Many people need to understand how resource planning fits into an Agile environment. A project’s resource planning will always help move it forward, regardless of whether it is an Agile project or a traditional project. Irrespective of the delivery method, how do we ensure that our strategies help deliver on time?

Resource management is an essential aspect of project management. Resources are limited, costly, and must be used efficiently and effectively. Is resource management critical in the agile development framework? It most emphatically does, as it is the only way to keep project resource costs under control while also completing the delivery satisfactorily.

In this blog, we will discuss the right resource management solution in an agile environment. 

How to define agile resource planning? 

The process of allocating resources to work based on their availability, skills, and best fit for the job is known as resource planning. It also includes resource utilization to ensure that the workforce is well-managed and utilized.

What characteristics define agile resources?

In addition to subject and domain knowledge, resources working in an agile environment also need the following additional skills:

• Mainly focus on essential tasks and reduce involvement in unnecessary daily tasks.
• Ability to stay focused under pressure
• Strong motivation skills to guide the team members.
• Maintain transparency throughout and prioritize with exceptional organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to acquire new skills
• Flexibility to work as both a contributor and a supervisor.

Resource Management Software for an agile project

In an agile project environment, resource quality is critical. One cannot make the best use of a crucial resource by assigning work below or above employees’ capabilities.

Here are some excellent features of resource management software to manage agile projects.

Resource Scheduling: The process of identifying and allocating resources to different project tasks over a specific time is known as resource scheduling. Resource scheduling eliminates spreadsheets with the help of an enterprise Gantt chart view. It also makes it easier for project managers to hire “best-available-best-fit” resources rather than “first-available-first-fit” resources. The majority of agile projects have a small team size. The product backlog will only improve if the right resource is deployed for the right task.

Resource utilization: A resource is considered adequate if it works on a billable project and is fully utilized. The total utilization of an organization’s employees determines its efficiency. Managers can move resources from non-billable to billable tasks proactively. It is critical for resources to spend as little time as possible on tedious tasks.

Capacity vs. demand forecast: The total number of hours an employee can work according to the employer’s arrangement is referred to as resource capacity. The process of determining the number of resources needed to meet the demand for work is known as resource demand. Capacity vs. demand is the forecasting process used to analyze the excess and shortage of resources by analyzing the gap.

Forecasted vs. actual use of resources: The process of estimating various resource metrics such as demand, supply, resourcing cost, and so on is known as resource forecasting. A resource may be scheduled for multiple projects on which they are expected to spend certain hours. A timesheet is a method of recording how much time an employee spends on each job. Controlling project costs is an essential step in agile project management.

Managing pipeline projects: The pipeline or future projects need timely submission and to be within budget, necessitating advanced resource planning. Many scheduling software allows the creation of project plans using freelance resources, which can replace existing resources as required. Because frequent requirement changes are expected in an agile project, timely resource capacity planning is critical.

Offer relevant information for decision-making: A resource management software with filtering capabilities can quickly identify appropriate resources. It helps to make the right decision. Some software offers role-specific access.

Financial forecasting: Forecasting is to make predictions about the future based on past and present data. To calculate the gross project margin, understanding each employee’s CTC is essential. Most of the project runs on a fixed cost or on a timeline. 

Powerful reporting feature: Real-time data, customized reports, and dashboards generate resource management metrics. The reports assist managers in making informed decisions and monitoring the overall project’s health. 

Wrap-up

eRS is the market leader in providing the most powerful and configurable solution for effectively and efficiently managing your enterprise resources. With over 12 years of experience, eRS has created a global presence by offering the best resource management software. eResource Scheduler resource scheduling software comes with a user-friendly interface that is easy to access and helps managers make informed decisions. For more knowledge, register for our 14-day free trial.