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 🎓 Learn Project Management with Mike: The Project Manager's Skills Mastery Program - https://school.onlinepmcourses.com/p/.... 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 Differenc...  ), 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. Recommended Videos Carefully curated video recommendations for you: 🎬 How to Deduce Project Resource Requirements    • How to Deduce Project Resource Requirements   🎬 Finding an Optimum - 'More Haste: Less Speed'    • Finding an Optimum - 'More Haste: Less Speed'   🎬 How to Motivate People - 20 Ways to Give Motivation    • How to Motivate People - 20 Ways to Give M...   🎬 Leading without Authority: How to Manage and Lead People    • Leading without Authority: How to Manage a...   🎬 Schedule Compression: What's the Difference between Fast Tracking and Crashing?    • Schedule Compression: What's the Differenc...   🎒 A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. https://kit.co/MikeClayton/what-a-pro... Note that the links are affiliated. 🎬 For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to this channel:    / @onlinepmcourses   🎁 For all our great Project Management articles and resources, please check out the OnlinePMCourses website: https://onlinepmcourses.com/ 🏛 For basic Management Courses - free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses:    / managementcourses   🎓 For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management: https://onlinepmcourses.com/free-acad... ⏱ 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