Labor Tab of Project Planning

Use the Labor tab to enter or review labor information for the current plan. Vision calculates labor costs based on the estimated number of labor hours to complete work on the WBS element, multiplied by the "per hour cost rate" of resources assigned to the WBS element.

Vision calculates labor costs of items at higher levels in the WBS, such as phases, by summing the costs of their descendants. Project Planning summarizes labor budget data automatically.

Contents

The Labor Planning grid includes ways for you to work with the plan currently displayed. You can use the options that display across the top of the grid or right-click a row button to access a pop-up menu.

Grid Options

Field	Description
New Row	Click this option to open a new row in the grid so that you can enter a new WBS element.
Outdent	Click this option to promote the current WBS element to a higher level in the WBS hierarchy.
Indent	Click this option to move the current WBS element to a lower level of the WBS, making it a "child" node of the element immediately preceding it on the grid.
Insert Resource	Click this option to open a new row in the grid and display in the Description field. Use the Employee lookup to select an employee for the assignment.
Employee Lookup	Click this option to display the Employee lookup, where you can select an employee for the assignment.
Generic Lookup	Click this option to display the Generic lookup, where you can select a generic resource for the assignment. The results of this lookup depend on the Generic Method selected on the Rates tab of Project Planning. If the Generic Method is set to Labor Code, all generic resources from the Labor Code table display. If the Generic Method is Labor Category, all generic resources from the Labor Category table display.
Search	Select this option to open the Resource Search options. Use these options to search for named employees or generic employee categories: Use the Named Resource tab to search for an employee record using criteria, such as skills, to narrow your search. Use the Generic Resource tab to select a "generic" employee category.
Delete	Click this option to delete the current WBS element from the plan.
Shift	Click this option to shift the current row's data.
Cut	Click this option to cut the current row and places it on the clipboard.
Copy	Click this option to copy the current row and places it on the clipboard.
Paste	Click this option to paste the current row from the clipboard.
New Row/New Row (Above)	Click this option to open a new row in the grid, immediately above the current row, so that you can enter a new WBS element.
Utilization	Click this option to display the current resource utilization schedule for the selected employee from the plan's Start Date to the plan's end date. This option is only available on named resource rows.
Job to Date Charging	Click this option to display the Job to Date Hours, Cost (if you have access rights to see full cost rates), and Billing amounts for the Task row. The Job to Date dialog box lists all employees who have charged to the Project, Phase, Task, or Labor Code that is mapped to the Planned Task. You can click the "hour" amount to drill down to the Labor Detail report for a given employee. The numbers in the Job to Date Charging grid will include unposted values if the Show Unposted Actual Labor option is selected on the General Tab. The numbers in the Job to Date Charging grid are not rounded to the whole number, so the numbers may not match. This is necessary to ensure that the numbers on the Job to Date Charging grid match the numbers in the Labor Detail report. Job to Date Charging is only available if the Planning Task row is mapped correctly to the existing project.
Project Review	Click this option to display the Project Review dialog box, where you can view information about the project and its various levels.

Labor Planning Grid

Use the Labor Planning Grid to construct a work breakdown structure, assign an employee or generic resource to a WBS element, schedule the plan's work elements, or map a plan to project, phase, and task records so that actual hours and costs are incorporated in your plan. You can also copy and paste existing rows as you build the WBS or assign resources. Right click on the small arrow to the left of a row to access the grid options pop-up menu. After you enter data on the Labor planning grid, you can view or schedule hours, cost, and/or billing information for the task.

Any unposted actuals on this grid display with a text color of teal. Any values between the summary and detail rows that do not match display with a text color of red.

Use the Collapse Start/End Dates before Save option to collapse the start and end dates on the grid rows for the periods that contain planned data. The start and end dates collapse before you save the plan so you do not need to manually set the dates for each row. When you turn this option on, Vision changes the start and end dates to match the minimum and maximum dates set on the top-level task row.

Field	Description
Plus Sign or Minus Sign	The Plus Sign and Minus Sign follow standard Windows User Interface Conventions. The Plus Sign in a grid row indicates the task is a parent task that contains related child tasks. Click the Plus Sign to view the child tasks. The Plus Sign changes to a Minus Sign when the child tasks are open. Click the Minus Sign to close the child tasks.
Description	Enter an identifier for the WBS element. The resource that you specify here is assigned to the WBS element in the row directly preceding it on this grid. You can assign a named resource or a generic resource. If you click the New Row grid option to open a new row in the Labor grid, the element that you enter in this field can be a project, phase, task, or labor code, or some other WBS element of your choosing. If you click the Insert grid option, you can specify resources for resource assignments. When you do, Vision opens the new row. You can then use Quick Find to find an employee or a generic resource.
WBS Level	Vision requires this field to map the plan elements to Info Center records so that you can report actual hours and amounts. When you insert, indent, or outdent tasks on the Labor grid, the WBS Level field matches settings in the WBS mapping grid on the General tab. If the values in the WBS mapping grid change, Vision resets this field to reflect the change. If you select a WBS element type in this field, you must also make a corresponding entry in one of the following fields: Project, Phase, Task, or Labor Code.
Project	Specify the project record's identifier. Enter the project's identifier in this field or click Search and use the Project lookup to select a project. If you are using Multicurrency, your enterprise may decide to report project amounts in the billing currency, rather than the project currency. If so, use the Report amounts in billing currency, rather than project currency option on the General Tab of Accounting System Settings. This results in the Project lookup filtering by both cost and billing currency code. If the Report amounts in billing currency, rather than project currency option is not selected, the Project lookup only displays projects using the cost currency code.
Phase	Specify the phase record's identifier. Enter the phase's identifier in this field or click Search and use the Phase lookup to select a phase. If you copy and paste a phase to create a new phase, you also copy all indented information under the phase. Change the name of the copied phase to create a new phase.
Task	Specify the task record's identifier. Enter the task's identifier in this field or click Search and use the Task lookup to select a task identifier. If you copy and paste a task to create a new task, you also copy all indented related information under the task. Change the name of the copied task to create a new task.
Labor Code	Use this field to specify the labor code record's identifier. Enter the labor code's identifier in this field or click Search and use the Labor Code lookup to select a labor code. If you copy and paste a labor code to create a new labor code, you also copy all related information under the labor code. Change the name of the copied labor code to create a new labor code.
Start	Specify a start date for the WBS element. By default, this field is set to today's date. Complete one of the following to specify a date: Enter a date in the field. Click Calendar to display the Calendar dialog box and select a date. Right-click to select Match start date(s) to planned values. This option matches the start date to the planned value, and automatically shifts the start date for the current row and any subsequent indented rows forward. You cannot select this option when you start a task in the middle of a biweekly period — you must change the start date manually. Right-click to select Match children start date(s) with parent start date. This option makes the start date(s) of all indented child rows the same as the start date of the selected parent row. You cannot enter a date that is earlier than the first date in the plan's calendar. If you create the plan from an Opportunity template, the start date displays the start date that originated with the opportunity. If the Start and Finish dates match, Vision spreads entered amounts equally among all subsequent indented rows. If you change the start date of an existing plan, Vision asks you to confirm that you want to shift the data on the row. If the changed start date pushes the end date past the end date of the last calendar period, Vision prompts you to confirm the change.
Finish	Specify an end date for the WBS element. By default, this field is set to today's date. Complete one of the following actions to specify a date: Enter a date in the field. Click Calendar to display the Calendar lookup and select a date. Right-click to select Match finish date(s) to planned value. This shifts the finish date for the current row, and all subsequent indented child rows, back to the last period in each row that contains planned values. You cannot select this option when finishing a task in the middle of a biweekly period — you must change the finish date manually. Right-click to select Set finish date by duration. The Duration dialog box displays. Enter the number of business days to use to set the finish date. Vision adds the number of business days to the Start date. Right-click to select Match children finish date(s) with parent finish date. This option makes the finish date(s) of all indented child rows the same as the finish date of the selected parent row. The finish date must be equal to or later than the start date. If the Start and Finish dates match, Vision spreads entered amounts equally among all subsequent indented rows. You cannot enter a date that is later than the last date in the plan's calendar. If you create the plan from an Opportunity template, the finish date displays the end date that originated with the opportunity.
Cost Rate	Cost rates represent your firm's cost to produce a service. The default cost rate displayed in this field is taken from the cost rate settings specified for this plan on the Rates tab. You can override this default, and the Labor tab will recalculate the rate. If you use the Multicurrency feature, an employee is assigned to his/her home company via the Organization field on the General tab of the Employee Info Center. The home company is the company that manages the employee's timesheet and expense report processes, and which is responsible for paying him or her. If the functional currency for the employee's home company matches either the cost currency or the billing currency for the plan, and you set the Labor Rate Method to From Employee Provisional Rate on the Rates tab, Vision uses the employee's provisional rate. If the functional currency for the employee's home company does not match either the cost currency or the billing currency for the plan, and you set the Labor Rate Method to From Employee Provisional Rate on the Rates tab, Vision sets the rate to zero.
Billing Rate	Billing rates represent what the client will pay for the services your firm provides. The default billing rate displayed in this field is taken from the billing rate settings specified for this plan on the Rates tab. You can override this default, and the Labor tab will recalculate the rate. See the help for the Rates tab of Project Planning for more information. If you use the Multicurrency feature, an employee is assigned to his/her home company via the Organization field on the General tab of the Employee Info Center. The home company is the company that manages the employee's timesheet and expense report processes, and which is responsible for paying him or her. If the functional currency for the employee's home company matches either the cost currency or the billing currency for the plan, and you set the Labor Rate Method to From Employee Provisional Rate on the Rates tab, Vision uses the employee's provisional rate. If the functional currency for the employee's home company does not match either the cost currency or the billing currency for the plan, and you set the Labor Rate Method to From Employee Provisional Rate on the Rates tab, Vision sets the rate to zero.
Planned Hours	Enter the planned hours for the current WBS element. This is the number of hours you estimate as necessary to complete work on the element. You can also right-click on this cell to access the options to spread hours across the grid.
Planned Cost	This field displays the planned cost amount for the current WBS element. To calculate the planned cost amount, Vision multiplies the planned hours by the cost rate for the current line item. Your security role must have access to view Cost Rates in order for an amount to display in this column.
Planned Bill	This field shows the planned billing amount for the current WBS element. To calculate the planned billing amount, Vision multiplies the planned hours by the billing rate for the current line item.
Percent Complete Cost	This field displays the percent complete of labor costs for the WBS element in this row. If the Percent Complete Formula option on the General tab is: User-Entered Percent Complete, then you can enter a percent complete here. Any other setting, then this field is non-editable and Vision calculates the value for you.
Percent Complete Bill	This field displays the percent complete of labor billing for the WBS element in this row. If the Percent Complete Formula option selected on the General tab is: User-Entered Percent Complete, then you can enter a percent complete here. Any other setting, then this field is non-editable and Vision calculates the value for you.
Job to Date Hours	This field displays the Job to Date actual hours for the current WBS element, resulting from timesheet postings. You see a value in this field only if you map the current plan to the Info Center.
Job to Date Cost	This field displays the Job to Date actual cost for the current WBS element. To calculate this amount, Vision multiplies the Job to Date hours by the cost rate. You see a value in this field only if you map the current plan to the Info Center. Your security role must have access to view Cost Rates in order for an amount to display in this column.
Job to Date Bill	This field displays the Job to Date actual billing amount for the current WBS element. To calculate this amount, Vision multiplies the Job to Date hours by the billing rate. You see a value in this field only if you map the current plan to the Info Center.
Plan - Estimate at Completion Hours	This field displays the variance between the planned hours and the Estimate at Completion hours for the current WBS element.
Plan - Estimate at Completion Cost	This field displays the variance between the planned labor cost amount and the Estimate at Completion labor cost amount for the current WBS element. Your security role must have access to view Cost Rates in order for an amount to display in this column.
Plan - Estimate at Completion Bill	This field displays the variance between the planned labor billing amount and the Estimate at Completion labor billing amount for the current WBS element.
Estimate to Complete Hours	This field displays the Estimate to Complete hours for the current WBS element. This is the number of hours required starting the day after the ETC/JTD date forward through the end of the plan to complete work on this WBS element. You establish the ETC date on the Options Estimate to Complete/Job to Date Basis dialog box.
Estimate to Complete Cost	This field displays the Estimate to Complete cost for the current WBS element. To calculate this amount, Vision multiplies the number in the Estimate to Complete Hours field by the cost rate method specified on the General tab.
Estimate to Complete Bill	This field displays the Estimate to Complete billing amount for the current WBS element. To calculate this amount, Vision multiplies the number in the Estimate to Complete Hours field by the billing rate method specified on the General tab.
Baseline Hours	If this plan does not yet have a baseline version saved for comparison and analysis, this field is blank. If this plan does have a baseline version, this field displays the number of hours estimated for the current WBS element at the time the baseline version of the plan was saved.
Baseline Cost	If this plan does not yet have a baseline version saved for comparison and analysis, this field is blank. If this plan does have a baseline version, this field displays the cost estimated for the current WBS element at the time the baseline version of the plan was saved.
Baseline Bill	If this plan does not yet have a baseline version saved for comparison and analysis, this field is blank. If this plan does have a baseline version, this field displays the billing amount estimated for the current WBS element at the time the baseline version of the plan was saved.
Planned Revenue	This field displays the revenue amount expected for the current WBS element.
Compensation	Enter the compensation amount. You can also right-click on this cell to access the options for spreading amounts across the grid. The sum of the amounts in the Compensation, Consultant Fee, and Reimbursable Allowance fields on the Accounting tab of Project Info Center represent the total amount of fee you expect to receive over the life of the project. The amount that you enter in each of these fields depends on your approach to project management. If you set the Project Fee Entering Method on the General tab of Accounting System Settings to At lowest level only (system will automatically update higher levels), then the Compensation field is non-editable at higher levels of the work breakdown structure. All changes to the lowest levels of this field update to the higher levels. If you select Compensation Values by Row and Period on the General tab of Planning Configuration, the Refresh Analysis Fees option displays on the Actions toolbar menu. Select this option to copy the Compensation amount from the Labor tab to the Analysis tab. This field displays if you select the Compensation Values by Row and Period option on the General tab
Consultant Fees	Enter the consultant cost amount. You can also right-click on this cell to access the options to spread amounts across the grid. The consultant fee amount should include fees for consultant work that are not reimbursable. See the Accounting tab of Project Info Center for more information. The sum of the amounts in the Compensation, Consultant Fee, and Reimbursable Allowance fields on the Accounting tab of Project Info Center represent the total amount of fee you expect to receive over the life of the project. The amount you enter in each of these fields depends on your approach to project management. If you set the Project Fee Entering Method on the General tab of Accounting System Settings to At lowest level only (system will automatically update higher levels), then the Consultant Fee field is non-editable at higher levels of the work breakdown structure. All changes to the lowest levels of this field are automatically updated to the higher levels. If you select Compensation Values by Row and Period on the General tab of Planning Configuration, the Refresh Analysis Fees option displays on the Actions toolbar menu. Select this option to copy the Consultant Fee amount from the Labor tab to the Analysis tab. This field displays if you select the Compensation Values by Row and Period option on the General tab of Planning Configuration.
Reimbursable Allowance	Enter the reimbursable cost amount. You can also right-click on this cell to access the options for spreading amounts across the grid. The reimbursable allowance amount should include all expenses that will be reimbursed to your company by the client, including reimbursable consultant fees. See the Accounting tab of Project Info Center for more information. The sum of the amounts in the Compensation, Consultant Fee, and Reimbursable Allowance fields on the Accounting tab of Project Info Center represent the total amount of fee you expect to receive over the life of the project. The amount you enter in each of these fields depends on your approach to project management. If you set the Project Fee Entering Method on the General tab of Accounting System Settings to At lowest level only (system will automatically update higher levels), then the Reimbursable Allowance field is non-editable at higher levels of the work breakdown structure. All changes to the lowest levels of this field are automatically updated to the higher levels. If you select the Compensation Values by Row and Period option on the General tab of Planning Configuration, the Refresh Analysis Fees option displays on the Actions toolbar menu. Select this option to copy the Reimbursable Allowance amount from the Labor tab to the Analysis tab. This field displays if you select the Compensation Values by Row and Period option on the General tab of Planning Configuration.
Total Compensation	This field displays the sum of the Compensation, Consultant Fee, and Reimbursable Allow columns. You see this field if you select the Compensation Values by Row and Period option on the General tab of Planning Configuration.

Accordion Calendar Grid

An accordion calendar grid displays on the right side of the Labor tab. It works in conjunction with the Labor Planning grid to display individual line items for the WBS, as well as dates and scales, for the current plan. After you enter information on the Labor Planning grid, you may record specific details about each line item and its respective dates (or range of dates) on the accordion calendar grid. Rather than enter cost information in each cell of the Labor grid, Vision can automatically spread cost across a specified time period within the grid. There may be multiple rates with different start and end dates set up for an employee. In these cases, Vision uses all dates that are appropriate for the calendar period where cost and billing amounts are being calculated, and calculates the correct rate for that period.

Field	Description
Gantt Chart	Each Gantt Chart bar represents the number of days scheduled for the corresponding WBS element. The bar spans the time between the start date and the end date of the element (for example, a task or phase). If the Gantt Chart bar displays against a gray background, then that bar is not editable (just as any non-editable field in the planning grid is shaded).
Baseline Hrs	This field displays the baseline hours, by line item.
Planned Hrs	This field displays the forecast hours, by line item. Rather than enter hours in each cell of the Labor grid, Vision can automatically spread hours across a specified time period within the grid.
Actual Hrs	This field displays the actual hours reported via timesheet postings, by line item.
Baseline Cost	This field displays the baseline labor cost, by line item (baseline hours multiplied by employee cost rates).
Planned Cost	This field displays the forecast labor cost, by line item (planned hours multiplied by employee cost rates).
Actual Cost	This field displays the actual labor cost reported in Vision Accounting.
Baseline Bill	This field displays the baseline labor billing amount, by line item (baseline hours multiplied by employee billing rates).
Planned Bill	This field displays the forecast labor billing amount, by line item (planned hours multiplied by employee billing rates).
Actual Bill	This field displays the actual billing amounts reported in Vision Accounting.
Earned Value Percent	Enter the earned value percentage for the current plan level. This percentage is used to calculate the Earned Value based on planned cost and/or billing amounts. Earned Value measures project performance. Indicates how much of the budget should have been spent, considering the work accomplished, and the baseline for the WBS entry. When you enter the Earned Value Percent for the current plan level, note that Vision removes any previously entered earned value percentage for the plan. You can only enter Earned Value Percent at one level for each branch of the plan. Earned Value Percent amounts do not total either as you roll up amounts or spread them across a row. Also, each level of each branch of the plan may only have one entry.