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
A convenient approach for MTD would be the resource smoothing. How that, based on the fixed event date it would be unprofessional to reschedule date, however, increasing cost and maintaining the planned deadline will be a more possible option to achieve the goal.
While for Glasgow, resource levelling will be an effective approach to get the project done.
Using a resource smoothing approach is more feasible for MTD even though additional cost may be incurred but the project gets to meet the agreed deadline. While for Glasgow,a resource leveling approach can be used
Thoughts on “A comprehensive view on resource overload considering MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event( PM Course discussion)”
In the context of MTD, the water installation events company managing the Glasgow event, let’s clarify the concepts of resource smoothing and resource leveling first:
1.Resource Smoothing: This involves adjusting the amount of resource usage over a period to accommodate fluctuations in demand or resource availability, while still meeting project deadlines. The focus is on managing resource utilization to avoid peaks and valleys, thus smoothing out the resource usage curve.
2.Resource Leveling: This refers to adjusting the project schedule to ensure that the demand for resources does not exceed certain predefined limits. The goal is to avoid resource over-allocation by shifting activities within their slack allowances or by adjusting the project schedule.
Given this understanding, let’s consider whether implementing a resource leveling approach would be feasible for MTD in managing the Glasgow event:
– Nature of Events: Events like the one managed by MTD often have specific deadlines and fixed durations. This makes resource leveling a relevant consideration because it ensures that resources are neither over-allocated nor underutilized during critical stages of the project.
– Resource Constraints: MTD might face constraints such as availability of water installation equipment, skilled labor, and possibly even venue restrictions (such as access times). Resource leveling helps in optimizing the use of these resources throughout the project duration, ensuring that all requirements are met without unnecessary strain or underutilization.
– Feasibility Assessment: To determine if resource leveling is feasible for MTD, it would be essential to analyze the resource requirements and constraints for the Glasgow event. This involves identifying critical resources, understanding their availability over time, and then adjusting the project schedule accordingly to smooth out resource utilization peaks.
– Implementation Challenges: Implementing resource leveling requires careful planning and coordination. MTD would need to have detailed schedules, clear communication channels, and possibly use project management tools to track resource allocations and adjust schedules as needed.
Conclusion: Considering the nature of MTD’s work in managing water installation for events like the Glasgow event, implementing a resource leveling approach appears feasible and beneficial. It would help in optimizing resource usage, ensuring that critical resources are efficiently allocated throughout the project timeline, thereby enhancing overall project management effectiveness and meeting client expectations.
For MTD, resource smoothing works as it helps them meet their deadlines, it allows MTD to maintain original project deadlines even though project costs will increase, with these stakeholders and investor will not be lost.
MTD can successfully adopt the resource leveling approach as they can leverage on the use of past data and event experience to Inform resource allocation decisions with insights from such past events. They can also collaborate with stakeholders, work closely with teams, vendors, and clients to understand their needs and constraints.
For MTD, resource smoothing works as it helps them meet their deadlines, it allows MTD to maintain original project deadlines even though project costs will increase, with these stakeholders and investor will not be lost.
WHILE Resource leveling is better methodology to apply for Gaslow project as it cost effective.
Blessing Olusakin Team 3 Cohort 16.
Considering MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event, resource leveling could be a valuable approach to optimize resource allocation and ensure a successful event.
I think MTD can successfully adopt the resource leveling approach as they can leverage on the use of past data and event experience to Inform resource allocation decisions with insights from such past events. They can also collaborate with stakeholders, work closely with teams, vendors, and clients to understand their needs and constraints. They can choose flexible resource allocation and prepared to adjust resource allocation as event requirements change and they can monitor and make adjustments continuously and at the same time monitor resource usage and adjust allocation as needed to ensure optimal resource leveling.
Team 7,cohort 16.
It would not be feasible to implement a resource leveling approach at the Glasgow event because of the following reasons:
1: Time management – resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
2: Bad reputation – apply resource leveling which in turn emphasizes rescheduling will give a bad reputation to the Glasgow event which is internationally recognized.
3: Negative Impact – resource leveling at such a big and scheduled event will have a negative impact on both the client and the stakeholders.
Moreover it can only be feasible if the Glasgow event schedule is flexible(float), thereby having a very high satisfiable quality project because of rescheduling.
Esther Ezinne Uwoghiren
Resource Smoothing: This is used when time constraints are the biggest factor blocking production. The idea is to finish a project on time while avoiding peaks and dips in resource demand.
1. Objective: The primary goal of resource smoothing is to adjust the activities within their float or slack without affecting the project’s critical path.
2. Focus: It focuses on resolving resource over-allocations during specific periods by redistributing the workload.
3. Method: Resources are adjusted within the available float or slack, meaning activities can be scheduled earlier or later within their allowable time frames without impacting the project’s overall duration.
4. Result: The project schedule remains unchanged in terms of critical path activities but ensures that resource utilization is spread evenly over time.
while
Resource Leveling: This is used when scheduling the production of available resources is limited and needs to be used optimally.
1. Objective: Resource leveling aims to resolve resource over-allocations that affect the project’s critical path.
2. Focus: It addresses situations where resource constraints directly impact the project’s schedule by delaying critical activities.
3. Method: Activities are rescheduled within their total float or slack to eliminate over-allocations that affect critical path activities. This may involve delaying non-critical activities to resolve resource conflicts on critical path tasks.
4. Result: The project schedule may be adjusted in terms of start and finish dates to ensure that critical path activities are not delayed due to resource constraints.
Cohort 16
Team 4
UWOGHIREN OSAGIE WILLIAMS
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESOURCE SMOOTHING AND RESOURCE LEVELLING?
Resource smoothing is used when the time constraint takes priority. The objective is to complete the work by the required date while avoiding peaks and troughs of resource demand. Resource levelling is used when limits on the availability of resources are paramount.
FOR RESOURCE SMOOTHING
1. Time limited scheduling technique: importance is given to duration of the project
2. Removes as much resource conflicts as possible; but, may not remove all resource conflicts
3. May require additional resources to address left over resource conflicts
4. Activities are shifted only to the extent of the float available
5. The project duration remains the same
6. No change the critical path
FOR RESOURCE LEVELLING
1. Resource limited scheduling technique: importance is given to limited resource
2. Remove all resource conflicts
3. May require additional resources
4. Activities may be shifted beyond the float available while rescheduling the activities
5. Generally the project duration gets extended
6. May change the critical path
COHORT 16
TEAM 10
Okeke Uchenna Ifeyinwa Team 7
For MTD water installation, a resource levelling approach is feasible because MTD aims at producing a good quality and adequate water supply therefore rescheduling to prevent any negative occurrence like bad water supply, insufficient water supply to appropriate channels is important to ensure safe and good quality of product even though it may have impact on the project deadline.