Reflection and discussion

Resource Planning

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

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Resource Planning
Importance
Relationship to Schedule Planning
Human Resources
Other Resources

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Resource Planning
After you have created the first draft of your schedule, an important step is to identify the resources required
Sometimes the same resource is needed for two different tasks, so they cannot be carried out concurrently
Resources include
Human resources
Other resources such as equipment, office space, computer hardware or software, construction materials

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Relationship Between Schedule Planning and Resource Planning
Based on the WBS, the PM and team have prepared the initial draft of the schedule
This is a key step
If you don’t yet understand the scheduling part of the planning process, review it before proceeding to resource planning

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Estimating—tools and techniques
Expert judgment
Alternative analysis
Published estimating data
Project management software
Bottom-up estimating

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Resource Leveling
If two or more concurrent activities need to use the same resources, the schedule may need to be adjusted
If a very expensive piece of equipment such as a crane is required, the tasks may have to be rescheduled consecutively rather than concurrently
This can also happen due to staff requirements
Software such as MS Project has resource leveling tools

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The mythical man-month
What is the impact of adding people to a project that is struggling to meet deadlines?

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

HR Planning
The most important resource is the people
Select the right people
Technically skilled
Motivated
Provide them with the resources and training they need
Nurture them—provide compensation and recognition
Deal with issues promptly and as directly as possible

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The person-day
The work of one person for one day is a person-day
You may also work with person-hours
Think about how easy or difficult it is to substitute one person for ten days in place of ten people for one day on different tasks:
Installing ten dozen new PCs on desktops in an office area
Configuring the server which the PCs will use for file and print sharing
Creating a new computer game
Pouring a foundation
Building the forms into which the foundation will be poured

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Typical project team roles
Project Manager
Developer
Engineer
Subject matter expert
Team members
Customer / client representative

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The HR environment
s
Employment regulations such as wage legislation, holidays
Health and safety
Culture
Organizational standards
Collective Agreements

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Employee performance management
Employee performance
employee’s work results such as quality or quantity of outputs,
work behavior (such as punctuality)
job-related attributes (such as cooperation and initiative)
After conducting employee performance reviews managers should:
provide feedback to employees about how well they have performed on established goals
provide feedback to employees about areas in which the subordinate is weak or could do better
take corrective action to address problems with employees performing at or below the minimum expectations
reward superior performers to encourage their continued excellence

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Rewards for employees
Discuss

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological
Safety
Love/belonging
Esteem
Self-actualization

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Emotional Intelligence
Self-awareness
Self-regulation
Empathy
Relationship management

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Personality Types
Myers-Briggs: four dimensions:
Extroversion <–> Introversion
Sensing <–> Intuition
Thinking <–> Feeling
Judging <–> Perceiving
Sixteen personality types can be derived from the four dimensions
Generally, a MIX of personality types on a project brings strength
Knowing your own type and the types of other team members can help people work together

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Dimensions of Leadership
Robert Tannenbaum and Warren Schmidt
leaders are either autocratic or democratic
Harold Leavitt
leaders are pathfinders (visionaries), problem solvers (analytical), or implementers (team oriented)
James MacGregor Burns
leaders are either transactional (focused on actions and decisions) or transformational (focused on the long-term needs of the group and organization)
Fred Fiedler
contingency theory, the ability of leaders to adapt

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Negotiation
A key project management skill
Frequently, PMs have accountability but may have limited authority
Matrix management structure
Subject matter experts
Negotiating with
Other managers
Suppliers
Customers
Others

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Conflict
Conflict is not a bad thing—it can be healthy for people to be able to express differences about how to approach the work
Conflict-resolution styles:
Avoiding
Forcing
Collaborating
Compromising
Accommodating

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Delegation
PM is not expected to DO all the work
Must identify and clearly assign work to others on the team
Make expectations clear
Recognize performance
Follow through

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Resource management techniques
Resource leveling
Objective is 100% utilization
Software can help

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Resource Planning Summary
Planning for resource utilization is a key process in preparing a project plan
Resource planning follows the first draft of the schedule and impacts the schedule
Resources include human resources and other resources
Managing human resources includes hiring, training, motivating, rewarding
A number of models can be used to help the team work together
There are several theories of leadership; leadership is more than issuing directives

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Chapter 11: Resource Planning

Questions?

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