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
Considering that MTD, the water installation company, and Glasgow Events Company frequently deal with events that adhere to fixed timeframes, encompassing both start and end dates, it would be prudent to embrace a resource-smoothing approach. While this may entail higher costs, the paramount objective is to ensure the timely delivery of the project. This approach is crucial in avoiding any disappointment for event sponsors who have invested significantly in organizing the event within the stipulated timeframe. The emphasis should be on delivering a final product or service that meets the requisite standards and quality.
Answer to planning for Quality :
As a project manager focusing on planning for quality, you can take several actions to ensure that the project meets its quality requirements. Here are some suggestions:
Quality Assurance Actions:
Define Clear Quality Objectives:
Clearly define quality objectives at the beginning of the project. Make sure these objectives are measurable, realistic, and aligned with the project’s overall goals.
Establish Quality Standards:
Identify and establish industry or project-specific quality standards. Ensure that all team members are aware of and understand these standards.
Quality Planning:
Develop a comprehensive quality management plan that outlines how quality will be managed throughout the project lifecycle. This plan should include roles and responsibilities, quality control measures, and processes for continuous improvement.
Training and Skill Development:
Provide training to team members to enhance their skills and knowledge related to quality management. This can help in preventing common quality issues due to lack of expertise.
Document Management:
Implement a robust document management system to ensure that all project-related documents, including specifications, requirements, and design documents, are well-documented and easily accessible.
Continuous Monitoring:
Regularly monitor and assess project processes and outputs to ensure they meet quality standards. Implement a system of continuous monitoring and feedback.
Quality Control Action:
Quality Inspections:
Introduce regular inspections and reviews at various stages of the project. This can help identify and address quality issues early in the process, preventing them from escalating.
Testing Protocols:
Implement a thorough testing protocol that includes unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. Automated testing tools can be employed to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Peer Reviews:
Incorporate peer reviews for critical deliverables. Having fresh eyes on the work can often reveal issues that may have been overlooked.
Root Cause Analysis:
Establish a process for conducting root cause analysis when defects or issues are identified. This helps in understanding the underlying causes and implementing corrective actions.
Audit Considerations:
Adherence to Standards:
Ensure that the project processes and deliverables adhere to established quality standards. The audit should verify compliance with both internal and external standards.
Documentation Accuracy:
Verify the accuracy and completeness of project documentation. This includes requirements, design documents, test plans, and any other relevant documentation.
Process Effectiveness:
Evaluate the effectiveness of the quality management processes. Determine if they are being followed correctly and if they contribute to the overall success of the project.
Corrective Action Implementation:
Assess the implementation of corrective actions resulting from previous quality issues. Verify if the actions taken have been effective in preventing similar issues from recurring.
Continuous Improvement:
Evaluate the project’s approach to continuous improvement. Ensure that lessons learned from previous projects are being applied and that the team is actively seeking ways to enhance quality throughout the project.
By implementing these quality assurance and control measures and conducting thorough audits, you can increase the likelihood of delivering a high-quality project that meets or exceeds stakeholder expectations.
Projects like MTD that seem linear in nature better fits into the resource smoothing. Resource levelling doesn’t get handy as timek deadlines are imperative for such projects.
Considering we are dwaling with water and its resources and how it directly involves human lives, i would stand against resource levelling even though i am sure it is often been used just to meet its opening day or commissioning or ribbon cutting day.Resource leveling which involves using available resources could lead to half baked project or a critical part of the project undone or overlooked which definitely would have impact on the lives of those using the water.
For a company like MTD resource smoothing is better to ensure the date if the event is not affected
For MTD that operates on deadlines, resource smoothing is the way to go. Project price will be impacted but delivery is key.
As a result of deadlines and to meet up with time, resource smoothing tends to be the best option.
The best approach is the resources smoothing for MTD Water project implementation as it will preserve planned deadline that cannot be altered.
Olaniyi Onabanjo
Team 8, Cohort 11.
MTD, the water installation events company and the Glasgow event are two reputable companies who will like to focus on preserving planned deadline base on how essential their services are and may not mind the extra cost it may attract. Hence, Resource Smoothing should be their choice.
In this MTD scenario, the resource levelling approach will not be suitable in the sense that it will definitely affect the planning of the scheduled event and when trying to reschedule the project it will affect when the event will hold thereby causing delay. The client will not be happy and satisfied but with the resource smoothing approach which is putting more time (overtime) on the project or adding new resources will definitely make the event hold at the stipulated time but affect cost on the project while at the same time making our client happy and fulfilled.