---
title: "Short note: Resource leveling"
subject: "Project Engineering"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_7/project_engineering:resource-leveling-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/resource-leveling-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Resource leveling

Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling

- Asked in: 2073 Shrawan, 5 marks; 2070 Chaitra (old course), 4 marks; 2078 Bhadra, 3 marks (asked 3 times)
- Video: [What is Resource Levelling? And how does it differ from Resource Smoothing?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvN6kyMUe3Q) — Online PM Courses - Mike Clayton
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/resource-leveling-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3

## Question

Write a short note on resource leveling and its process.

## Short answer

Resource leveling delays activities to keep resource demand within availability limits, potentially extending project duration. Non-critical activities are shifted using float, and if needed critical activities are delayed, until the resource histogram no longer exceeds the limit.

## Answer

**Resource leveling** is the scheduling technique used when the resources available are limited. Activities are delayed, according to priority, so that the demand for a resource never exceeds its limit. **The project duration may increase.**

#### Process
1. Prepare the network and the earliest-start schedule.
2. Prepare the resource histogram for each scarce resource.
3. Compare demand with the availability limit; find the periods where demand exceeds it.
4. Delay (shift) non-critical activities using their float, in order of priority (least float first, shorter duration first).
5. If the limit is still exceeded, delay critical activities or split activities; this extends the project.
6. Recompute the schedule and histogram; repeat until demand is within the limit.
7. Check the new project duration and cost.

#### Priority rules
Least total float first; earliest late start; smallest duration; most resources. 

Result: a feasible resource-constrained schedule. Compare with **resource smoothing**, which keeps the project duration fixed and only evens out the demand.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Resource leveling is used when:
   A. Resources are limited
   B. Time is fixed
   C. Cost is unlimited
   D. Network is absent
   Answer: A. It keeps demand within the limit. (Key point: Constraint)

2. Effect on project duration:
   A. Never changes
   B. May increase
   C. Always decreases
   D. Halves
   Answer: B. If critical activities are delayed or split, duration increases. (Key point: Duration)

3. To bring demand within the limit, which activities are delayed first?
   A. Non-critical activities, using their float
   B. Critical activities
   C. All activities equally
   D. The longest activity
   Answer: A. Non-critical activities are shifted within float first; critical ones are delayed only if the limit is still exceeded. (Key point: Delay order)

4. Compared with smoothing, leveling:
   A. Keeps duration fixed
   B. Keeps resource limit fixed and duration may extend
   C. Does not use histogram
   D. Uses no float
   Answer: B. Smoothing keeps duration fixed; leveling keeps the resource limit fixed. (Key point: Smoothing contrast)

## Related in Project Engineering

- [Resource leveling and smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-leveling-smoothing-wbs-4level) — Project Engineering, chapter 3
- [Resource schedule; leveling vs smoothing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-schedule-leveling-smoothing) — Project Engineering, chapter 3, asked 2×
- [Resource histogram, leveling, limited allocation, WBS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aresource-terms-histogram-wbs) — Project Engineering, chapter 3