TimeMaker Matrix Lesson 1 - The TimeMaker Matrix Orientation

TM Matrix Lesson 1 - The TimeMaker Matrix Orientation:

Prerequisites:
1. Understanding Production Tasks.
2. Understanding Task Actions.

This is the first of 14 tutorials explain the TimeMaker Matrix. This will give you a basic understanding and orientation of this revolutionary feature.

The Matrix shows today’s, the past’s, and the future’s load and every further detail you need to know.

Every task, every project, every meeting, every work flow item, every communication - literally every single thing that happens in the organization is presented on the Matrix.

Let’s break it down and see how it works:

The top row indicates today’s, the past’s and the future’s dates.

The past dates are red (as they are overdue), today is turquoise and future dates are royal blue.

The number at the top of each column in parentheses shows how many tasks are assigned for that specific date. So, for example Wed, 9/28/2011, has a “(5)” next to it, indicating five tasks for that day.

The number in the small white box with arrows on each side between the columns represents the number of days with no tasks between days with tasks. Instead of creating empty columns, we show this little box with the indication of how many days are empty.

Now to further understand how the Matrix places Tasks, let’s take a totally new Company with no assigned tasks. The Matrix is totally empty. When a task gets assigned to a person it gets placed at the target date. For example: I (Meir) assign a task to Gal and select the Target Date to be today’s date. As soon as the task is sent the task will appear in today’s date column on the Matrix. Makes sense, right?

Let’s populate the Matrix…

Let’s add a task for yesterday… as you can see the task has been placed in yesterday and yes, it is red, indicating the task is overdue.

Now, let’s assign a task for tomorrow… as you can see the task has been placed for tomorrow.

And a few more tasks….

Simple….

You can control the size of the boxes by clicking:

Ctrl (control) 1: Super Mini Boxes
Ctrl 2: Mini Boxes
Ctrl 3: Small
Ctrl 4: Medium-Sized
Ctrl 5: Big
Ctrl 6: Wide
Ctrl 7: Extremely Wide
Ctrl 8: Tall
Ctrl 9: Extremely Tall

You can also do these selections from “View” at the top menu (note the shortcuts indicated to the right).

You can also control the size of the boxes by the following shortcuts:

Ctrl (control) G: Increase Width
Ctrl Alt G: Decrease Width
Ctrl H: Increase Height
Ctrl Alt H: Decrease Height

Again, you can also do those actions from “View” (note the shortcuts indicated to the right).