{"id":1398,"date":"2018-02-22T13:24:46","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T13:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ec2-52-95-249-27.ap-south-1.compute.amazonaws.com:8000\/blog\/?p=1398"},"modified":"2023-12-21T03:57:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T03:57:42","slug":"guide-project-resource-planning-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ec2-52-95-249-27.ap-south-1.compute.amazonaws.com:8000\/blog\/guide-project-resource-planning-template\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to the Project Resource Planning Template"},"content":{"rendered":"

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!<\/p>\n

Besides putting a positive spin on things, this quote encourages you to make the best out of a bad situation. No one needs this boost more than a project manager<\/strong>, who has to overcome several hurdles while overseeing different projects simultaneously.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, without the right support<\/strong> and tools<\/strong> along the way, everyone suffers, including you! So, wouldn\u2019t you grab hold of a tool that helps you keep the peace without losing the big picture?<\/p>\n

An easy project resource plan template-project<\/strong> could be a good starting point. Besides consolidating all your resources and project information, it also encourages uniformity.<\/p>\n

Flexible<\/strong> to create and share, while the template<\/strong> may not solve all your problems, it can help tone down your pain points. For example<\/strong>, it can record roles and responsibilities, thus narrowing down your search for the right people for a specific task.<\/a><\/p>\n

Scroll on to continue!<\/h2>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

So to get your spreadsheet game going right, you really need to understand the nuances of smart resource management.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the particulars your project resource planning template<\/strong> should contain to make it comprehensive, yet easy to understand:<\/p>\n

Project details:<\/h2>\n

Clients typically delegate projects with a fixed deliverable in mind. But it is your staff who devise the means to bring this product to life. Therefore, giving your staff as much information as possible about the project allows them to prepare for it. Project details<\/strong> can include the name, type of project, timelines, methodology, processes and calendar details.<\/p>\n

Processes and methodology:<\/h3>\n

This varies widely by industry and specialism. Software companies<\/strong>, for example, are increasingly embracing agile methods<\/strong> to keep pace with changing requirements.<\/p>\n

What starts out on the vision board as a simple product can have multiple effects interjected into it. This means you\u2019ll have to factor in the possibility of adding more skilled resources or arranging the requisite training<\/strong> for your existing resources. This way, everyone pulls their weight to get the product delivered in time, regardless of the methodology adopted.<\/p>\n

Similarly, for the consulting space<\/strong>, any process has to take in the personnel headcount and their billable hours so that an idea of what is consuming these resources can be studied.<\/p>\n

Start and End dates:<\/h3>\n

Recording this at the start sets a realistic and reasonable<\/strong> timeline within which the work should finish. A year-long calendar can hold information about both your long and short-term project cycles which can help you plan for the future. Moreover, calendars schedule your projects historically. It tells you if a project finished earlier than expected or was prematurely cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or incomplete.<\/p>\n

New dates can be entered accordingly for which those projects can be reworked. Knowing how your previous projects fared helps you select projects that yield high returns. With this information, your teams can look holistically at project activity and manage their time and commitment levels.<\/p>\n

Resource Details:<\/h2>\n

Resource activity<\/strong> is recorded by describing the type, quantity, skills and availability of resources. Your workforce is at its productive best when it\u2019s allocated smartly. Put simply, each team member\u2019s workload is optimally balanced which enables them to produce their best efforts while supporting other members as and when required.<\/p>\n

This way, your plan doubles up as your resource planning<\/a> guide too. Typically, your resource section<\/strong> must document utilization percentages, which fosters healthy collaborations. Here are some columns that when created, simplify the view:<\/p>\n


\n\"The
\nRead More<\/strong>
\nThe Definitive Guide to Resource Scheduling and Planning
\n<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Teams<\/h3>\n

This column contains resource information<\/strong> including the role, department, name and seniority of the said resource. It also points out the number of people required comprising the team.<\/p>\n

Resources:<\/h3>\n

The basic information here outlines<\/strong> an employee\u2019s name, designation, skills set, current and future availability. Availability factors in company allowances like medical and paid leave so that a resource isn\u2019t allocated work that they\u2019re unable to take up.<\/p>\n

Utilization Rate:<\/h3>\n

In a work week, resources can distribute their hours on several projects in different proportions. Utilization rate<\/a> denotes whether or not their hours were optimally utilized. As a percentage, it lets you make sure that a paid resource works the assigned hours he\/she is supposed to.<\/p>\n

Advantages of the Resource Plan template<\/h2>\n

The order by which tasks are prioritized ensures your action items are executed as planned. A template essentially streamlines<\/strong> your project plan.<\/p>\n

Below are some benefits Saviom\u2019s resource template<\/strong> gives you:<\/p>\n