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
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines but the project cost is increased in the process. While resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines. So for me, considering the fact that MTD is a water company that handles events with fixed date, Resource smoothing is applicable which increases the project cost which most likely will be communicated to the project sponsors and this ensures that the whole events will hold as expected without any disappointment.
MTD as a company that works with with events might not benefit from
resources leveling ad it will require rescheduling and impact of project deadline . Instead I think project smoothing will be a better option
Yes is visible reason been that time is not altered to meet up with the customer’s demand for water. Since levelling approach still keep to time within the float schedule.
The video about MTD makes it feasible to implement the resource levelling because persistent level of resource usage during the period of the project will not disrupt the already established one not minding putting a hold to the previous project so as not to overload and come out in effectively.
Resource smoothing and resource leveling seek to optimize resource utilization and project schedules, they differ in their focus and approach. Resource smoothing aims to even out resource usage over time by adjusting non-critical activities within their float, while resource leveling prioritizes balancing resource demand and availability throughout the project by adjusting activity schedules within their total float
Considering the fact that MTD is a water company that handles events with fixed date, Resource smoothing is applicable which increases the project cost (This would be communicated to the project sponsors)While ensuring the events hold as expected with any disappointment.
Resource levelling would be feasible to implement in the MTD project because it would not alter the existing resources.
MTD cannot afford to reschedule deadlines.
We have been told in the course of this study that ” they are the first in and the last out”.
Without them, there’s virtually no event.
They would benefit from Resource smoothing as opposed to resource levelling.
They had given an illustration earlier where the client didn’t supply correct information and they found out too late that the water available was bad,so they had to get in water tankers to meet up with the delivery deadline. It cost them extra but they were on time.
MTD aims to maintain a constant level of resource usage throughout the project duration, even if it means delaying certain activities to avoid overloading resources. Resource levelling approach is ideal for them.
Resource leveling and resource smoothing are both project management techniques used to manage resource allocation, but they serve different purposes:
Resource Leveling:
Resource leveling is primarily concerned with adjusting the schedule of activities within a project to ensure that the demand for resources does not exceed their availability during any specific time period.
The main goal of resource leveling is to eliminate peaks and valleys in the resource utilization graph by shifting activities within their total float or slack time. And this affects the deadline of a project
Resource smoothing focuses on adjusting the schedule of activities within a project to ensure that resource usage remains within predetermined limits, typically by varying the start and finish times of activities within their float or slack time. This tend to increase the project cost as it helps to maintain project deadline.
From the video so far about MTD it’s feasible to implement the resource levelling approach since It aims to maintain a consistent level of resource usage throughout the project duration, even if it means delaying certain activities to avoid overloading resources.