Microsoft project contour

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Icebreakers help people get to know each other. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Strictly Necessary Cookies Strictly necessary cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Enable or Disable Cookies. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. By changing the contour, you can more accurately reflect the actual work pattern for the resource while working on a task.

To better understand contours, think of dividing each task into 10 equal timeslots. By using the various contours, Project assigns percentages of work to be done in each timeslot. Contours help you to assign work to a task, based on when the task requires the effort. For example, if a task requires less effort initially, consider using a Back Loaded contour.

If a task requires most effort in the middle of the task, consider using a Bell, Turtle, or even an Early Peak contour. If you start changing contours from the default Flat contour, you may inadvertently create a resource conflict. Therefore, viewing the contours that you set can help you resolve resource conflicts. Project includes eight predesigned contours as shown in Table To change the work contour for an assignment in either Task Usage or Resource Usage view, double-click an assignment to open the Assignment Information dialog box, select the General tab, and choose a contour from the Work Contour drop-down list:.

Contours interact with task and resource settings as you manage and adjust assignments during the life of the project. The contour shape is preserved with the assignment when you move the task or the project schedule changes. You can add the Work Contour column to the Resource Usage or Task Usage view, and change assignment contours in the view.

The Flat Contour With the Flat contour, work is distributed evenly across the duration of the assignment. This is demonstrated in Figure The Back Loaded Contour With a back-loaded assignment, the majority of the work is undertaken at the end of the assignment.

Preparation for an event such as a conference is generally back loaded as work increases when the event approaches. For back-loaded assignments, the back loading icon is displayed in the Indicators column. The effect of applying the Back Loaded contour is easily seen in Figure The Front Loaded Contour Front loading an assignment places the majority of the effort at the beginning of the assignment, as shown in Figure Select a Front Loaded contour when an assignment involves a significant startup effort and then slowly tapers off.

Contouring assignments so that they reflect the actual workload of the assignment makes it easier for you to track and manage your project. The Double Peak Contour Apply the Double Peak contour to assignments that feature two major expenditures of effort with downtime in between. The Late Peak Contour The Late Peak contour is similar to the Back Loaded contour, but the peak activity is near, not at, the end of the assignment, and is followed by a rapid ramp-down.

After the midway point, every day probably seems like Monday. A hour assignment with Late Peak contouring is shown in Figure The Bell Contour Use Bell contouring when the assignment requires a rapid ramp up to a large expenditure of effort in a short burst at the midway point, followed by a rapid ramp down, as shown in Figure Just kidding.