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
Resource smoothing is very balanced because of the deadline
Well I think it would be challenging to employ Resource levelling at that event for MTD this is because I believe the project schedule is clear and the main sport event cannot be postponed due to MTD’s inability to meet deadline.
The best course of action for MTD to take in order to reduce serious impact of the project will be to use Resource Smoothing to get the project to completion within the stipulated time even though it will cost the sponsors more money but the main aim which is to support the sport event would have been achieved.
The best approach is resource smoothing as a change in cost does not matter but meeting dead line
Resource Smoothing is the best approach for this event as the deadline for this event has been fixed, For resource smoothing, I will add more experienced personnel to the project so as to meet the deadline.
Resource Smoothing is the best approach for this event as the deadline for this event has been fixed, For the resource smoothing, I will add more experienced personnel to the project so as to meet the deadline.
Resources smoothing is efficient. The durability of work is visible.
Looking at this scenario in MTD and Glaslow events, resource levelling can not be used in a time based project.
It is necessary to adopt the resource smoothing approach and increase the cost with allocating more personnel and resources and still making sure the schedule for the project remains consistent.
As a project manager, the resource smoothing is the best option. Resource smoothing in other to complete the project before the deadline though this can actually cost them more, yet is far better than resource levelling because end users are waiting at the time scheduled
Leveling of resources assist in balancing of the amount of workdone on the resources and ease capacity.
Resource smoothing is helpful when confronted with limited resources or very costly one. Resource smoothing focuses on preserving planned deadlines but increasing project costs; resource levelling does not change the current capacity but focuses instead on rescheduling, with a possible impact on project deadline
As a PM and considering the MTD approach I’ll work with Resource Smoothing since it aims is to maintain the original project deadlines while increasing project costs rather than working with Resource Levelling which will want me to rescheduling my client projects.
Resource smoothing is particularly useful when dealing with resources that are limited or expensive, such as specialized equipment or skilled personnel. The emphasis is on minimizing resource peaks and valleys without significantly impacting project timelines. The best approach is resource smoothing which is best for a time-based project like MTD installation project because of the nature of the event.
leveling of resources is very important in projects because it helpsin balancing of the workloads on the resources which helps in alligning usdeage with the avaliable capacity. resource levelling does not change the current capacity.
resource smoothing helps in preservinga planned deadline but increeases the project cost.
Nnennaya ozuruonye
team 7
In the case of MTD resource smoothing is the best approach
One of the reasons is that it’s a water distributing company that distributes clean water to events
So there is no room for rescheduling as the timeline for the event is fixed
COHORT 9,TEAM 7
OBINWA CHIMAMAKA.
The question says do you think it would it be possible to apply a resource levelling approach?
The aim of resource levelling is to balance workload on resources to align with their available capacity and it does this by shifting the schedule of project activities thus extending deadline.In the case of MTD,the even had already been fixed,so applying resource levelling wont be feasible as it will alter the time already been mapped out for the event.Resource smoothing will be a better option as it preserves planned deadlines.