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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Resource levelling can be applied in MTD water installation project because of its nature and it’s kind of event but resource smoothing could be applied in Glasgow project because it’s faced with an event that has a fixed date and this can’t be moved. Which suggest the cost going up but have to maintain scheduled date
Resource levelling for the MTD, the water installation events firm, and the Glasgow event is not advised due to the fact that rescheduling will significantly affect the project deadlines, which will harm the stakeholders and project management deliverables.
I’ll propose that we use resource smoothing, a technique that seeks to keep project expenditures on track with initial deadlines while also extending project duration.
Resource levelling for the MTD would not suffice as that would significantly affect the date of delivery to the client.I’d say resource smoothing would do better except if theres a way to go round both resource levelling and smoothing
For the MTD project, making do with what you have might hinder the quality of delivery. Resources leveling is not the most advisable method for MTD to take.
Being a PM of a water installation project, levelling or smoothing approach will depend on the context, a such project would consist of a sequence of activities that one leads to another (linear approach). As far as this project is concerned, booth approaches would be used interchangeably if there arise a circumstance where an unexpected expertise is riquired, smoothing approch will ne visited but in normal situation, levelling approach will be the most used to prevent extra cost and acheive the goals in throat of allotted time.
Resources smoothing it usually the best option for MTD project in order to complete the project at the deadline, however it increases the cost and time management is very essential and quality assurance
MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event are time-conscious companies, as a Program Manager I will introduce the Resource smoothing approach which focuses more on meeting and maintaining project deadlines even as the project cost is likely to increase. on the other hand resource leveling approach balances resources with available capacity which may impact project deadlines.
Resource Leveling for the MTD, the water installation events company and the Glasgow event would not be advisable because rescheduling will have a major impact on the project deadlines which will affect the stakeholders and project manager deliverables.
I will suggest we implement Resource smoothing which aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs.
Based on the provided figure, it seems that implementing a resource leveling approach in the MTD Glasgow event scenario would be feasible. Resource leveling involves rescheduling activities to avoid resource overallocation, which is a common issue in project management. In the case of MTD, it appears that there are several instances of resource overallocation, particularly in the lead-up to the event. By rescheduling activities, MTD could avoid overloading their resources and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. However, it’s important to note that resource leveling may require trade-offs between time, cost, and quality, and MTD would need to carefully consider these factors when making scheduling decisions.
Resource levelling will only be advisable for the MTD project under review if the adjustments can fit well into the floating window of the task to be handled.
In the event that this can not be accommodated in the floating window the recommended approach will be resource smoothing to ensure project deadlines are met though this might impact project cost.
Resource levelling can be applied in the MTD water installation project because resource levelling involves balancing the workload on resources in order to align resource usage with their available capacity. but resource smoothing should be applied to the Glasgow project because it is towards an event which already has a fixed date and can not be moved.