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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I think that resources smoothing will be the best option for the MTD company. This will slightly affect and raise the cost but the project deadline will be maintained.
If MTD applies resources leveling, they will relatively maintain their cost, but will increase their time, which will invariable affect the cost still. However, if they apply resource smoothing, it might take the prices up a bit, but their schedule will be maintained, especially since the date for the event has already been fixed. Resources smoothing will be more ideal in this case.
For me the MTD water installation, I think it will be good if they use resource leveling not minding that it will make the project not to be delivered at the appointed time but it will bring in much more good in terms of rescheduling for proper handling of the project…
MTD water installation event company and Glasgow event , the key words needed to react to this scenario are deadline, cost, quality, resources and customer’s satisfaction.
In my own opinion, resources smoothing will be preferable. Deadline as set before is achievable only at an additional cost within promised quality and the overall customer satisfaction is achievable. Date of event cannot be shifted here, and therefore I opine that nothing is too much to sacrifice by the MTD company to deliver their promises , meeting deadline even at an extra cost.
Resource leveling is a resource management technique that can help MTD better accommodate resource constraints and predict project timelines. It helps avoid poor project planning that often leads to last-minute delays, overworked team members, and cost overruns.
Resource leveling should be a part of every project manager’s toolkit. By optimizing and balancing resources across time, you can avoid unrealistic expectations and determine the earliest possible date to complete your project.
Yes, employing a resource leveling approach is advisable for MTD in this dynamic scenario. With an increase in event attendees, resource demands may fluctuate, impacting water supply requirements. Resource leveling enables MTD to optimize resources, ensuring a balanced and efficient response to changing demands without exceeding the budget. This adaptive approach helps manage unforeseen challenges, aligning resource allocation with the evolving needs of the expanded event, ensuring water supply remains adequate and cost-effective.
Resource Levelling approach is not a feasible route for this project because it emphasizes on rescheduling with possible impact of altering the project deadlines. As regards to the MTD, the water installation event company and the Glasgow event. I will suggest the resource smoothing because resource smoothing tends to maintain the original deadline but at a higher cost in bringing in experts. The event date has been fixed, sporting game and other live events cannot be moved, altering the time delivery will result to customers dissatisfaction. In order to maintain sponsors satisfaction, MTD’s priority is quality and timely delivery for customers.
MTD can apply a resource-leveling approach to the Glasgow event because resource-leveling is a resource management technique that can help teams better accommodate resource constraints and predict project timelines. It helps avoid poor project planning that can often lead to last-minute delays, overworked team members, and cost overruns.
According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide, resource leveling is a technique to help you better accommodate resource constraints by adjusting the start and finish dates of the project. In doing so, you can make a realistic project deadline without overworking your team and increasing the total cost of the project.
Resource leveling gives everyone a realistic bird’s eye view of the project and can help teams establish feasible deadlines and assign tasks reasonably.
MTD’s projects like most projects are time specific and bound. Resource leveling requires rescheduling of tasks and activities that may ultimately extend project deadlines. MTD having inadequate resource to meet up project deadliness would not be accepted by the Sporting Event Client to extend the activity plan which is a complex activity. Hence project deadlines would be affected, for MTD resource leveling may not be practical and feasible. For me, I would not recommend resource leveling for MTD’s water supply projects to events.
MTD project is time bound. Resource leveling requires rescheduling of tasks and activities, that will affect MTD Project, it will greatly affect the cost of the project and time.
In the case of the MTD, I strongly believe that resource smoothing should be considered but the sponsor as well as other stakeholders should be communicated appropriately.
I suggest resource smoothing because it doesn’t alter the deadline unlike resource leveling that emphasizes project rescheduling.
For Glasgow event:
Communicating the sponsor at every stage is important. Let them be aware of the situation so it can be resolved. My job here however as a PM is to analyse the situation to them and present the two options of resource smoothing and resource leveling to them. I’ll go with the sponsors resolve.