Planning and managing resources means identifying what people, equipment, materials, tools, or other resources are needed and making sure they are available and used effectively. Resource planning must be based on project requirements and delivery needs.
The project manager also manages resource constraints, availability, and optimization. This may involve coordinating with functional managers, vendors, other projects, or the organization’s resource management process.
Why This Task Matters for PMP® Preparation
PMP® exam questions often describe resource shortages, competing priorities, unavailable team members, or unrealistic resource assumptions. The best response usually involves analyzing needs, coordinating availability, and optimizing resources rather than simply demanding more.
You should understand how resource decisions affect schedule, cost, quality, risk, and team performance. This task is closely connected with planning, execution, procurement, and stakeholder expectations.
Enablers of This Task
- Define and plan resources based on requirements.
- Manage and optimize resource needs and availability.
To learn the Plan and Manage Resources task, you need:
- In the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition, read chapters 2.4.7 (part ‘Standard’), 2.6 (part ‘PMBOK’) and Section 4 (Resource breakdown structure, Resource calendar, Resource management plan, Resource requirements)
- Read chapter 4.3 in the Agile Practice Guide.
- Watch the videos:
5. Test your knowledge to complete the study of the task.