Simulation MOD009CT6

Access

Portfolio panel → Simulations → Click on the Create simulation button → Simulation
Portfolio panel → Simulations → Click on the ID of a simulation or of a road map → Simulation

Information

In this module, the planning data of the portfolio planning objects can be simulated.

Simulation means the running-through of different planning statuses (via date changes) in order to achieve a change in the utilization situation of the resource.

Furthermore, the completed simulations in this module can be
- copied,
- printed,
- exported to Microsoft PowerPoint,
- deleted, and
- defined as a road map if the simulated data is to be considered a benchmark for planning. The key data of the road map is then displayed parallel to the live data of the planning objects in the Project Core Data and/or Proposal Core Data modules, so that the project manager can use it for orientation.

Notes

The data displayed in this module is a copy of the data from the frozen planning object statuses and have no relation to live data.
Any adjustment in this module only causes the copied status report data to be changed. These changes do not affect live data and data of the status reports themselves.

Carry Out Simulation

Define Simulation Header Data

Procedure

Allocate a name for the simulation in the field with the -Please enter a name- entry.
Define the required simulation period in the from and to fields.

Details on Period

The period defined here
- defines the date scale in the Simulation module and the time axis of the utilization diagrams in the Simulation: Utilization module (for information on the module, see further below), and the print preview.
- has an influence on the Overload in the period overload traffic light. The traffic light is only red if there are overloads in the defined period.
- has no influence on the overload traffic light Total overload, i.e. if a department has no overload in the defined period but outside the period, the traffic light turns red.
The period is set from the first day of the previous quarter up to the end of the 18th month (calculated from today) by default.
The time axis of the utilization diagram is not only defined by the simulation period but also by the periods.
- If the end of the simulation period is, e.g., 06/30/19, but the periods of the department end on 12/31/18, the time of the utilization diagram only extends up to 12/31/18. In such a case, the date scale in the Simulation module does not match the time of the utilization diagram.

Note

Please note that at a particular point an extension of the period in the Simulation module will no longer be reflected in the utilization diagram in the Simulation: Utilization module, since the length of the utilization diagram is restricted.

Simulate Data

Procedure

Change the dates of the planning objects as required
- either by moving the bars in the Dates area
  - Shifts of less than one month do not provoke any change.
- or by clicking on the - or + button in the Simulation: start or Simulation: end. This way, project start or project end can be moved forward or backwards in simulation in one-month increments. This will extend or shorten the project duration.
  - When simulating the dates, the distribution of the effort of the planning object must be checked and adjusted. To do so, unfold the line of the corresponding planning object and then the line of the resource(s).
    - When you extend the runtime, new month fields are created in which you can enter the effort.
    - When reducing the runtime of a project, the effort values in the month fields which lie outside the new runtime dates are retained and must be distributed manually to the months within the new (simulated) runtime. The month fields which lie outside the simulation period which are thus cleared are deleted after refreshing the view.
    - When moving a planning object with unchanged duration, both cases apply.
Change the effort of the planning objects.
- The distribution of the effort of the planning objects can either be simulated separately or they may have to be adjusted if the dates of the planning objects have been changed (simulated).
  - To do so, unfold the line of the required planning object and then the line of the required resource. Adjust the effort distribution as desired or adjust it to the new schedule situation. See above.
Change the priority of the planning objects if necessary.
- This influences the loading sequence of the planning objects in the department chart. Projects with low priority are the first to create overload, hence they are virtually piled up in the charts "top down".
Save.
Check the change of the utilization situation in the Simulation: Utilization module.
- To do so, click on the Show utilization diagram button in the Departments area of the required department.

Details on further parameters (by area)

Area	Description	Parameters
Planning Objects	In this area, the planning objects available for simulation are displayed by their priority in descending order. Below the projects, the respective department resources can be expanded. Below the departments, the respective monthly effort values are displayed and can be edited. The effort values serve as a basis for utilization diagrams.	Simulate: This parameter serves to deactivate planning objects for simulation. If a planning object is deactivated, its date bar will neither be displayed below the date scale area nor will the planning object itself be considered in the utilization diagrams in the Departments area. All projects are part of the simulation by default. Color in simulation: This parameter determines the color of the planning object in the date scale and in the utilization diagram. Actual values: The checkbox indicates whether there is already actual data (postings) in a planning object (activated checkbox). Here it is not possible to manually deactivate the checkbox. Overload in the period: The traffic light indicates whether there is an overload for the respective planning object in the current simulation situation for the selected period. Total Overload: The traffic lights show whether the respective planning object has overload in the current simulation situation as a whole.
DATES	In this area, date bars for the planning objects listed in the Planning objects area are displayed. For bar details, see legend under: The bars can be moved by dragging which changes the dates and/or durations of the planning objects in the simulation.
DEPARTMENTS	In this area, departments which themselves (or the resources of which) are planned in the planning objects which were considered in the simulation. In order to be displayed here, the respective department must additionally possess the Show in Utilization ≠ "no display" parameter. Below the departments, the respective monthly availability data is displayed and can be edited. The available capacities serve as a basis for utilization diagrams.	Overload in period The traffic light indicates whether there is an overload for the department in the current simulation situation for the selected period. Total overload The traffic light indicates whether there is an overload for the department in the current simulation situation as a whole.

Legend: Simulation

Meaning	Color	Comment
Requested dates		Requested start and Requested end of a planning object in the simulation/road map. The dates stem from the status report which was used as source for the simulation.
Simulated dates	The color of the bar is determined by the selection in the Color in simulation field.	Changed (simulated) dates (Simulation: start and Simulation: end) of a planning object
calculated dates		Calc. start and Calc. end of a planning object in the simulation/road map. The dates stem from the status report which was used as source for the simulation.
actual dates	The bar is hatched in white. The background color is determined by the selection in the Color in simulation field.	Actual start and Latest time recording date of a planning object in the simulation/road map. The dates stem from the status report which was used as source for the simulation.

Notes

For "Other Projects" in the simulation, the following applies: Only data from projects which have a released status report are displayed. In the creation of a simulation, no automatic status reports are created for "other projects" if they do not possess them. This may cause different displays in portfolios for a department if it is, e.g., planned in two different projects which belong to different portfolios.
If a resource or department is planned for a period in which he/she has no availability (e.g. when he/she has not yet extended the periods), the effort of this resource is not considered in the utilization chart (see Simulation: Utilization) module.
If a project which has been considered earlier in the overload display is moved to period in the simulation in which there is no availability for the department, this project is no longer considered in the overload calculation.

Further Functions for Simulation

Information

Via the buttons in the header bar, the following actions can be carried out for the simulations created or opened in this module:

Click on the	Action
Road map	converts the simulation into a road map A road map is the released and thus frozen version of a simulation and unlike simulations it cannot be changed.
Copy simulation	copies the selected simulation This enables the creation of multiple variants of one simulation.
Open print view	opens a print version of the
Export to Microsoft PowerPoint module	exports the simulated dates to Microsoft PowerPoint and represents it in a previously defined road map It is possible here to export planning object data in groups. After clicking on the button, there is a query asking you whether the data is to be exported as a group. If you confirm the query with Yes, a dialog module will be opened in which the planning objects can be grouped by the required criterion. They will subsequently be exported to PPT in accordance with the selected grouping. If you confirm the message with No, the planning objects will be exported in the order in which they are displayed in the simulation. The PowerPoint template file must therefore be stored in the client. In the PLANTA standard delivery, a standard !PowerPoint template is already contained in the client and can be adjusted individually if desired. For further information, see the PowerPoint Export topic in the PLANTA customizer help area.
Delete	Deletes the simulation or road map