Resource Project Management Software

14 Oct, 2008 

A Resource Plan describes the physical resource required to complete a project. This includes a list of the types of resource required such as labor, equipment and materials as well as a schedule identifying when each resource will be utilized. A Resource Plan is created after the Project Plan has been defined. Although summarized resource information may be described in the Business Case, Feasibility Study, Terms of Reference and Project Plan documents, a detailed Resource Plan cannot be created until every activity and task within the Project Plan has been identified. Following the completion of the Resource Plan, it will be possible to finalize the Financial Plan as the fixed cost portion of the project will have been identified. To create a Resource Plan, the following steps are undertaken:

  • List the general types of resources to be utilized on the project
  • Identify the number and purpose of each type of resource required
  • Identify when each resource will be utilized, by completing a ‘Resource Schedule’
  • Assign the resources to project activities, by completing a ‘Resource Usage Table’.

To create a Resource Plan for small projects, you can simply take each activity listed in the Project Plan and assign resource to it. This is relatively easy using a planning tool such as Microsoft Project. For larger more complex projects, a full Resource Plan (as described in the following section) should be completed to ensure that the amount and type of allocated resource is both accurate and timely.