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
OKODI Okodi, Team 10
Reputation is something that is earned with hard work and dedication. For a company like MTD, which has a reputation for delivering quality projects on time, it was not an easy feat to achieve.
When a resource shortfall occurs, there are two difficult options to choose from: either exceed the initial budget or miss the deadline, both of which can damage the company’s reputation.
The best course of action in such situations is to opt for resource smoothing, as it causes the least amount of harm. It involves requesting additional funds to complete the project, but the MTD still has the opportunity to maintain its quality standards and reputation.
For the MTD water installation event, opting for resource smoothing is the preferred approach over resource leveling. This choice is grounded in the recognition of MTD’s adherence to stringent project timelines, dictated by customer orders and the designated event schedule.
An organization like MTD is keen about meeting deadlines.Hence ,when there’s an issue with resources short fall,I would rather subscribe to resource smoothing that would afford us delivery on planned date as long as quality will not be compromised.
No, I do not think they could have applied a resource leveling approach because the MTD event would most likely have been fixed, and hence a reschedule of the activities would have seriously affected the outcome of the event.
Every project there is a paramount outcome. As a PM on MTD , knowing fully well that deadline most be met. I will subscribe to resource smoothing, as this will be the best approach. Increase in cost might be the price to pay, However, project will be met and delivered to the client before deadline. As long as QUALITY is not compromise in the long run.
However, in a situation where deadline can be adjusted. I will always subscribe to resource leveler, as it helps one to manage resources better, reschedule if need be because I believe above all things, effective management of resources is the core of a PM job.
Resource smoothing, prioritizing the maintenance of original project deadlines while accepting increased costs, is the optimal strategy for MTD’s water project. With fixed deadlines crucial to event-based projects like MTD’s, adjustments to the timeline are limited. Thus, adhering strictly to agreed delivery times is paramount. In contrast, resource leveling, which focuses on rescheduling without altering resource capacity, is less suitable for fixed deadline scenarios like MTD’s, where flexibility is limited.
For me in advising MTD. while both resource smoothing and resource leveling aim to optimize resource utilization in project management, they differ in their primary objectives and approaches. Resource smoothing focuses on maintaining a steady resource demand over time to avoid peaks and valleys, while resource leveling prioritizes resolving resource conflicts and balancing resource demand with resource availability to create a realistic project schedule
For a project like the MTD water project that often revolves around event, events have a fixed time which means much adjustments cannot be made to the timeline.
I think the resources smoothing approach would work best and resource levelling wouldn’t work. Resource levelling would work in situations where deadlines are flexible.
Considering MTD, I think the best approach should be resource levelling though it may not be easy to adjust the project delivery date with collaboration and proper communication to the project sponsors it is achievable.
Considering the cost, man power training and skills required for that that kind of project it wouldn’t be advisable to apply resource smoothing.
Ola Olatonade Cohort 13 Team 1
Using MTD, water installation event company based on the Glasgow event project. To apply a resource leveling approach will not be possible at it would affect the project end date invariably affecting the event, resource smoothing approach is best option in which the planned deadline is intact, increase resources which increases project cost.