Chapter 8
Resource Considerations
Learning Objectives
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Learn how to take resource constraints into
account
Determine the planned resource utilization for a
project
Level the use of resources within the required time
frame
Determine the shortest project schedule with
limited resources
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Real World Example
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Vignette: Resource-Constrained Health Services Planning
The Ghana Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)
initiative was designed to translate the information resulting from an
experimental study of the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC).
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In 1990, despite “health for all” policy, over 70% lived more than 8
kilometers from nearest provider
Rural infant mortality was 50% higher than in urban areas
As a direct response to the need for health care reform, a phased research
project was initiated to aide in changing the system from a clinical
facility-focused approach to a community-based approach.
By 1997, evidence had shown that the Navrongo project experiment was
having a measurable impact. Consequently, fertility and mortality began to
decline.
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Real World Example
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Vignette: West Virginia University Resource Planning
West Virginia University (WVU) relies heavily on its Office of Information
Technology (OIT) to implement new systems, perform technology upgrades,
maintain legacy systems, build communication networks, and deliver new
online services.
In the past the staff was divided into individual teams that created proposals
for submission to a central committee for approval.
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OIT decided to implement IBM’s Rational Portfolio Manager.
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System was ineffective; caused over-tasked teams & missed deadlines.
Hard to estimate and manage IT project needs; evaluate project portfolio status
and costs; & tell if approved projects had enough resources.
Three goals: (1) better resource planning and utilization; (2) easy access to
project portfolio status; and (3) accurate IT cost determination.
Its implementation has resulted in significant improvements to a number of
IT.
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Resource-Constrained
Planning
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Nearly all projects have limits on available
resources.
Project delays often occur due to certain resources
being unavailable.
A network diagram can be drawn to reflect the
availability of a limited number of resources.
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Planned Resource Utilization
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It’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types of
resources needed to perform each activity.
Resource utilization based on each activity’s earliest
start time are based on an as-soon-as-possible
(ASAP) schedule.
Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s
latest start time are based on an as-late-as-possible
(ALAP) schedule.
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An ASAP chart - Unless indicated otherwise,
always assume the chart is ASAP!
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Resource Leveling
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Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for
developing a schedule that attempts to minimize the
fluctuations in requirements for resources.
This method levels the resources so that they are
applied as uniformly as possible without extending
the project schedule beyond the required completion
time.
Trial-and-error method
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Delay non-critical activities beyond earliest start time
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Resource-Limited
Scheduling
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Resource-limited scheduling is a method for
developing the shortest schedule when the number or
amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be
exceeded.
This method will extend the project completion time
if necessary in order to keep within the resource
limits.
Iterative method
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Allocate resources based on priority (least slack, etc.)
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Assume limited to 2 painters!
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Project Management
Software
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Provides excellent features for handling resource
considerations within a project.
Allows you to create and maintain a list of
resources.
Resources can be assigned to various tasks within a
project.
The user is informed if any resources have time
conflicts or if they are over-allocated.
Numerous resource allocation reports can be
generated.
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