Resource management

[Thierry Bonneau]

We are looking to start using Resource Management (SNOW Istanbul version) to support Capacity Planning, and I have a couple of questions, for which I would appreciate support / feedback / advice ..."

This should be managed  via Resource Plan, assigned to person / groups, and resource managers to be notified that some resources are requested. (in nutshell).

I belong to an Infrastructure team which contains several sub-teams : architecture / delivery / operations / third parties .... I expect to set up groups aligned with this structure, thus team leads will confirm resources allocation. So, I'm almost good, except with Operations availability : their first duty is Operations even-though they support project activities. 

Question 1 : How have you simulated that Ops team is available 20% , 30% for project ?

This Infrastructure team acts as an internal provider for several applications teams. We are seen as a big team from their perspective. Any resource requirement should be requested to "that single team" despite several sub-teams will be involved. I had in mind some options : 1) All request assign to Delivery, who should reassign effort to other sub-teams / 2 ) all request to a master group which contains all the sub-teams, and effort are assigned to specific resources by the master group resource manager / 3) other options ?

Question 2 : Have you ever faced such a kind of requirement ? What should be the best option to fix it ?

please let me know if some more explanations could help .. I'm continuing to dig in

[Brian Gadeberg · Accepted solution]

Hi 

I know you are on Istanbul version - but I don't have the opportunity to choose this version on my PDI. So my reply would be a mix of London version and ServiceNow Docs. 

Q1: How have you simulated that Ops team is available 20% , 30% for project ?

A1: Operational Resource plan is introduced in Jakarta version. It is used for reducing the Capacity by requesting time for e.g. operation, holidays etc. See SN Docs: Operational Resource Plans. The workaround would be to create resource plans without relation to any task and call them "Operational Resource Plans" and then allocate before starting to use of the Capacity for development" You will have to calculate how much 70-80% is in hours. In London you will be able to use "Capacity %"

Q2: Have you ever faced such a kind of requirement ? What should be the best option to fix it ?

A2: I haven't seen a solution where one user could be in more than one group.

1. I would consider using "Roles" (not system roles but resource roles) and/or skills. When someone request resource, they will either know what they should be working on or what kind of role/skill they would need. So the process would be something like this; The requester request hours per role/skill - one new resource plan per combination. Then the resources manager and the resource manager finds the right resource based on role and skill. It will usually require more than one plan (one for PM, analyst, Developer, tester etc...)

2. If you want the requester to only use one resource plan - they will need to write the breakdown somewhere else - like in the description field. Then when you receive the request, you will have to divide the one request into multiple.

3. The last solution would be too soft allocate the one resource plan and then make the changes in the resource allocation breakdown per period and user.

Hope the above makes sense - if not let me know and I can document with some screen shots or ekstra explanation.

Brian 

[Thierry Bonneau]

Hi Brian,

Thanks a lot for your prompt answers I had made a mistake regarding the SNOW version. We are using Jakarta ... so the Operational resource plan is available  and it provides a straight answer. 

I previously had a brief look on resource roles, and I will further review it. It may solve the issue as request will be per skill instead of SNOW Group. To be considered.

Thanks again.

Thierry

[Brian Gadeberg]

Hi Thierry Bonneau-Tessier,

Happy that you found the solution to your answer. Please mark the right answer as correct, so the question can be "closed"

Brian