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
Idoko precious
Group 5
Cohort 26
Considering the MTD water project the best approach to consider as a pm I think both should be weighed and based on their situation for example
If the project has a fixed time
Then you must over overtime to increase the availability of resources and meet deadlines it should be non-negotiable
: minor adjustment can resolve the conflict.
However, if smoothing isn’t enough to solve the conflicts then resource leveling may become necessary—even if it means requesting deadline extensions or adjusting scope.
We shouldn’t forget that resource leveling has to do with balancing the work load on resource in order to align .
You can start with resource smoothing to handle manageable overloads.
Escalate to resource leveling only if smoothing can’t resolve key resource conflicts.
Communicate trade-offs clearly with stakeholders.
Idoko precious
Group 5
Cohort 26
Considering the MTD water project the best approach to consider as a pm I think both should be weighed and based on their situation for example
If the project has a fixed time
Then you must over overtime to increase the availability of resources and meet deadlines it should be non-negotiable
: minor adjustment can resolve the conflict.
However, if smoothing isn’t enough to solve the conflicts (e.g., no float available or critical resources are repeatedly overbooked), then resource leveling may become necessary—even if it means requesting deadline extensions or adjusting scope.
We shouldn’t forget that resource leveling has to do with balancing the work load on resource in order to align .
You can start with resource smoothing to handle manageable overloads.
Escalate to resource leveling only if smoothing can’t resolve key resource conflicts.
Communicate trade-offs clearly with stakeholders.
Enobong Faith Asanga
Resource levelling approach for MTD water project and Glasgow event is possible but it might cost them the project because the project is time based, and they might loose the project or any other opportunity to work with the stakeholders ever again.
Therefore I recommend Resource smoothing it will be good and better, everyone or parties involved will be happy at last.
Examining MTD project, resource leveling will be the best it not only save cost but level up the resource with workload still with the deadline in view
It is not really possible to use the resource levelling. Using the Glasgow events, it would be better to get extra hands to fix the buffer faster and get another source of water within the few days of the events, increasing costs, which is resource smoothing, but even if resource levelling is used, the event is constant and cannot be shifted to another period of time easily.
Implementing a resource levelling approach for MTD water project is feasible and beneficial, as it can help balance workloads and avoid resource clashes, though due to time-sensitive nature of events, a hybrid strategy combining levelling with contingency planning would be more effective.
For a time-based project like MTD, I would recommend using resource smoothing, it will definitely shoot up the project cost, and apparently take more time, but it will not affect the deadline. In this scenario, meeting the project deadline is more important than incurring additional costs, so I would recommend Resource Smoothing for this project.
In the case of MTD applying resource levelling might cost them the project because it’s a time based project and it’s also a sprint so applying resource levelling might cause them to lose the contract so in this case resource smoothing is the best they can apply in that situation
Examining MTD project, resource leveling will be the best it not only save cost but level up the resource with workload still with the deadline in view
The best approach is resource smoothing, because it helps to maintain original project deadline while increasing project costs. It is suitable for a time based project like MTD ,a change in cost does not matter as long as the dead line is met so it’s actually the best approach.