NINE - Resource Management Flashcards
What are resources?
People, team, facilities, equipment, and materials that are required to complete the work
What must a PM do in terms of resources?
Do things such as identify all resources needed to complete a project (including required skills of resources and required quality and grade), define everyone’s roles, create reward systems, provide training and motivation, manage the use of physical resources, and track performance
What questions should the resource management plan answer?
What resources are required?
What quantity of each type of resource is required?
When and for how long will each resource be needed?
How will the resource be acquired?
Are the resources available internally, or does procurement need to be involved?
What is the cost?
Is there a limited time in which the resources will be available?
How will resources be managed?
What is a common complaint from team members?
That roles and responsibilities are not clearly defined.
Therefore, definition of roles and responsibilities is a critical part of plan resource management
What do team members need to know?
What work packages and activities they are assigned to, when they are expected to report, what meetings they will be required to attend, and any other work they will be asked to do. Management also needs to know when and for how long resources will be needed
What are the inputs to Plan Resource Management (P)?
PM Plan, Project Charter,
Project Documents - requirements document, schedule, risk and stakeholder registers
EEFs, OPAs
What are some questions experienced PMs consider for resources that are part of EEFs?
What organizations are involved, are there hidden agendas, is there anyone who does not want the project, locations of assigned and potential team members, is there availability for contract support, what training is available for the project team?
What are the tools and techniques of Plan Resource Management?
A comprehensice resource management plan includes documentation of all project responsibilities and assignments on the project. The methods to do this include:
Data Representation - Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), RACI Chart, Organizational Breakdown Structure, Resource Breakdown Structure, WBS, Text-Oriented Formats
Organizational Theory
What is a Responsibility assignment Matrix (RAM)?
This chart cross-references team members with the activities or work packages they are to accomplish.
What is a RACI chart, and what does it stand for?
Responsible, Accountable, Consult, Inform. Type of RAM that defines roles more clearly.
What is an Organizational Breakdown Structure?
Can be used to assign project responsibilities to divisions or departments within the organization (marketing, IT, etc). Breakdowns and places work packages from the WBS under each department
What is a Resource Breakdown Structure?
Breaks the work down by type of resource. Project-1.People - 1.1 PM Team - - 1.1.1 Lead PM, 1.1.2 BA
How is the WBS used for resource planning?
Ensures each work package has an owner. Can see what resources are required
What is a common text-oriented format?
Position descriptions.
What is Organizational Theory?
Studies organizations to identify how they solve problems, maximize efficiency and productivity, and meet the expectations of stakeholders. This helps develop effective resource management policies and procedures
What are the outputs of Plan Resource Management?
Resource Management Plan, Team Charter, Project Document Updates
Resource Management Plan
Plan for when and how resources will be added, managed ,and released from the project.
What is the Human Resources Component of the Resource Management Plan?
Identify human resource requirements (who, when, how many, what skills, what level of expertise, durtion)
Roles and responsibilities;
Project organizational charts;
Process for acquiring human resources (Internal/procured?;
Training, team development, recognition;
Project Team management (team charter, ground rules, engagement, communications);
Compliance;
Safety;
Release of Resources
What is the Physical Resource component of the Resource Management Plan?
Identify physical resources (what, when, how many, type, quality, grade, duration);
Process for acquiring physical resources;
Inventory management;
Release of resources
What is the team charter?
Working agreement developed by members of the project team. Describes the approach the team will take regarding communication, decision making, conflict resolution, as well as ground rules for team meetings.
What are some examples of ground rules?
How a team member should resolve conflict with another member;
When a team member should notify the PM they are having difficulty with an activity;
Rules for meetings;
Who is authorized to give directions to contractors;
How the team will decide work assignments;
When and how to provide status updates to the PM;
What project documents are updated in Plan Resource Management?
Assumptions log, risk register,
What is done in the Estimate Activity Resources (P) process?
The PM and team determine the type and quantity of resources needed to complete the project work. Includes human resources to work on the work packages, any equipment, materials, space, and anything else needed to fulfill the requirements
What are the Inputs to Estimate Activity Resources (P)?
Resource management plan, scope baseline, activity list, activity attributes, cost estimates and cost baseline, resource calendar, OPAs
What do resource calendars identify?
Organizational work hours, company holidays, and show availability of potential resources both physical and human
What are the tools and techniques for Estimate Activity Resources?
Bottom-up, analogous, parametric estimating and alternatives analysis. Resource Histogram
What does analogous estimating involve?
Involves using expert judgement and historical information to predict the future
What does parametric estimating invovle?
Involves creating an equation that uses historical info from other estimates, actual results, and variables to create estimates
Alternatives Analysis
Bottoms-up, analogous, and parametric estimating can be used to create estimates for various options. ie cost of internal vs external team members. Alternatives analysis can then be used to assess the impact of each option on project constraints
What is a resource histogram?
A way to visualize resource requirements, and compare needed resources and their availability to better enable estimating. It is a bar chart that shows the number of resources needed per time period (% of time dedicated to project vs project time period)
What are options to mitigate not having enough resources for a period of time when they are required?
Could include negotiating with another department, procuring from an external source, or adjusting project schedule, resource leveling
What are the outputs to Estimate Activity Resources (P)?
Resource requirements for project activities, including cost, quantity, and availability of human and physical resources.
Document in a resource breakdown structure which is used to breakdown the work by the type of resource required.