Skip to main content

Resource Demand

Resource demand is a request, made on an initiative or project, for a resource type over a period of time — for example, 0.5 FTE of an Engineer each month from July to December. Project managers create demand; resource managers then allocate named people to it.

This article covers both the Advanced and Simple Models. Creating and changing demand needs the Resource Demand and Demand permissions — see Configuring Resources (Advanced Model). For how resource management fits together, see Managing Resources.

Before you start

Demand can only be created where resources are enabled — on the initiative's classification, with Enable Resource Demand and its Available Resource Types, or for the program in the Simple Model. See Configuring Resources (Advanced Model) or Configuring Resources (Simple Model).

Creating demand

To create demand:

  1. On the initiative or project, open the Resource Demand register, under Registers on the side menu, and click + Add Resource Demand. You can also select Resource Demand from the Create menu. The Create Resource Demand side sheet opens.
  2. Under Properties, select the Resource Type, and the Start Date and End Date you need it for.
  3. Under Resource Preferences, fill in any capabilities you need, such as a region or a qualification. These help the resource manager allocate the right people.
  4. On the Demand tab, enter how much of the resource you need in each period.
  5. Save the demand.

Each initiative can have one demand for each resource type. Once every available resource type has a demand, no more can be added.

Approval

Where the resource type has an approval workflow, saving the demand sends it for approval, and you can add a comment for the approvers. Its Request Status shows where it is. An approved or rejected demand goes back for approval when:

  • its demand values change;
  • its allocation values change;
  • a resource is allocated to it, or removed from it.

Where the resource type has no workflow, its demand isn't sent for approval. For setting up the workflow, see Approval Workflow Types.

Approving or rejecting demand in bulk

Approvers can approve or reject several resource demands at once, from the Resource Demand register's table or ledger view. To action demands in bulk:

  1. Open the Resource Demand register.
  2. Open the Columns panel, and select Bulk Select. A checkbox appears at the start of each row.
  3. Check each demand to action. A toolbar appears at the bottom of the register.
  4. Click Approve or Reject. The count next to each button shows how many of the selected demands it applies to.
  5. Review the initiatives affected, and click Confirm.

Each action only applies to demands that are Pending Approval where you're an approver of the current step. Where none of the selected demands qualify, the button is disabled. Where some do, only those are actioned.

  • Whether Bulk Select is shown is saved with the view, and it's off in existing views.
  • Hiding the Bulk Select column, or clicking the toolbar's close button, clears the selection.
  • Only approve and reject can be done in bulk. Archive, restore, and delete can't.

Allocated resources

Once a resource manager allocates people to the demand, they're listed under Allocated Resources on the demand. They can then be assigned to tasks on the schedule — see Resource Assignment.

Changing demand

Open the demand from the register, change its values, and save. Changing its dates so they start later or end earlier deletes the demand entered for periods that fall outside them. You'll be warned before saving.

Tracking changes

Each demand has its own Timeline, recording its approval requests and their outcomes, changes to its values, and archiving, along with comments. Users who can update the demand can comment on it, and mention others with @. See Activity Timelines.