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
For MTD, the water installation events company and the Glasgow event, it would be possible to apply a resource levelling approach if the non-critical activities can be delayed or extended within the available float. If not, it’s best to employ a resource smoothing approach, most like adding new resources to the project.
Isibhakhomen Angel Alimikhena
On the MTD water project resource smoothing will help in resolving resource over-allocations without affecting the project’s completion date
And it deals with adjusting non-critical path tasks within their float.
While resource smoothing would cause an increase in the project budget, resource leveling will only lead to a change in the project deadline. This wouldn’t be as much of a burden to the PM as having to return to the stakeholders to request an addition to the previous budget {which could end up being a constant if the previous budget is all the organization has got or the PM has been given to work with, this would definitely in turn affect the deadline as well).
Emplying resource smoothing will benefit MTD very well, since they deal with hard deadlines. Resource leveling will be beneficial if extending the deadline will not affect the reason for the project as a whole.
Resource smoothing approach is just the best.
Thanks
MTD should go with resource smoothing, even though it increases cost it doesn’t affect deadlines.
For the MTD project, I think Resource Smoothing is the best approach for this project because of the delivery time.
In this scenario with MTD, the best approach is resources smoothing in the scene that cost does not really matter but the time delivery in meeting the deadline of the project.
For my own perspective with
With regards to the MTD project, while considering timely delivery, resource smoothing could be the best.
I will recommend that MTD should use resource Smoothing because it aims is to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs. Resource smoothing may not have impact on the project deadline.