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
Unexpected delays and other conflicts are a part of the real world and can crop up anytime without announcing their arrival. It can prevent such problems by adjusting the two most important variables: project deadlines and available resources. The correct strategy can help you optimize resources, extend deadlines, narrow the project scope, and garner more resources.
Employees worldwide believe a healthy work-life balance is the most important attribute of any job. Statistics show resources improve productivity by 21% when they have a good work-life balance.
Not exceeding the regular working hours by providing buffer days to employees, breaking up chunks of large tasks into smaller subtasks, and dividing them among team members will make the workload lighter and the team members more efficient. This process is called resource smoothing. Buffer days are evenly distributed across all days and are advantageous since they provide extra time for solving unexpected problems, effectively reducing stress and overtime.
Resource smoothing coupled with leveling promoted improved work-life balance as the team worked regular working hours with an equal daily workload.
Project managers often turn to resource leveling to ensure that the timelines for any project can be correctly predicted and conflicts arising out of time, scope, or insufficient resources can be tackled early on without snowballing into a huge problem, forcing employees to work overtime. Understanding what leveling resources is, its use, importance, and related information are vital to enhancing productivity and reducing burnout by eliminating over-allocation and minimizing the risk of resource burnout.
For the MTD water installation events and the Glasgow event, successful leveling is often achieved after some experience. Here are some tools you can use to help you expertly execute projects:
1. Use Gantt charts.
2. Leverage Project Management Software
3. Draw network diagrams.
4. Make realistic estimates of resource needs.
For the MTD water installation events and the Glasgow event, I would not recommend using the Resource levelling approach, majorly because these projects’ deadlines are time sensitive and it would be a greater loss to have deadlines rescheduled-which could likely increase cost of the project also. Rather it would be advisable to implement Resource Smoothing here because though the total cost of the project would increase, the influx of extra or more experienced team members or the extra hours added as overtime for the team members would ensure that the project planned deadlines are adhered to.
Time is power.So in the case of MTD project, I will rather suggest appropriateness of resource smoothing so as not disappoint those that have been eagerly waiting to use the service and project on record time
Due to time constraints, resource smoothing will be a more feasible approach than resource levelling in the MTD events, because there’s already a fixed timeline which may have been communicated to end users. Rescheduling the time may have a great negative impact to the project than increasing cost, due to the project being a time sensitive one.
Considering both scenarios, resource levelling approach is feasible to implement as this can create balance in the workload on resources in order to align resource usage with their available capacity. Resource levelling will not change the current capacity but focused on rescheduling, with a possible impact on project deadlines. This is contrast to resource smoothing, new resources can be added and this affects the project cost.
In resource levelling, the cost advantages relate to a steady distribution of cost over time, because cost of selection, hiring and then lay offs are often high and can be reduced through better scheduling and meet deadlines.
Considering the importance of timing and prompt delivery, I think resource smoothing would be the best solution. This would help to avoid missed deadlines and maximize the use of available resources. This is the ideal option in order to maintain our reputation and credibility.
Considering MTD and Glasglow as a case study, Yes, it will be possible to apply Resource Levelling approach regardless of any form of uncertainty or complexity.
A resource levelling approach can benefit MTD and Glasglow activities by balancing the workload on resources in order to align resource usage with their available capacity. This can be done by shifting schedules of projects within their available floats, which helps in stable workloads, enhance morale, reduce risk of stress and allows steady distribution of resource cost over time.
Resource levelling aims at balancing resourse usage by avoiding Over Allocation or Under Utilization of resources available, which can help to reduce project dey and cost, promotes efficiency in the project and mitigate scheduling conflicts.
The resource leveling approach requires identifying the resource requirements, analyzing resource availability and strategically Delaying and Extending Non-critical activities within available floats and Critical activities as well. All of which aims at adjusting the project schedule to balance the workload on resources. ~Julius
After examining the provided figure Resources, smoothing is the best approach for both MTD and Glasgow, where the planned deadline remains but new resources are being added and the project cost increased.
Resources levelling isn’t advisable for MTD, as this might be a disaster for the sponsor of the event because they might not possibly reschedule the event because of MTD alone which might also affect others. Therefore , adopting resource levelling would mean disappointing the project sponsor.
Adopting smoothing means Satisfying and delivering project in the agreed time with clients and stakeholders without disappointment.
this helps the organisation to earn the trust of the client. Our values is priority.
.
Resources soothing maintains the project deadline but increases cost ,but leveling on the other hand brings in rescheduling,in this case ,resources soothing is advice in this kind of project so resources soothing has to come in but every change has to be communicated with the project sponsors .
MTD is a company involved with water distribution. It has been allocated a specific number of days and time for the project. Resources smoothing aims to deliver original project deadlines while increasing project cost. For a company like MTD this will be the best method for them to assure accuracy and efficiency in delivering their project.Communication should be ensured with the stakeholders to realize a perfect project performance.