Server 2013

Hello, Everybody.
I just installed Project Server 2013 and I'm a newbie on it. I have two questions:
1. How do I assign full permissions to an user in order to manage all the projects created in the PWA? This users are part of the Project Management Department so all people here must have full permission in all projects. They must also have permissions
to grant permission in order to other people in the organization can view the projects.
Note 1: I do not want that the Project Management Department have access to modify the PWA settings. Just full control in the projects. When they create a new project and want to grant permission, they get the following message: "this site hasn't
been shared with you".
2. If I want them to connect to Project Server 2013, Must they have Project Professional or Standard on their local machines?
Geraldo,
Regards,

Hello, everybody.
I'm having troubles with my PWA site. I'm trying to access to my Project Server site and when I type the URL in my browser I got an error:
Sorry, something went wrong
File Not Found.
Technical Details
Troubleshoot
issues with Microsoft SharePoint Foundation.
Correlation ID: a4cf9a9c-a96b-c04e-14c6-383eed9ecea3
I don't know what file is missing.
Geraldo,
Regards.
Geraldo Peralta

Project Server 2013 for Resource Planning & Project Portfolio Management

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