Domain 2 of 3 · Chapter 4 of 10

Planning and Managing Resources

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Included in this chapter:

  • Plan resources, then manage and optimize
  • Define needs and assign clear ownership
  • Confirm availability and design around constraints
  • Optimize a stretched schedule: level or smooth
  • Adaptive delivery: a stable team with limited WIP
  • Exam-pattern recognition

Planning and managing resources in predictive vs adaptive delivery

Resource movePredictive (plan-driven)Adaptive (agile)
Define resource needsA resource management plan derives roles, skills, equipment, and materials from the WBS work packagesA stable, cross-functional team is formed around the product and its outcomes
Assign responsibilityA RAM in RACI format gives each work package one accountable ownerThe whole team owns the work and self-organizes to pull it
Confirm availabilityA resource calendar reconciles need against availability; scarce or pre-assigned resources are constraintsThe dedicated team's capacity is a known, stable given each iteration
Optimize utilizationResource leveling fixes over-allocation and may extend dates; smoothing evens usage within floatLimit WIP to observed velocity or throughput for a sustainable flow

Decision tree

Resource committedbeyond its availability?Allocation fits capacity:proceedResolve it within theactivities' float?Predictive oradaptive delivery?Resource smoothing:even usage, hold the datesResource leveling:shift dates(may extend duration)Limit WIP to teamcapacity; hold thestable teamnoyesyesnopredictiveadaptive

Cheat sheet

  • Resource needs are derived from the work, not from who is on hand
  • A responsibility assignment matrix clarifies who owns each work package
  • Confirm resource availability before committing to the plan
  • Scarce or pre-assigned resources become a planning constraint
  • Resource leveling resolves over-allocation and may extend duration
  • Resource smoothing evens usage within float without moving key dates
  • Adaptive delivery keeps a stable, dedicated team rather than flexing staff
  • Work in progress is limited to the team's proven capacity

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References

  1. PMP Examination Content Outline (June 2026)
  2. Managing human resources in project management Blog
  3. Roles, responsibilities, and resources Blog
  4. Agile Capacity Blog
  5. Fundamentals of scheduling & resource leveling Blog
  6. Do more with less Blog
  7. The Scrum Guide (2020) Whitepaper