Resource Optimization: What's the Difference between Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing?

Resource optimization is getting the best results from your resources. The two principal approaches are called resource leveling and resource smoothing. What’s the difference

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Resource optimization refers to any approach to ensuring that we make the best use of the resources we have to meet the needs of our schedule.

The two principal approaches to resource optimization are resource leveling and resource smoothing. However, rather like fast-tracking and crashing (which we looked at in an earlier video -    • Schedule Compression: What's the Diff...  ), the difference is subtle.

Which approach you take will depend mainly on whether your project is:
a) Resource Limited
You have a fixed availability of resources (or budget). You’d like to finish as early as possible, but resources are your critical constraint.
Here, the approach we take is Resource Leveling.
b) Time Limited
It must be completed by a specified deadline. You want to minimize resource usage, but the schedule is critical.
Here, the approach we take is Resource Smoothing.


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⏱ Chapter Markers...
00:00 - Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing
00:18 - Resource Optimization
00:47 - Two approaches to resource optimization
01:50 - Which approach to take to resource optimization?
02:00 - Resource limited projects
02:20 - Time limited projects
02:46 - Compromise and trade-offs in resource optimization
03:08 - Resource Leveling
04:57 - Resource Smoothing
06:07 - A simple summary of Resource Leveling and Resource Smoothing

#ResourceOptimization #ProjectManagement #ResourceLeveling