introduction
hello there
this is Maher islaieh and welcome to first article of knowledge Area ((Project Resources Management))
please note this knowledge area was called ((Human Resources Management)) previously
project resources management
Project resource management involves procuring and deploying internal as well as external resources which are needed for delivering a project
It focuses on:
- Priority usage of resources,
- monitoring resource utilization and productivity,
- measuring resource effectiveness.
Generally, project managers use project resource management to manage the human resource, the most critical resource of a project.( which was PMBOK 5th Edition was focus on )
Project resource management is important for large projects and for those projects has long time.
capacity vs capability
When talking about resources >> it’s very important to differentiate between capacity and capability
Capacity
- resources allow us to get more done than we can do alone
- People provide extra minds and bodies to get things done
- Tools and equipment amplify our efficiency
Capability
- resources allow us to do things we cannot otherwise do
- People bring new skills, experience, and expertise
- Tools and equipment allow us to do things people cannot
Resource Management Best Practice
below some best practice tips for resources management
Resource estimation
- Estimating the requirement of internal and external resources is one of the first steps in project resource management.
- Active estimation is required for each task within the project so that deployment of resources can take place in the most efficient manner possible.
- expert judgment, which is done on the basis of experience gained in earlier projects
Collection of data
There is some data which is needed for efficient resource management in a project. Including but not limited to
- Available resources
- Requirement for resources
- How resources will be able to meet the demands
Resource plan
- Each project plan needs to have a separate resource plan that contains different aspects of resource requirement, allocation, and utilization from the start to the end of the project.
- In the resource plan, a project manager can create a hierarchical list of the resources needed for the completion of the project.
- His is could be DONE easily in PMIS like primavera and MS project ( which as network pioneers we have separate course for it )
Schedule development
- Schedule development involves establishing the starting and ending dates of all project tasks to create a final schedule. The resource plan, containing the hierarchical breakdown of resources, is then matched with the activity breakdown of the project.
- This helps in assigning the required resources to each activity more efficiently.
Checking for resource over allocation
- A project manager must ensure that resource over allocation is avoided at all times.
- This happens when a greater amount of work is assigned to a resource, that which cannot be finished within the normal working hours. This could lead to the overspending of financial resources.
Negotiating for resources
- Smaller projects typically draw upon internal resources of the organization. This implies that though the project manager might need to formally procure external resources,
- A key role would have to be played by the project manager in getting the organization to commit to providing essential
project resources management Processes
PMBOK 6th edition has some changed regarding resources managing
first it has been renamed from Human resource management to Only resources management
also processes has been added to become 6 process rather than 4 processes in PMBOK 5th Edition
9.1 Plan Resource Management ( Planning Phase )
- This is the planning process and sets out the approach you will take to PRM
9.2 Estimate Activity Resources ( Planning Phase )
- Determining your requirements: what resources you’ll need and the quantities
9.3 Acquired Resources ( Executing Phase )
- How you will get the resources you need onto your project
9.4 Develop Team ( Executing Phase )
- Creating the team capabilities and culture you need.
9.5 Manage Team ( Executing Phase )
- Day-to-day and performance management, along with your team leadership role.
9.6 Control Resources ( Monitoring & controlling Phase )
- Monitor and control processes to keep your resource availability matching demand from upcoming activities
conclusion
this was briefly an overview about knowledge area ( Resources Management )
next articles we will discus each process in resources management in Fully Details
