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
In my opinion, resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines but does not increase costs or resource capacity of the project, which may resulting in significant deviations from the original plans.
The right choice between resource leveling and resource smoothing depends on what the project needs, what limits or rules it has to follow, and what the organization thinks is most important for managing resources and planning the project.
But, considering MTD and the Glasgow event.
I believe resource smoothing is better because it will help them make sure resources are used evenly without getting overloaded at certain times, even if it means not spreading them out evenly throughout the whole project.
Suppose MTD suddenly finds out they need more resources or that some plans have to change. That’s like trying to finish a puzzle only to find out some pieces don’t fit right! But instead of giving up, they think about how they can rearrange everything so it still looks awesome in the end.
They know that to make things work smoothly, they have to balance their time, costs, and quality of work. It’s like trying to juggle school, hobbies, and chores without dropping anything!
MTD looks at what they have—like equipment, people, and materials. They ask, “Can we move things around a bit to make it all fit together better?”
They also have to follow some rules, like finishing on time and not spending too much money. It’s a bit like trying to bake cookies perfectly following a recipe, making sure they’re delicious but not burning them!
MTD talks with everyone involved, from sponsors to team members, to make sure they’re all on the same page. It’s like planning a big family trip; everyone needs to agree on where they’re going and how they’ll get there.
They sit down and figure out exactly what needs to change and how they can manage their resources better. It’s like making a new game plan for a sports match to make sure they score the winning goal!
They also think about what could go wrong, like delays or unexpected costs, and have plans to handle those surprises. It’s a bit like having an umbrella ready for a sudden rainstorm!
So, yes, MTD can use a resource leveling approach, but they have to think about everything carefully, work together, and be ready for anything that might pop up along the way. With good planning and teamwork, they can still make the Glasgow event fantastic, even if the puzzle pieces need a bit of rearranging!
For Resource smoothing or Levelling these decision will be subject to the Project Plan.
i will subscribed to Smoothing in a situation where a project as reach completion date.
I am inclined to think that the best approach for the Glasgow and MTD events is smoothing.
Both projects set their deadlines, which were decided and announced. This underscores the purpose of the project.
Resource smoothing and resource leveling are both strategies used in project management to manage resource allocation effectively, but they have different goals and methods. Resource smoothing aims to ensure that resource usage stays within predefined limits over time by adjusting the timing of activities while keeping the total resource demand constant. On the other hand, resource leveling focuses on balancing the demand for resources with their availability by adjusting the start and finish dates of activities to prevent resource overloads or conflicts. In essence, resource smoothing fine-tunes resource utilization over time, while resource leveling ensures a steady balance between resource demand and availability throughout the project duration.
In my opinion, the MTD and Glasgow event should employ the resource smoothing approach since the event date and time may have been decided on and also announced.
For the MTD and Glasgow event I feel the smoothing approach is the best way to Go as this would enable both projects to meet deadline which is the purpose of project management.
Reply
For the MTD and Glasgow event, I recommend the smoothing approach as the best option as this would enable both projects to finish at the stipulated time set out for it.
Most events usually have a set time which can rarely be changed or altered as this will result to a lot of issues, For MTD and Glasgow event I don’t think the resource levelling approach will be feasible as this will result in the project not meeting the set deadline and in turn affect the time of the Event. A better solution to the issue of resource overloading in this case will be resource smoothing, with this the event will be held at the set time but the project cost will increase.
Let consider the decision on MTD,resource smoothing focuses on preserving planned deadlines but increasing project costs, Resource levelling does not change the current capacity but focuses instead on rescheduling with a possible impact on project deadlines