Project Management for Dummies, 2nd UK Edition

Chapter 7

Looking At Staff Resources

In This Chapter

Understanding the importance of staff scheduling

Focusing first on people’s abilities

Understanding why full time staff aren’t full time

Striking a balance among all your resource commitments

Stan Portny remembers reading the following from a stressed-out Project Manager: ‘We’ve done so much with so little for so long, they now expect us to do everything with nothing!’

The truth is, of course, you can’t accomplish anything with nothing, and in the context of project resource planning, you need people as well as money. Getting the people planning right is essential both in terms of getting the right staff onto your project in the first place and then using those staff in the best possible way. Although staff resourcing can be tricky – and many Project Managers tend to underestimate this resourcing – don’t be daunted by it, but instead allow time to think it through and plan thoroughly. By the way, using project staff well isn’t selfish either. Good project management includes giving team members opportunities to succeed and develop ...