How do resource smoothing and resource leveling differ from each other?
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs. On the other hand, resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
The accompanying diagram, sourced from the APM Body of Knowledge, provides a comparison between the two approaches.
Resource levelling and smoothing options (APM, 2019, p. 179)
© Association for Project Management (APM) (2019) APM Body of Knowledge (7th edn), Princes Risborough: APM.
At a more significant level of impact, certain projects undergo more than just rescheduling or resource allocation adjustments. They may undergo a reevaluation of their project scope by the project sponsor. This involves a broader analysis of the entire project and requires reconsideration of how time, cost, and quality interact within the project.
A prime example is the review of large-scale infrastructure projects like railways. Such projects often undergo rescaling due to increased costs, resulting in significant deviations from the original plans. The consequences of these revisions can affect the client and a wider range of stakeholders and may even result in the loss of subsequent work opportunities (Kerzner, 2009, p. 529).
Now, let’s consider MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event that you have been following in the course videos thus far. When examining the provided figure, do you think it would be feasible to implement a resource leveling approach in this scenario?
Share your thoughts and join the discussion below.
© The Open University
Considering MTD water project, time is of essence to them truly. But applying resource levelling approach is possible because;-
Resource levelling will balance the workload on their resource in order to align with their available capacity by applying either the
Delay non- critical activities strategy of resource levelling, which will not affect the project as long as it is completed within the period of available float. Or
Extend non-critical activity durations within the available float.
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs.
Injoh Linda epse Zama
Resource levelling does not change current capacity but focuses on project deadlines rescheduling which is something MTD cannot afford as time is a critical resource ,if the work load is levelled or split into pieces it will lead to a delay in the completion of the activity and there fore impacting the overall project . resource smoothing will be a better approach for MTD though it will be costly and this cost can be incurred by some major stakeholders.
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs.
Events are scheduled and extensions or durations are not mostly feasible, so smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines as what is likely what MTD project may effect
Their PM said earlier that their department is not cheap to hire. This is mostly because they don’t have the luxury of time. Every event has a definite start time and whatever preparation MTD is hired to do must fit into the available time frame. With this in mind, whatever extra it would cost to deliver that project will be brought. If it needs more hands or more money to fast track a process, it would be done.
Ezeojiewuru Francisca Ozioma
Considering if the MTD company can apply resources levelling approach, I think the company is constantly constrained by time seeing they have to meet up with a scheduled events.
Looking at resource levelling approach where the current capacity does not change but focuses instead on rescheduling with a possible impact on project deadlines, I think the MTD company will best function with the resource smoothing approach.
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs.
While resource levelling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasises rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
The MTD supplies water for events in this case. Resource Smoothing may be their better choice as they have to meet up with the client’s expectation except the date of the event can be moved, in which case, resource Levelling may work.
i think that for the MTD Company, Resource Scheduling might not be the right approach for the nature of their projects.
Scheduling of resources entails a solution that will eventually impact task deadlines and/or the overall scheduled delivery dates of the project. This is because Resource scheduling involves balancing workload with available resources.
MTD has to deliver onsite water facilities to meet the need of the users at an already established event date, so any solution that might impact the delivery date would not be the best, but rather; resource smoothing, on the other hand, might be preferable as this will enable the delivery of the project within the specified time at the expense of a cost increment.
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs. On the other hand, resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
Application of resources leveling is better since it won’t alter the existing resources capacity. However, the implication is reschedule some phases of the MTD water project thereby affecting the deadline.
Implementing resources levelling approach in this scenario will balance workload that is there will be a stable workload and it will still align with use of available resources to get to the expected end of the project though there will be the possibility of rescheduled time frame for the project
On the MTD water project, resource smoothing is the best option for the project because, they will still maintain the deadline to deliver the project and still maintain the quality of the project, which increase in cost is the only thing that changed and they will meet up with the time to deliver the project.
Considerating thethe Water Project of MTD does, resource smoothing will be advisable so that deadlines will be met. The phases and project plans wouldn’t change that much except cost implications.
The best approach is resource Smoothing which is best for a time-based project like MTD. A change in cost does not matter so far deadline is met.
Zumukalice Team 3