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REVIEW OF BASIC RESOURCE SCHEDULING 155

overload. If not, re-evaluate the peaks and look again at the earlier options (re-
source substitution, outsourcing, scope change).

Resource-Constrained Resource Scheduling. The situation: The CPM calcu-
lated date is 3/1/02. The resource aggregation shows that there are several, spo-
radic overloads, for some of the resources. The resource availability is frozen. The
action: Set the resource leveling function so that resource limits cannot be ex-
ceeded and let the computer calculate a new end date.

Tip It is possible for there to be situations where the com-
puter cannot find enough resources, at any time, to satisfy the
defined demand. In such instances, the system will usually ig-
nore the defined limits and leave the overload. It might send a
warning notification.

Combined Resource Scheduling. The situation: As above. The action: Define
the normal and maximum resource availability. For instance, Jane’s normal avail-
ability is 8 hours per day. Knowing that October is going to be a tough workload
month, she has agreed to work up to 2 extra hours per day during that month. Set
the maximum hours to 10 per day, for October. Or, for class-type resources: The
normal availability of technical writers is 4. A retired tech writer is available on
call. Set the normal limit for tech writers at 4 and the maximum at 5.

Set the required end date for 4/15/02 (if that is still a good date). The sys-
tem will attempt to level the resources, staying within the normal limits. If that
computation pushes the project completion beyond 4/15/02, the system will
re-evaluate the resource availability, up to the defined maximum limits. If it
cannot achieve a leveled schedule within the maximum limits, it will slip the
schedule out beyond the 4/15/02 date.

Tool Tip The Combined Resource Scheduling capability is not
available in most programs. This function can be accomplished
by manually adjusting the availability of the critical resources
and running the Resource-Constrained mode. This can be re-
peated until a satisfactory result is obtained.

Manual Intervention. As noted several times, it is unlikely that an optimized,
resource-constrained schedule will be obtained without coaching the computer to