Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing

Resource Leveling and Smoothing: A Comprehensive Guide

What is Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing?

Resource leveling and resource smoothing are two critical techniques in project scheduling that help optimize resource allocation and usage across project activities.

Resource Leveling is a technique that adjusts the project schedule to resolve resource conflicts or over-allocations. It may change critical path and often extends the project duration to accommodate resource constraints.

Resource Smoothing is a technique that adjusts activities within available float (slack) to create a more uniform resource usage pattern, but it maintains the original project duration and does not alter the critical path.

Why are These Techniques Important?

1. Realistic scheduling: They create schedules that reflect actual resource availability
2. Prevents burnout: Helps avoid over-allocation of team members
3. Cost efficiency: Optimizes resource usage, potentially reducing costs
4. Improved quality: Properly allocated resources lead to better work quality
5. Enhanced predictability: Creates more reliable schedules

How Resource Leveling Works:

1. Identify resource conflicts or over-allocations
2. Delay non-critical activities using available float
3. If necessary, delay critical activities (which extends the project end date)
4. Split activities when possible to free up resources
5. Reassign resources from over-allocated periods to under-allocated periods

How Resource Smoothing Works:

1. Identify peak resource usage periods
2. Use only available float to adjust activity timing
3. Move non-critical activities within their float to reduce resource peaks
4. Maintain the original project end date
5. Balance resource usage without extending the schedule

Key Differences:

Resource Leveling:
- May extend project duration
- Can change the critical path
- Resolves resource over-allocations completely
- Prioritizes resource constraints over time constraints

Resource Smoothing:
- Maintains original project duration
- Does not change critical path
- May not fully resolve all resource conflicts
- Prioritizes time constraints over resource optimization

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing

1. Understand the core difference: Remember that leveling may extend the schedule while smoothing maintains the original duration.

2. Know the impacts: Be clear about how each technique affects the critical path, project duration, and resource usage patterns.

3. Identify the scenario: Look for keywords in exam questions:
- "Resource constraints are more important than time" suggests leveling
- "Must maintain end date" suggests smoothing
- "Resolve all resource conflicts" points to leveling
- "Optimize within current schedule" indicates smoothing

4. Watch for float usage: Smoothing only uses existing float; leveling can create delays beyond available float.

5. Connect to other knowledge areas: Link these techniques to cost management, risk management, and stakeholder management.

6. Calculate impacts: Practice calculating how these techniques affect specific schedule metrics and resource histograms.

7. Context matters: Consider the project constraints (time, cost, scope) when determining which approach is more appropriate.

8. Tools and techniques: Be familiar with how project management software implements these approaches.

Common Exam Question Patterns:

- "Which technique should be used if the project deadline cannot be extended?"- "What is the primary difference between resource leveling and resource smoothing?"- "If a resource is assigned to two critical path activities at the same time, which technique is most appropriate?"- "How does resource leveling affect the critical path?"- "When would a project manager choose resource smoothing over resource leveling?"
Remember that exams often present scenarios where you need to determine which approach is best based on project constraints and priorities. Focus on understanding the fundamental principles rather than just memorizing definitions.