Resource allocation
Resource allocation
CHAPTER
Objectives
Identify the resources required for a project;
Make the demand for resources more even throughout
the life of a project;
Resource allocation
8.1 Introduction
In general, the allocation of resources to activities will lead us to
review and modify the ideal activity plan. It may cause us to revise
review and modify the ideal activity plan. It may cause us to revise
stage or project completion dates.
The final result of resource allocation will normally be a number of
schedules including:
Resource allocation
8.1 Introduction
Select Project
0
Identify project
1 Identify project
2
Identify projectscope and objective
1 Identify project
infrastructure
2
Identify the products and activities
4
Estimate effort for activity
5
Identify activity risks
6
Analyze project characteristics
3
For each activity Lower level detail
Review
Allocate resources
7
Review/publicize plan
8
Lower level planning
10
Execute plan
Resource allocation
8.2 The nature of resources
In general, resources will fall into one of seven categories:
•
Labour
•
Labour
•
Equipment
•
Material
•
Space
•
Service
•
Time
Resource allocation
8.3 Identifying resource requirements
•
First, List the resources that will be required along
with the expected level of demand.
with the expected level of demand.
Resource allocation
8.3 Identifying resource requirements
Specify 54 34
IoE/P/2 20 days
Design 68 61
IoE/P/7 7 days
Code/Test 98 68
IoE/P/11 30 days
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
STAGE 5
STAGE 6
Specify Overall system 34 34 0 0
34 days 0 days IoE/P/1 34 days
Specify Module A 59 39
25 days 5 days
Specify Module B 49 59 34 44
25 days 10 days IoE/P/3 20 days
Specify Module C 59 59 34 34
IoE/P/4 25 days
Check SPECS 61 61 59 59
2 days 0 days IoE/P/6 2 days
Design Module A 68 61
7 days 0 days
Design Module B 67 70 61 64
9 days 3 days IoE/P/8 6 days
Design Module C 65 83 61 79
IoE/P/9 4 days
Code/Test Module A 98 68
30 days 0 days
Code/Test Module B 95 98 67 76
31 days 3 days IoE/P/12 28 days
Code/Test Module C 80 98 65 79
IoE/P/13 15 days
System Integrate 104 104 98 98
6 days 0 days IoE/P/15 6 days
Module C 59 34
25 days 0 days
Specify Module D 49 59 34 44
34 days 0 days IoE/P/5 15 days
Module C 83 79
22 days 18 days
Design Module D 65 73 61 69
12 days 8 days IoE/P/10 4 days
Module C 98 79
33 days 18 days
Code/Test Module D 90 98 65 73
33 days 8 days IoE/P/14 25 days
Activity description Earliest finish Latest finish Earliest start Latest start
Activity span Float Activity Duration
Key:
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
•
To map the resource requirements list onto the
activity plan to assess the distribution of resources
activity plan to assess the distribution of resources
required over the duration of the project.
•
Representing the activity plan as a bar chart and
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
Week Number
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Specify overall system
Specify module A
Specify module B
Specify module C
Specify module D
Bar chart and resource histogram for analyst-designers
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
Tester
C
C
C
C
C
C
F
F
H
H
H
Tester
C
C
C
C
C
C
F
F
H
H
H
Availability
C
C
C
C
C
C
F
F
H
H
H
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
H
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
H
H
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
J
H
K
K
K
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
J
J
J
J
J
J
J
Tester
Availability
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
B
B
B
C
D
D
D
D
A
A
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
B
B
B
F
C
H
H
H
D
Resource histogram showing demand for staff before
and after smoothing.
A
A
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
B
B
B
F
C
H
H
H
D
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
F
F
H
H
H
H
H
E
E
E
E
E
E
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
J
F
K
K
K
H
H
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
Week Number Week Number
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Specify overall system
Specify module A
Specify overall system
Specify module A Specify module B
Specify module C Specify module D
Specify module B Specify module C Specify module D
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
Prioritizing activities:
•
Total float priority
•
Ordered list priority
1. Shortest critical activity;
2. Critical activities;
3. Shortest non-critical activity;
Resource allocation
8.4 Scheduling resources
Specify 54 34
IoE/P/2 20 days
Design 63 56
IoE/P/7 7 days
Code/Test 93 63
IoE/P/11 30 days
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
STAGE 5
STAGE 6
Specify Overall system 34 34 0 0
34 days 0 days IoE/P/1 34 days
Specify Module A 54 34
20 days 0 days
Specify Module B 49 54 34 39
20 days 5 days IoE/P/3 15 days
Specify Module D 49 54 34 34
IoE/P/5 15 days
Check SPEC 56 56 54 54
2 days 0 days IoE/P/6 2 days
Design Module A 63 56
7 days 0 days
Design Module B 67 70 61 64
9 days 3 days IoE/P/8 6 days
Design Module D 60 68 56 64
IoE/P/10 4 days
Code/Test Module A 93 63
30 days 0 days
Code/Test Module B 90 93 62 65
31 days 3 days IoE/P/12 28 days
Code/test Module D 85 93 60 68
IoE/P/14 25 days
System Integrate 99 99 93 93
6 days 0 days IoE/P/15 6 days
Module D 54 34
20 days 5 days
Specify Module C 59 73 34 48
39 days 14 days IoE/P/4 25 days
Design Module C 64 78 60 74
18 days 14 days IoE/P/9 4 days
Module D 68 64
12 days 8 days
Code/Test Module C 79 93 64 78
29 days 14 days IoE/P/13 15 days Module D 93 68
33 days 8 days
Activity description Earliest finish Latest finish Earliest start Latest start
Activity span Float Activity Duration
Key:
Check Spec C 60 74 59 73Resource allocation
8.5 Creating critical paths
• Scheduling resources can create new critical paths.
• Delaying the start of an activity because of lack of
• Delaying the start of an activity because of lack of
resources will cause that activity to become critical if this
uses up its float.
Resource allocation
8.6 Counting the cost
Trying to complete the project by the earliest
completion date with the minimum number of
completion date with the minimum number of
staff ?
•
Using additional staff or lengthening the overall
duration of a project.
•
The additional cost of employing extra staff would
•
The additional cost of employing extra staff would
need to be compared to the costs of delayed
Resource allocation
8.a Expediting a Project (Example)
1
2
4
6
a
c
d
f
g
1
3
5
6
b e
g
Activity
Predecessor
Duration
Normal
Duration
Crash
Normal
cost
Crash cost
Cost per Day
a
-
6 days
5 days
$60.00
$90.00
$30/day
b
-
7
4
$50.00
$150.00
$33/day
b
-
7
4
$50.00
$150.00
$33/day
c
a
6
4
$100.00
$160.00
N/A
d
a
7
7
$30.00
$30.00
N/A
e
b
5
4
$70.00
$85.00
$15/day
f
c
9
7
$40.00
$120.00
$40/day
Resource allocation
8.7 Being specific
In allocating individuals to tasks, a number of factors need to be
taken into account:
Availability
Criticality
Risk
Training
Training
Resource allocation
8.8 Publishing the resource schedule
Resource allocation
8.8 Publishing the resource schedule
Specify 54 34
IoE/P/2 20 days
Design 63 56
IoE/P/7 7 days
Code/Test 93 63
IoE/P/11 30 days
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
STAGE 5
STAGE 6
Specify Overall system 34 34 0 0
34 days 0 days IoE/P/1 34 days
Specify Module A 54 34
21 days 1 days
Specify Module B 49 49 34 34
15 days 0 days IoE/P/3 15 days
Specify Module D 49 55 34 45
IoE/P/5 15 days
Check Specs 56 57 54 55
3 days 1 days IoE/P/6 2 days
Design Module A 64 57
8 days 1 days
Design Module B 66 66 60 60
6 days 0 days IoE/P/8 6 days
Design Module D 60 69 56 65
IoE/P/10 4 days
Code/Test Module A 94 64
31 days 1 days
Code/Test Module B 94 94 66 66
28 days 0 days IoE/P/12 28 days
Code/Test Module D 85 93 60 68
IoE/P/14 25 days
System Integrate 100 100 94 94
6 days 0 days IoE/P/15 6 days
15
4
Module D 55 45
21 days 6 days
Specify Module C 74 74 49 49
25 days 0 days IoE/P/4 25 days
Design Module C 79 79 75 75
4 days 0 days IoE/P/9 4 days Module D 69 65
13 days 9 days
Code/Test Module C 94 94 79 79
15 days 0 days IoE/P/13 15 days
Module D 93 68
33 days 8 days
Activity description Earliest finish Latest finish Earliest start Latest start
Activity span Float Activity Duration
Key:
Check Spec C 75 75 74 741 days 0 days IoE/P/6a 1 day 15
Resource allocation
8.9 Cost schedules
In general, costs are categorized as follows:
• Staff costs
• Overheads
• Usage charges
Es
tim
at
ed
w
ee
kl
y
co
st
($
)
Staffing cost
Week Number
Es
tim
at
ed
w
ee
kl
y
co
st
($
)
Resource allocation
8.9 Cost schedules
Example of Cost Schedule:
2500
Cost Schedule
1000 1500 2000
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG LABOR 100 150 210 300 210 150 300 100 OVERHEAD 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 TOTAL 150 200 260 350 260 200 350 150 ACCU 150 350 610 960 1220 1420 1770 1920
Resource allocation
8.10 The scheduling sequence
1
2
4
6
a
c
d
f
g
Activity plan
Risk Assessment
1
3
5
6
b e
g
