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
Blessing Williams
Cohort 13
Resource-leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead underscores rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines. This intrinsic quality of resource-leveling makes it not the right fit for remediation in the MTD Glasgow project.
MTD projects take their origin from global or national programs such as it being announced as Official Sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Their projects are not stand-alone. Thus challenges encountered require remediation in the areas of resource increase which ensures project completion within allotted floats. These increases include
1. Additional toilets added
2. Shortfall in the volume of water:
I. An extra buffer put in place
ii. More contingencies such as tanker support
iii. Speaking with local authorities with a view to increase the volume of water.
These decisions had to be made in line with the client’s timelines adhered to.
The foregoing decisions indicate the nature of the project which is linear with dependencies and non-flexible deadlines. Strictly, resource-smoothing is the right fit.
Resource-leveling would have scored a point had the MTD projects been stand-alone, bearing the undeniable label of Agile or iterative. Such would have gulped in either or all of the intrinsic elements of resource-leveling listed below:
1. Delay non-critical activities within their available floats
2. Extend non-critical activity duration within their available floats
3. Delay critical activities
4. Extend critical activities durations
5. Split an activity into non-sequential activity.
Resource leveling by its nature does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
This characteristic of rescheduling, and the impact on project deadlines presents resource leveling as not the likely strategy for handling resource overload in the MTD-Glasgow Project.
MTD projects are heavily dependent on global and national programs from which they derive their relevance such as its being announced as an Official Supporter of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Their projects are not stand-alone.
The water installation at Glasgow was necessitated by the sports event taking place with a fixed date and venue announced and much publicity prescribed. And thus any remediation would have to be in the areas of procuring additional resources to ensure the timeline and planned end date is strictly adhered to. A reschedule
was not optionable.
Resource-leveling incorporates the following strategies with cognizance of the flexibility of the project to drive its outcomes:
1.Delay non-critical activities within their available floats/timelines
2.
These
Considering that events are planned are held in a pre-adopted and limited period of time, I don’t think it would be possible to apply resource levelling in this scenario, as the deadline cannot be extended.
It is certainly possible to apply a resource levelling approach to MTD’s water installation events, although it may not be as straightforward as it would be for a manufacturing setting. In this case, resources are not physical parts or materials that can be easily moved around and allocated as needed, but rather people with different skills and schedules. That said, there are still ways to level resources so that the company can meet its goals in the most efficient way possible.
One way to apply resource levelling would be to ensure that there are enough workers with the right skills available for each event. This could involve creating a “resource pool” of workers with various skill sets, and then scheduling them to work on events based on their availability and the needs of the event. It may also be helpful to consider using a Gantt chart or similar tool to visualize the timeline of each event, so that potential conflicts can be identified and resolved before they become a problem. Additionally, MTD could also consider using cross-training to ensure that multiple workers have the skills needed for each event, in case one worker is unexpectedly unavailable.
Another approach to resource levelling would be to stagger the start dates of events, so that they don’t all occur at the same time and require the same number of workers. For example, if MTD knows that it has a limited number of plumbers available, it could schedule events so that they don’t all need plumbers at the same time. This would allow the company to use its resources more efficiently, and avoid overloading any one team of workers. Of course, this approach may not always be possible due to the specific needs of the events, but it is worth considering.
Lastly, MTD could also consider using outside contractors to fill any gaps in its workforce. This could be especially helpful for events that require specialized skills that are not available within the company. By bringing in outside help when needed, MTD can ensure that it has the resources it needs to complete its events, without overloading its existing staff. This approach can also provide the added benefit of bringing in fresh ideas and perspectives, which can help to improve the overall quality of the events.
In conclusion, resource levelling is certainly possible in the context of MTD’s water installation events. However, it may require some creative thinking and flexibility to make it work effectively.
Yes, Applying a resource leveling approach could definitely help balance the resources efficiently for the event. It can help ensure that resources are used effectively without overloading any particular aspect of the event. It’s a great way to manage resources smoothly!
Resource leveling involves resolving overallocation or scheduling conflicts to ensure a project can be completed with the available resources. For MTD, a re-evaluation of the project scope by the PM may be required and the estimated timelines will have to be adjusted to ensure quality and optimal product and a maximization of available resources, workload and personnel.
Resource levelling aims at stabilizing workload and maintaining project costs, It is ideally possible to apply resource levelling in the MTD events. Using additional resources and extending durations will help to balance the workload of employees, curbs risk of errors and also improves the quality of deliverables.
Resource leveling is modifying the project’s start and end dates in accordance with the availability of both internal and external resources. Making sure a project can be finished within budget, schedule, and scope restrictions while utilizing the resources at hand is the aim.
Regarding MTD at the Glasgow event (the water installation events); Additional resources might be required if the project deadline is to be kept. The project deadline may be extended if the objective is to complete the work using the resources that are currently available. This is to guarantee the project’s output quality.
Resource leveling will help balance the workload on resources in order to align usage with their avaliable capacity helping them to meet the requried deadline.
Resource leveling will be best for MTD because it will help balance the workload on resources in order to align usage with their avaliable capacity helping them to meet the requried deadline.
Considering MTD’s water installation events in Glasgow, applying a resource leveling approach may be feasible. This method involves redistributing resources without altering project capacity, which could help ensure that resources are utilized efficiently without impacting the current capacity of the team. By adjusting the scheduling of tasks and resources, MTD could potentially manage workload fluctuations and maintain project timelines without significant changes to their current resource capacity.