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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As an upcoming project manager, constant communication with the stakeholders is what I held on to. Meeting the stakeholders individually to show them the evidence of what is on ground and juxtapose if it’s complementing and in line with their needs. Not being scared of bringing ideas to the discussion table is a great one because project manager are ought to endowed with problem solving skills.
Resource smoothing focus on preserving the planned deadline although increasing its project cost. resource levelling on the other hand does not change the current capacity though focuses on rescheduling which have a possible impact on the project deadline.
Every Jobs requires the communication skills, because the way you communicate will determine what the output of your Job will be like. Bad communication ruins Work.
Also continual professional development also matters because the world is advancing and we can’t just stay in a place. We need to advance with it so as to stay relevant
That’s correct! Resource smoothing and resource leveling are two techniques used in project management to manage resources effectively. Resource smoothing focuses on keeping the original project deadlines intact by adjusting the allocation of resources, even if it means increasing project costs. On the other hand, resource leveling aims to maintain the existing resource capacity by rescheduling tasks, which may impact project deadlines. Both techniques have their advantages and can be used depending on the specific needs and constraints of a project.
Making use of resource leveling for an event that is in two days is very risky because it might go over the event day and that will be a failed project and also the client will not be happy. It will be better to make use of resource smoothing instead, though it will add more cost but it will be most beneficial in this scenario.
There are 2 ways to look at this case.
1. Time for event start up is sacrosanct and the so there is no was resources levelling would work without meeting a key deliverable which is the start of the event. This would cause great dissatisfaction to the client.
2. As per the Glasgow event, if the client had put forth the right information about the condition of the water, then the project team would have also built that into their project plant form the onset. With proper information, either resource smoothing or leveling could work as long costs and timelines are aligned with the client from the project onset.
Resource smoothing is preserving planned deadlines while increasing project costs. However, resource levelling does not change current capacity extend and impacts the project deadline, without affecting the overall project timeline.
I don’t believe that resource leveling would be appropriate for MTD project because extending the project date holds no benefit to MTD or its client. This is based largely on the fact that MTD projects have a very fixed timeframe which is determined by the dates that the sporting events take place which have been planned sometimes years in advance.
The only plausible approach is resource smoothing, allocating more resources to project to ensure that the end date is kept.
Time constrained scheduling also know as resource smoothing, is a technique used to make the best or most effective resources to deliver a project without changing the delivery date. This technique might involve the expertise of more hands in other words hiring new people to speed things up, or changing the scope of the project which definitely increases or add to the project cost. While Resource constrained scheduling also known as resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but rather duels on rescheduling, which may delay the project delivery deadlines.
Resource levelling involves splitting or extending a section(s) of the project, without affecting the overall project timeline and may or may not increase project cost. However, resource smoothing will most likely increase project cost and extend the expected project deadline.