The fields that affect activity duration are:

Field / Screen
Minimum and maximum relevant duration time in minutes
Lower/Upper limit for personal ratio for duration calculation / Statistics
Default duration
Calculate activity duration using statistics / Add activity type and Modify activity type
Personalize the estimation of activity duration
Use durations reported to enhance company-wide estimations
Do not consider reported data of the first x working days / Add resource type
Initial ratio for Activity Duration
Working days left for reported data to start impacting duration estimations / Resource Info

Configuration examples

Example 1:Application uses the duration that is provided at the time of creating the activity

  • Activity Type screen:
  • Default duration = 30
  • Calculate activity duration using statistics = not selected

If the activity created has a duration of 50 minutes, that value (50) is used, if no value is provided at the time of creating the activity, 30 minutes is used.

Example 2:New resource in the application has no historic data. The administrator wants to provide 20% more time than the estimated duration at the company level.

  • Resource Type screen: Personalize the estimation of activity duration = selected
  • Resource Info screen: Initial Ratio for Activity Duration = 120%
  • Activity Type screen: Calculate activity duration using statistics = selected
  • Assume company-wide estimation for the activity to be 45 minutes

Since the resource does not have previous records for this kind of activity the initial (default) ratio is used for calculations. The estimated duration for the resource is: 45 * 120% = 54 minutes

Example 3:Application uses technician’s learned duration with limits. Resource has performed activities of this type in the past and, hence, has a personal activity key ratio.

  • Statistics screen:
  • Lower limit for personal ratio to calculate duration = 50%
  • Upper limit for personal ratio to calculate duration = 200%
  • Resource Type screen: Personalize the estimation of activity duration = selected
  • Activity Type screen: Calculate activity duration using statistics = selected
  • Assume personal profile to be 90% and company-wide estimation for the activity to be 50 minutes.

Since the personal activity key ratio falls within the set limits, it is used for estimations. The estimated duration for the resource is 50 * 90% = 45 minutes.

Example 4:Application uses company duration without using personal profile

  • Statistics screen:
  • Minimum relevant duration time in minutes = 3
  • Maximum relevant duration time in minutes = 1440
  • Resource Type screen: Personalize the estimation of activity duration = not selected
  • Activity Type screen: Calculate activity duration using statistics = selected
  • Assume company-wide estimation for the activity to be 45 minutes

Since the personal profile is not configured and the company-wide estimation is within the set limits, the estimated duration for the resource is same as the company wide estimation = 45 minutes.