The "No Utilization" setting allows you to assign a staffer to a project without allocating any planned work hours. This approach can be useful in various scenarios where flexibility or specific cost/revenue separation is needed. Below are practical examples of when to use this setting:
- Side Projects or Non-Billable Bench Assignments If you want a staffer to log time on a side project or a non-billable bench project, "No Utilization" is an ideal option. For instance, if the staffer will only work on the project when they are on the bench, you can assign them to the project without planning specific hours. The client should add a dedicated bench project for this purpose, allowing accurate time tracking.
- Uncertainty About Overtime When unsure whether overtime will occur on a project, you can create an assignment with "No Utilization." This allows the staffer to log their time as it happens, without pre-planning hours. The logged time will be calculated based on the details provided in the budget section.
- Time & Materials Projects with Out-of-Charge Work In cases where the client pays for specific tasks, such as development, but not for others, like bug fixes, "No Utilization" can help separate costs and revenue. For example:
- Create one assignment for the billable development work.
- Create a second assignment with "No Utilization" for the non-billable bug fixes.
This ensures that only the costs, not the revenue, are accounted for on the "No Utilization" assignment, enabling clear cost and revenue tracking for the project.
This flexibility ensures accurate resource management and financial planning, even in complex project scenarios.