10 resource management best

practices
You’re on your way to creating a resource management plan. But do you want to
become a resource management master? Whether you're a program manager or a
project team lead, try these 10 tips to get started.

1. Measure resources realistically

Know how much time it takes for each employee to get things done so you don’t run into
rescheduling issues later. Find out if you can provide the right software and equipment
your team needs to successfully complete the project. Talk to your team to inquire about
their needs and check on completed project reports to see what kind of resources other
teams used.

2. Set start and end dates 

Set start and end dates so you get a realistic time frame for how long each task will
take. By making sure you set realistic expectations, you’ll be able to provide an accurate
timeline for the entire project.

3. Know your employees’ skill sets 

Understanding who is great at what helps determine the best resource for each task. If
you don’t already know, ask your team members what their strengths are. If someone is
great at organizing, let them handle project schedules. If someone has great technical
expertise, assign them the more technical tasks—team members who are working on
tasks that their adapt in will not only get the job done quicker but also feel more
accomplished doing it.

4. Prioritize work 
Set clear project goals and communicate them with your team. These goals should be
transparent and accessible so your teammates can check on them as the project
progresses. With these goals in mind, your team will find it much easier to priroitize their
work and drive the project forward. In short: build your timeline around your top priority
tasks and determine which resources will get you there.

5. Help your team increase their utilization

rate 
Utilization rate is the amount of time your project team spends on actionable, strategic,
or billable work. On average, employees spend 60% of their time on “work about work,”
like chasing approvals or searching for documents. Reducing work about work is the best
way to empower your team to get their best work done and increase their utilization
rate.

6. Adjust for efficiency as you go 

Project management, in general, is an ongoing effort. Tasks and timelines may change
as challenges arise. Don’t be afraid to move resources around as necessary to be as
efficient as possible.

7. Keep some time slots open 

While resource management planning is critical to do from the beginning, you can’t plan
for everything. Keep time slots available for new work that might come up and be
flexible.

8. Pick the resource management style that

fits your team 
You know your team better than anyone. Use your knowledge to determine the best
resource management methodology, such as workload by hours, points, or task count.
Read: What are story points? Six easy steps to estimate work in Agile

9. Check in on your team 

Make sure you have a real-time pulse of your team’s workload and that each team
member feels their work volume is fair and achievable. This can help you with future
planning and improve how you assign resources.
10. Connect your resource management
plan to your operational plan
Operational planning is the process of creating a detailed map of exactly what actions
your team will take on a weekly, or sometimes even daily, basis. Build your resource
management plan into your operational plan in order to effectively manage your team's
time.

Resource management advice from

four team leads
What’s better than reading a guide on how to assign resources in project management?
How about hearing from four team leads—with different backgrounds and challenges—
who are immersed in the practice every day? Read on as they weigh in on how to tackle
a resource management plan and give real examples. Meet Jenny, Ariel, Eric, and
Reigan.