Resource Planning is the capability to estimate the need for specific skills in both the near term and the long term. The Project Network’s Resource Planning functions as a planning tool for the Project Manager, as well as for the Resource Manager.
Resource Capacity Planning
Resource Capacity Planning provides the capability to capture estimates not only for project work but also other time committments such as time-off, support and system maintenance. This comprehensive picture provides the Resource Manager and the organization a long-term picture of overall skills needed. Tools in the system allow modeling of projects to determine how a project would fit in overall resource capacity and availability, thus allowing long term planning and scheduling of projects and resources. For more information on the software specifics check under Portfolio Tools, Resource Capacity Planning.
Collaborative Project Planning
Collaborative Project Planning provides the ability for the Resource Manager to be directly involved in the tasking of a project. This is helpful in environments where the Resource Manager has a better idea of the skills needed on project tasks then the Project Manager. Or, when there needs to be a lot of flexibility in changing tasks assignments.
The Project Manager can request resources with specific types of skills via the project plan and the resource manager then fills those requests in the project. This capability provides the Resource Manager with direct control and flexibility over task assignments.
- Allows Project Manager to create tasks and manage deadlines
- Allows Resource Manager to focus staff on critical projects
This can be done by defining a Resource Planning Window. Let’s say that window was 6 weeks. Within the next 6 weeks all tasks should have resources assigned, but beyond that period the tasks are unassigned. Total resource capacity is still available from the Skill Projections for each task.
