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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*Matter for Discussion* .
Would it be possible to apply a resource levelling approach in the MTD, the water installation events
company and the Glasgow event?
*My Contribution*
Yes, I think it would be possible to apply the resource leveling approach to an extent in the MTD water installation events company and the Glasgow event. They can apply some approach under the resource leveling approach that would not affect the end date or increase cost. Approaches such as:
1. Delay non-critical activities within their available float. They can ‘float’ within a certain time period without affecting the overall duration of the project and project costs will not be affected too.
2. Extend non-critical activity durations within the available float: its duration is extended within the limits of the maximum float available to level the resource load once more and the impact on the project duration and cost is zero.
3. Split an activity into non-sequential pieces: here activities are split into parts to free up an overloaded resource and allows other concurrent activities to be done. The effect is to introduce a delay in the completion of the activity, which could affect the overall project duration and cost if the activity is critical and the project manager should endure the completion of the project doesn’t encroach into the starting of the events of Glasgow event but it can extend outside their end date.
Resource smoothing is the best approach to be used by MTD due to the project deadline and making sure the project quality is not compromised.
For the MTD project, I would recommend a resource smoothing strategies while the Glasgow counterpart work with the resource levelling approach.
Resource smoothing is the best option to be use here because the dead line has been given,thou is going to cost much.
Resource smoothing focuses on preserving planned deadlines but increasing project cost and deliver timeline safely.
KOMOLAFE Daniel Law
I believe the best strategy for MTD to apply in this situation is Resource smoothing since this strategy focuses on preserving planned deadlines although their project costs will increase.
This because the sporting event for which their projects is based is a fixed event with date already fixed. Too many people are involved and participating in the event: athletes and their supporting staff, media, spectators, vendors etc, all probably coming to the event from different locations. So in this case using the strategy of resource levelling would not work as this strategy would require changing the project deadlines and rescheduling, and the project owner would not permit this as MTD is just one of the service provider that has been hired to provide a product (water) for their event
Considering the nature of projects and events been Undertaken by MTD, the best approach is resource smoothing due to the fact that they are time-based projects needed to meet deadlines with additional costs. Afterwards, review can be done to forestall any other causes for additional cost in their subsequent projects.
With the MTD project, resource levelling would not be an option as it is a time constrained project; Resource smoothing is the best approach to enable project is done within the allocated deadline.
For a company like MTD, whose projects are more often than not time limited or constrained. The best approach will be resource smoothing, which delivers within timelines but at additional cost.
It will be unwise 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.
I think for a company like MTD and the nature of its projects, resource smoothing will work best for it.
Resource smoothening should work best for MTD. Though it would incure additional cost, but for the benefit of meeting up with the initial deadline as time is very essential in the MTD system’s service delivery.