Importance of Resource Management

Resource Management process plays an important role in Project Management & Vice Versa. Project Management is incomplete without resources planning and Resources cannot be utilized without knowing what project requirements are?! We can say Project Management & Resource Management is Hand & Glove to accomplish a Successful Project.

Some of the Resource Management techniques help us understand why organisations should focus on Resource Management.

These techniques are methods or processes which are used to meticulously implement a project.

Resource Planning

When the project road map is planned, Project Manager (PM) knows what are the resources required for implanting the project. They can plan these resources based on demand/ requirements. PM can also plan for improving capability of resources through training and development programs or help in hiring plans. Or it could be procuring Machinery / Material, resources requirement for project success.

Resource Scheduling

Once project is planned, it is further divided into smaller tasks to complete the same. Resource scheduling helps to assign right resources at the right time. Resources like, workforce, machinery, material, funds etc.. can be scheduled based on the tasks at the accurate timelines as per task priority. This activity ensures resource readiness or resource prioritization for the project.

Resource Allocation

Organizations like Project Management Institute (PMI) through their Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) methodology of project management espoused that resource allocation as one of the best approach for implementing a project successfully.

Project is planned, resources are scheduled and finally allocating them to the tasks, facilitates in execution & completion of project within timelines. Also, this step focuses to maintain a balance, to avoid under utilization or over utilization of resources for optimal output.

Resource Levelling & Smoothing

The aim of Resource Management is to 100% utilization of resources, though this is not always possible owing to constrains (peaks and lows) during the course of project implementation, Resource Levelling & Resource Smoothing are two techniques used to address these challenges and make adjustments during project implementation phase, to ensure project completion.

Often both the concepts of Resource Levelling & Resource Smoothing are confused and interpreted as same or are interchangeably used. However, the objective of both the concepts is different.

Focus of resource levelling technique is to make adjustment in time lines to ensure 100% project implementation as per plan owing to shortage of resources or inventories. The aim of Resource Smoothing is to make adjustments in tasks based on available resources without compromising on planned timelines.

Definitions as per the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), will help us understand these concepts more clearly.

Resource Leveling is “A technique in which start and finish dates are adjusted based on resource limitation with the goal of balancing demand for resources with the available supply.”

Resource Smoothing is a “resource optimization technique, in which free and total float are used without affecting the critical path of a project.” It is posed as an alternative and a distinct resource optimization technique beside resource leveling.

A project manager, can use a combination of both the concepts based on the Project requirements & priorities.

Using specially designed resource management software typically help in resolving conflicts or over allocations in the project plan by allowing the software to calculate delays and update tasks automatically.

Reference links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_management

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_smoothing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_leveling

https://www.prosymmetry.com/resources/know-your-resource-management-techniques/