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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Prisca Ifediba Alachebe cohort 8 team 9
No. I don’t think MTD should resort to resource leveling. Time is crucial for most of MTD’s operations. They supply water at stadium facilities. Resource leveling needs shifting deadlines, which is at cross purposes with the date of football matches already set .
Resource leveling will make the MTD project manager look unreliable
it is reasonable and wise to utilize the resource smoothing strategy for the MTD water project.
Although, project cost will increase but deadline will be achieved as this is key in every project.
It makes the project manager more reliable and well reassured.
Yes, applying the resources leveling is feasible and allows the project to scale faster since it is time based.
I do not think it wise to adopt the resource levelling strategy for the MTD project, putting the nature of the project into consideration as an extension would affect the deadline and make the project manager seem unreliable.
The availability of resources at the disposal of MTD and the Glasgow event project manager will determine which idea to adopt and why. I would advise the resource smoothing option though since the company’s not coming cheap, it means there is a large enough buffer for such contingencies and still be in profit, whilst also having a satiated client or sponsor MTD Company, Resource Scheduling might not be the right approach for the nature of their projects.
Scheduling of resources entails a solution that will eventually impact task deadlines and/or the overall scheduled delivery dates of the project. This is because Resource scheduling involves balancing workload with available resources.Application of resources leveling is better since it won’t alter the existing resources capacity. However, the implication is reschedule some phases of the MTD water project thereby affecting the deadline.
The availability of resources at the disposal of MTD and the Glasgow event project manager will determine which idea to adopt and why. I would advise the resource smoothing option though since the company’s not coming cheap, it means there is a large enough buffer for such contingencies and still be in profit, whilst also having a satiated client or sponsor.
Resource leveling can come in once the compulsory tasks are achieved if it still aids the ability to meet the set deadline.
Applying the resources leveling is feasible and allows the project to scale faster since it is time based.
Applying resource levelling approach won’t make it faster rather it slows down the project since it involves lots of rescheduling to be able to make use of available resources
As a PM for MTD, resource leveling won’t be applicable since supplying water requires prompt delivery in time schedule. Consequently, Resource smoothing will be applicable while ensuring accurate communication from the client and quality feedback to cover up for any cost resources that may spring up after.
Considering the MTD Group, that is, the water installation events company and the Glasgow event, it will not be feasible to apply the Resource Rescheduling approach because of the sensitivity of the project. Water source contamination is a very serious issue. It was a good thing that it was discovered a few days to the event, but it will not be ideal to maintain current capacity and reschedule activities because this will not solve the issue of the quality of water and also quality project outcome on the day of event. Resource smoothing will suffice because a new resource (water tank company) will be introduced to solve the problem of water contamination even though more project costs will be incurred. It is actually more guaranteed to have a quality project delivery and to beat deadline going with the Project Smoothing approach. In addition to this is the necessary need for Quality audit where corrective actions are taken and opportunities for improvement, identified.
When dealing with their challenges, MTD company would find the resource leveling method to be a very good approach because with resource leveling, there can be a balance on the use of resources to refrain from excessively allocating or under utilizing it. This inturn can cause them to be more efficient at handling projects and avoid issues that might result from poor schedules.
So, for me, the resource levelling method is really a nice approach to use.