The video discussed
-Resource Histogram
-Resource leveling technique
-Resource Smoothing Technique
While developing a schedule initially we just try to figure out who can do what kind of work and what are dependencies of one task over other. The work is allocated based on these 2 parameters and so few people are overloaded and few are underloaded. This is why resource optimization comes into the picture, to bring some optimization in resource assignment to activities. This is linked to both Human Resources and material resources.
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The trainer quoted a very simple example - You are planning a party and there are 5 friends. You may realize that one of your friends can do multiple things, so in the first phase, you allocate him a lot of work based on his expertise. Later on, you realize that he is overloaded, and now resource leveling comes into the picture. Resource leveling is explained using Critical Path Method diagram.
When you do resource leveling your project duration may get impacted because the new interdependencies may get discovered. Some activities can be done in parallel to save time, but in the case of dependencies, you need to do some activities serially only.
In most of the tools when you create your Critical Path Method (CPM), it allows you to view Resource Histogram. Resource Histogram is a bar chart, which gives information regarding resource allocation (for example showing hourly allocation).
When you do resource leveling, you know that you cannot go beyond 8 hours per day, so you need to adjust the work. Assume that you re-allocate work and now the project duration is increased by 3 days (from 5 to 8 days).
Resource leveling takes care of the bad allocation of resources. It gives a clear picture of what can be done within available resource constraints.
In the case of Smoothing, we cannot increase the total project duration. You know that the person can work for 8 hours, and you want him to work for lesser hours say 6.5 or 7 hours. You do certain adjustments and manage it in a few places.
The essence is once we have a project schedule in pictures, resources are optimized during the project duration, and they are used at an optimum level so that we have less risk on our project.
As per PMBOK® Guide Sixth Edition
Resource leveling -
“A technique in which start and finish dates are adjusted based on resource constraints with the goal of balancing the demand for resources with the available supply.”
Resource Smoothing -
“A technique that adjusts the activities of a schedule model such that the requirements for resources on the project do not exceed certain predefined resource limits.”
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PMBOK® Guide Sixth edition
The Project Management Professional (PMP), PMBOK, The Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and The Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
PMBOK is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Materials in this video are based on the text, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) - Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017.
The PMI Registered Education Provider logo is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
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