Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

Contents:

Table of Contents

Introduction

...

Workload distribution

You can change workload distribution for a given task. Workload contouring allows lets you to specify how the effort of an assignee's effort is distributed across a task period.  

Info

An App Admin admins can set a default workload contouring mode for new Box types. The setting box types, which can be overridden in a specific Boxbox.

Changing the Box Type or Box Configuration box type or box configuration settings doesn't impact existing tasks - their workload contouring has to be manually changed in the Resources Module.module.

Workload contouring - box types

See the Workload Contouring (Box types) page to learn more about workload contouring in box type settings.

Security and access

To adjust the workload contouring mode for a box:

  1. Go to box configuration > Tasks > Workload contouring.

    Screenshot of the Workload contouring page in the box configuration.Image Added

Workload contouring modes modes

You can set a workload contouring mode of a task to:

  • Flat

  • Front-loaded

  • Back-loaded 

  • Manual (available only in

    Status
    colourYellow
    titleBigPicture Enterprise
    )

Auto

...

flat mode

The “flat” flat mode means that if a task duration spans 5 days + the time needed lasts for five days and the original estimate to complete the work (Original estimate) is 20his 20 hours, the assignee's effort of the assignee is spread out distributed evenly. For example, 20h 20 hours spread over 5 days = 4h a five days results in 4 hours of work per day.  The This mode is reflected shown on the Gantt chart in the Resources panel.  If If you extend or shorten adjust the task duration, the effort is re-distributed will be reallocated evenly.

Expand
titleSee the screenshots
Image RemovedImage RemovedImage RemovedImage Removed

Auto Back-Loaded Mode

...

Auto front-loaded mode

In front-loaded mode, additional effort is progressively allocated from the task's start date. The assignee is assigned as many hours per day as their capacity allows (ie. 8h and going back in dates until a whole effort is distributed).

Let’s look at the same task from the previous example (duration of 5 days; 20h of time required). If the assignee has no other responsibilities and works 8h a day, the system distributes the work as follows:

Expand
titleSee the screenshots
Image RemovedImage Removed

Auto Front-Loaded Mode

In the “front-loaded” mode the extra effort is gradually added starting with the task start date. The app assigns a user permits (for example, 8 hours per day) until the total effort is fully distributed.

...

Auto back-loaded mode

In the back-loaded mode, extra effort is gradually added, beginning at the task's end date. The assignee is assigned as many hours per day as their capacity allows (for example, 8 hours), 8h going forward in dates until a whole effort is distributed).

Expand
titleSee the screenshots
Image RemovedImage Removed

...

backward until the estimate is fully allocated.

...

Manual contouring mode

Info

Manual contouring mode is available only in BigPicture Enterprise. It can’t be enabled if the effort mode is set to story points.

You can manually configure the adjust workload contours contouring by switching to a manual mode. Once a manual mode is selected, the system stops contouring workload automatically. All changes have to be made manually, directly in the pop-up. 

Expand
titleSee the screenshots
Image Removed

As you adjust activated, you can manually spread the workload directly on the task details dialog box.

As you modify the workload, the original estimate changes will be updated accordingly. The remaining capacity for each resource is displayed below each field. While you're planning, allowing you can always to see how much remaining capacity is available on a given resource has on a particular day.

This allows for much flexibility, but also helps you make sure feature offers flexibility and helps ensure you can achieve the desired allocation can be reached. If . For example, if you want to assign someone 7 hours of work every day and make sure they get each day while leaving 1 hour of time left for miscellaneous tasksmiscellaneous tasks, you can easily achieve manage that. Even , even if they have multiple obligationscommitments. 

Expand
titleSee the sreenshots
Image Removed

Manual workload contours always refer to a specific estimate: Remaining Estimate or Original Estimate. You can select the option you want to work with at the top. 

Expand
titleSee the screenshots
Image RemovedImage Removed

Info

Manual contour cannot be defined for Story points effort mode.

While manually contouring the workload, you are always informed if the workload exceeds a resource's remaining capacity.

If the sum of workload contours does not equal the effort estimate, you can either adjust the workload contours or overwrite the effort estimate to match them.

For example, Keith wants to manually contour the Remaining estimate of a task. He already logged some work and theoretically has 14.9 hours of work left, but he knows he needs more time. He can adjust the manual contour for the task and, at the same time, increase the Remaining estimate from 14.9 to 17 hours. He just needs to set up a workload contour that meets his needs and click the "Overwrite Remaining estimate". The task's "Remaining estimate" field will be updated. 

...

titleSee the screenshots

...

See the video on how to manually adjust workload contour.

...

Edit workload contouring

Workload contouring can be edited only in the manual workload mode (available with BigPicture Enterprise). Otherwise, it is calculated automatically. The manual workload mode is available for BigPicture Enterprise. 

To change the workload contouring mode for an individual existing task, go :

  1. Go to the Resources module.

...

  1. Make sure tasks are displayed on the grid.

    Screenshot of the View menu in the Resources module.Image Added
  2. Click a task to see a context menu and make adjustments.

    Screenshot of editing the manual contouring mode in the Resources module.Image Added
  3. To save changes, click outside of the

...

Info

Make sure Tasks are being displayed in the Resources module and expand the view. Otherwise, you won't be able to click on a Task and change the effort mode.

...

  1. dialog. 

Gantt module

You can check and edit inline the workload inline in the Gantt module. 

First, go and customize the column to workload contouring mode.

...

Workload Contouring - Box types

You can define the default workload mode for all boxes of a given time. 

Security and access

  • To change the workload contouring of a task go to Resources module > click the task

  • Only a user with a Box Admin or a Box Editor security role can access and change workload contouring

  • Users that are an App Admin or a Jira Admin have full access to the App and can also make the changes

  • Only the App admin can access and change the Box type administration.

  • For a given Box type, you can modify the default Scope definition settings in the App's drop down at the top > Administration > Box type > edit (click on a Box type name) > Tasks > Scope definition.

Info

Changing Workload contouring of a Box type doesn't impact existing Boxes. New settings apply only to new Boxes created using the updated Box type.

You can adjust the workload contouring mode for a Box in Box Configuration > Tasks > Workload contouring

...

Affected by

...

  1. Go to the Gantt module.

  2. Add the Workload contouring mode to the column view.

...

Affected by

  • When automatic workload contouring modes are selected, task effort distribution between specific days

...

  • changes depending on the filters chosen in the Resource module

...

  • . The algorithm is independent of filters.

...