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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project smoothing focuses on preserving planned deadlines but increasing the project but resource leveling does not change the current capacity hence, focuses on rescheduling with a possible impact on projects deadline. sometimes, s revision of project scope by project sponsors is what is needed.
Considering that the MTD (the water installation events company), I think i will rather implement resource smoothing because this will still maintain the deadline to deliver and maintain the quality of the project but with increase in cost.
Resource Smoothing should be implemented for MTD, this is to meet up with the project deadline as their services might be irrelevant after the end-date.
In MTDs case resource smoothing is the best option. It allows for excellent quality and a set deadline attained.
Concerning MTD water project, I think smoothing is the best to apply since the project has a time frame which must be met and no room to extend.
From what I understand so far about MTD projects, most times there are uncertainties in their projects and that impacts deadlines. As in the Glasgow event, I will implement resource smoothing so as to keep to the deadline. Nevertheless, if I discuss the changes with the client and stakeholders and we agree, then resource levelling can also be implemented and a new end date will have to be taken.
The best option is the resources smoothing,
The kind of service that MTD offers isn’t one that Resource levelling is suited for, being that projects handled by MTD are usually critical.
In the case of the Glasgow project, the best thing to do would be resource smoothing. It would bring about an increase in the overall project cost, but they’ll get to maintain the required quality and finish up within the allocated time.
Looking at a company such as MTD, Resource smoothing rather than resource leveling would be beneficial for them as the first aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs whereas the latter does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines and usually events on which MTD manages their projects comes with fixed dates and they have no control in moving the dates forward or backwards.
Resource levelling focuses on rescheduling with a possible record to deliver before deadline.
Resources smoothing approach is the best option to use on the MTD water project, they maintain the deadline given and maintain the quality of the project, the only change that occurs is the increase in cost while using this approach.
Considering MTD water project, time is of essence to them truly. But applying resource levelling approach is possible because;-
Resource levelling will balance the workload on their resource in order to align with their available capacity by applying either the
Delay non- critical activities strategy of resource levelling, which will not affect the project as long as it is completed within the period of available float. Or
Extend non-critical activity durations within the available float.