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
Looking at MTD water project, resource smoothing would be the best though it might cost the client more money but the budgeted deadline would still remain the same and quality too will he ensured.
for MTD water installation event company, resource smoothing is a better option than resource levels since it focuses on maintaining original project deadlines , although an increase in budget cost is expected but customer satisfaction is paramount.
On an MTD project, the project duration cannot be extended, so Resource Smoothing is more effective in that scenario.
Iwu Ozichi Uzoamaka
Cohort 7, team 5
Resource smoothing is the best for the project because it will maintain the original project deadline, and only increase the cost.
On the MTD project scope, resource smoothing is the best option for me since it aims on maintaining the delivery date and quality.
However, there will be slight increase in budget provided the customers expectation are satisfied
On this MTD project resource smoothing will be the best option compare to resource levelling
Resource leveling – This is used when scheduling the production of available resources is limited and needs to be used optimally.
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.
Therefore both methods are important to be used when the need arises
For the MTD water project, in my own opinion resource smothing is the best approach to use because delivering the project on time is paramount to the client, in order to avoid it is better to increase the cost and maintain the quality rather than shifting deadlines(resources levelling).
My view, MTD water project. I will say resources smoothing is the best option to go with as it will and maintaining deadline of project delivery and also maintain the project quality.
Considering MTD and Glasglow as a case study, Yes, it will be possible to apply Resource Levelling approach regardless of any form of uncertainty or complexity.
A resource levelling approach can benefit MTD and Glasglow activities by balancing the workload on resources in order to align resource usage with their available capacity. This can be done by shifting schedules of projects within their available floats, which helps in stable workloads, enhance morale, reduce risk of stress and allows steady distribution of resource cost over time.
Resource levelling aims at balancing resourse usage by avoiding Over Allocation or Under Utilization of resources available, which can help to reduce project delay and cost, promotes efficiency in the project as well as mitigate scheduling conflicts.
The resource leveling approach requires identifying the resource requirements, analyzing resource availability and strategically Delaying and Extending Non-critical activities within available floats and Critical activities as well. All of which aims at adjusting the project schedule to balance the workload on resources.
Considering MTD and Glasglow as a case study, Yes, it will be possible to apply Resource Levelling approach regardless of any form of uncertainty or complexity.
A resource levelling approach can benefit MTD and Glasglow activities by balancing the workload on resources in order to align resource usage with their available capacity. This can be done by shifting schedules of projects within their available floats, which helps in stable workloads, enhance morale, reduce risk of stress and allows steady distribution of resource cost over time.
Resource levelling aims at balancing resourse usage by avoiding Over Allocation or Under Utilization of resources available, which can help to reduce project dey and cost, promotes efficiency in the project and mitigate scheduling conflicts.
The resource leveling approach requires identifying the resource requirements, analyzing resource availability and strategically Delaying and Extending Non-critical activities within available floats and Critical activities as well. All of which aims at adjusting the project schedule to balance the workload on resources.
In the case of MTD water project, I will not recommend resource leveling because using resource leveling means they have to work within the available resources in other to achieve best result which may in turn extend the period of deliverable.
However, I recommend resource smoothing because it enables them to in-cure additional cost to fast-track the progress of the project which enable them to deliver the best results at the expected timeline