COMPETENCE 25: RESOURCE CAPACITY PLANNING
The ability to plan resource needs in line with the strategic direction of the organisation to ensure that resource utilisation is maintained at an appropriate level for optimal efficiency.
Introduction
Resource capacity planning looks at the strategic direction of the organisation, to create a forecast of the skills, capabilities and resources required to deliver future needs. This activity is typically delivered by a programme and/or portfolio manager.
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KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of established resource requirements.
APPLICATION
Establish resource requirements for each change initiative.
Consider:
- The skills and resources required.
- The constraints of time, cost and quality.
- The chosen life cycle approach.
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KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of organisational priorities.
APPLICATION
Determine where related change initiatives have dependencies and similar deadlines, taking account of a schedule for realisation of benefits.
Consider:
- Ways to establish the value to the business of each change initiative.
- How dependencies for resource and time constraints can be established.
- Different ways to identify, balance and manage competing priorities/tensions.
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KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of the activities that need to be carried out.
APPLICATION
Assess the total resource capacity for the duration of all related change initiatives.
Consider:
- The tools and techniques available for resource capacity planning.
- Ways to determine skills, competence levels and likely time commitments.
- How to validate dependencies and assure skill requirements and physical location needs.
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KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of the need for resource optimisation.
APPLICATION
Phase the related change initiatives to fully optimise resource usage, taking account of opportunities for shared infrastructures and/or procurement and build contingencies into relevant resource plans.
Consider:
- The appropriate approach to use, dependent on the drivers of a change initiative.
- Ways to establish resource management/supervisory requirements.
- The importance of establishing relationships with internal stakeholders and/or external partners to identify shared opportunities.
- The contingency and risk tolerance thresholds available.
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KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of the governance guidelines and constraints in a change initiative.
APPLICATION
Inform the direction of change management activities through effective scheduling of phases, milestones and review points, refining them on an ongoing basis, and deliver overall progress reports.
Consider:
- Ways to identify and assess both the sources and types of data to capture.
- The need to establish consistent reporting requirements.
- How to assess the impact of trade-offs upon other change initiatives and the wider business.
- The need for wide-ranging interpersonal skills to accommodate different stakeholder communication needs.
- Ways to determine reporting and negotiation processes for resolving resource constraint conflicts.