Demand vs Capacity

You can use the Demand vs Capacity tab to see relationships between resource demand and resource capacity for a selected work item in your organization's portfolio. The left side of the Demand vs Capacity tab lists the selected work item and its attributes. The right side of the Demand vs Capacity tab displays the demand and capacity values for the selected time period. Each time period contains the total demand and capacity values for the work item and may contain individual columns for selected resource roles or the total values for each time frame. The lower pane aggregates totals from the portfolio, showing total demand and capacity, and the variance between.

One of the key benefits to using the Demand vs Capacity tab is the ability to identify potential resource constraints within a work item portfolio. The Demand vs Capacity tab assumes that resource demand for your most important work item will be filled first and that they will be sorted according to importance or strategic value. The sort order can be specified using the Organize tab in the Datasheet Properties dialog box. As you move down a work item list, capacity will be consumed by each work item in turn, until, potentially, the demand for resources exceeds resource capacity.

The resource demand values display in the right part of the view. When resource demand is less than capacity, demand values for each corresponding work item is displayed in black (positive variance). When resource demand is greater than capacity, demand values for each corresponding work item is displayed in red (negative variance). When the overall demand values are calculated in the lower pane, and compared with capacity, you will see the total variance for the portfolio by time period and by role. In addition to colors, you can enable a watermark, which adds a red line and a watermark that uses a graphical representation when demand exceeds capacity. The watermark will appear at the first point where capacity is exceeded.

You can change the information available in the Demand vs Capacity tab by changing the starting or ending dates, by adjusting the calendar period, or by changing the units upon which the analysis is based. Click Apply to recalculate the information.

Datasheet demand values for each work item is equal to the sum of all allocations in the specified time frame. Demand is represented by rows, which correspond to each work item in the datasheet. Demand for a work item can be viewed over time and for each resource role allocated to that work item. Datasheet capacity values for each work item is derived from the calendar settings for all resources on all resource teams included in the Demand vs Capacity Filters tab in the Datasheet Properties dialog box in the specified time frame. Capacity is displayed in the Capacity row at the lower part of the view. The total demand displays in the Total Demand row, which includes both demand in the datasheet. Other Demand includes demand for any work item not included in the datasheet, such as those outside the selected work item hierarchy level, or those filtered out in the Datasheet Properties dialog.

Including values for resource roles

If you want to include demand and capacity values for each resource role as well as the time period total, select the Show Resource Roles check box.

To include demand and capacity values for resource roles

Open the Reports module.
Select a datasheet.
Select the Demand vs Capacity tab.
Select the datasheet for which you will display demand vs. capacity.
Select Show Resource Roles and click Save.

Using a watermark

In addition to the text coloring, you can select the Show Watermark dialog check box on the view toolbar to add a red line and watermark that provides a more graphical representation when demand exceeds capacity. The watermark appears at the first point in a work item list, from top to bottom, where capacity is exceeded.

To use a watermark to indicate when demand exceeds capacity

Open the Reports module.
Select a datasheet.
Select the Demand vs Capacity tab.
Select Show Watermark dialog.
Click Save.

Viewing demand vs. capacity

Demand vs capacity information can be viewed from the Demand vs Capacity tab in the Reports module.

To view demand vs. capacity

Open the Reports module.
Select a datasheet.
Select the Demand vs Capacity tab.