New Resource Management / Pipeline Management features in Version 4.3. Review new features.

Resource Management Software

Previously, there has been a general lack of tools to support multi-project resource planning and management and pipeline management - assuring a smooth flow of development projects through the product development pipeline. When a company has developed a detailed plan for a project in a tool such as Microsoft Project, there is a capability to link multiple projects and perform multi-project resource planning. However, this approach is very cumbersome and plans resources to too low a level of detail. Also, it is not effective to plan an entire project with MS Project when a project is still in a proposed stage. Other organizations use a tool such as Microsoft Excel and periodically have programs/projects put together manpower forecasts. Again this is cumbersome and time-consuming.

PD-Trak™ provides an easy to use resource planning and management capability. It uses the manpower budget that already exists as part of the initial planning and business case and that is regularly updated for management reporting and gate reviews. Manpower requirements by project are summarized by resource type and compared with available resource levels. A flexible modeling capability allows the user to select and deselect which projects to include in the resource plan as well as add resources or change the timing of programs. PD-Trak's resource management capability consists of four elements: the Resource List, the Budget and Schedule Worksheet, the Projects Planning Table, and the Resource Planning Worksheet.

Resource List

A Resource List defines the skill sets, resource levels, and their commitment to other activities besides product development (non-project utilization).

Budget and Schedule Worksheet

A resource profile for each proposed and active project is entered into the Budget and Schedule worksheets of the Project Files. Experience with similar projects and the approach of not requiring detailed (and rapidly changing) planning make this resource estimate easy to develop and maintain. This resource budget is used by the resource analysis function to build a plan that compares the available resources (as defined in a central Resource List) to the total resource demands of the portfolio of projects. The Plan allows the user to add or subtract resources in future periods very flexibly to allow many alternatives to be considered as well as represent future actions related to resources. The Resource Analysis function creates a new workbook which can be stored as a historic record of the analysis. This file comprises two primary worksheets: the Projects Planning Table and the Resource Planning Worksheet.

Projects Planning Table

The Projects Planning Table is a copy of a section of the Master Project Schedule showing the portfolio management information and the project priorities which are the basis for decisions on which projects to undertake. A column in the center allows projects to be included or excluded from the resource analysis. Only active projects are initially included in the resource planning.

Resource Planning Worksheet

The Resource Planning Worksheet has a table for each skill set in the Resource List. The upper section of each table computes the available resource, starting with the base headcount from the resource list, adding any new hires or contractors and subtracting any retirements or cutbacks from the headcount (the yellow row). Based on factors for the time committed to other activities besides product development (non-project utilization), net available resources for product are calculated. When the resource analysis is run, the program extracts the resource requirements information from the project files and builds a two-year outlook of project demand. The total demand for each skill set is compared with available resources to determine any shortages or available resources for new projects.

Charts of the results can be accessed for each resource type. Here is an example:

Based on this plan, the user can then consider actions actions to take:

• What and when resources become available and when proposed projects can be started
• What resources need to be added or obtained to undertake high priority projects
• What projects need to be put on hold, deferred or stretched out to accomplish the product plan or undertake higher priority projects
• How cutbacks can be made to least impact projects
• How project resources can be shifted to respond to problems

PD-Trak's resource management capabilities address the third question that must be answered in determining whether a project should be undertaken:

1. Is there a good business case for the project?
2. How does this project compare with other projects and rank in our portfolio?
3. Do we have the resources to launch this project or what should we do to get the needed resources?

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