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.
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For the MTD water approach resource smoothing remains the best approach to take, given the float has been given and there is no possibility to change. Having more hands on remains the best option for the project and the resources needed can be taken from the funds set out for contingency plan.
For the MTD water approach resource the best approach to take, given the float has been given and there is no possibility to change. Having more hands on remains the best option for the project and the resources needed can be taken from the funds set out for contingency plan.
For the MTD water project, resource smoothing seems like the best approach. This method helps balance the demand for resources without changing the project deadline. By adjusting resources to smooth out workload peaks, the project can still be delivered on time, although it may come with higher costs due to additional resources.
Resource levelling, on the other hand, might not be the right choice here because it could delay the project. Given the tight deadline, resource smoothing ensures MTD can meet the deadline while still maintaining quality, with the only major change being an increase in costs.
The best approach to adopt in the case of MTD & Glasgow is resource smoothing in order for them to meet up with deadline not minding that increase in cost will have to be considered.
Resource leveling won’t be the best for them due to the fact that they may not meet up with deadline because theirs a fixed deadline.
Applying resource levelling in the case of MTD and Glasgow,would be necessary to redistribute tasks and timelines to ensure that no resource is utilized more than 100% at any given time, thereby maintaining a balanced workload .
At a higher level, some projects require more than just rescheduling or additional resources—they may need a scope revision by the sponsor. This involves reassessing how time, cost, and quality align within the project.
In the case of MTD and the Glasgow event, applying a resource leveling approach could be a practical way to manage constraints while maintaining project goals.
most periods on projects its more necessary to consider Resource leveling in the aspect of balancing the work loads on project in other for it to correspond with the resources with their most available float
In a fixed event like that of MTD and Glasgow, resource leveling approach wouldn’t be ideal to adopt but challenging as it certainly will extend the timeframe for the project by rescheduling tasks/deadline to match the available resources without changing the current capacity. Whereas the resources smoothing prioritizes the scheduled deadline while increasing cost which makes it a preferred approach in this case.
For MTD and Glasgow the best approach is to adopt resource smoothing in order to meet up with deadline even though increase in cost will have to be considered.
Resource leveling may not be ideal for them due to the fact that they may not meet up with deadline because the event has already been fixed.
Resource smoothing optimizes resource use while maintaining project deadlines, potentially increasing costs, whereas resource leveling adjusts the schedule to match resource availability, possibly delaying the project. For MTD’s Glasgow water installation event, resource leveling might be viable if resource constraints are critical and flexibility in timelines exists, but it risks affecting stakeholders and event schedules. A hybrid approach could balance these methods, smoothing critical tasks to preserve the schedule and leveling less critical activities to address resource limitations. The decision should consider the trade-offs between time, cost, quality, and stakeholder agreements.
For the MTD and Glasgow event, I think the resource smoothing is the ideal approach, resources are increased in order to meet up with deadline, resource leveling might cause alot of time to be wasted seeing its an already fixed event. Also while using resource smoothing, additional costs are carefully considered.