Present-day organizations deal with increasingly complex projects that often run simultaneously under conditions of limited resources and timelines.
This poses the need for new approaches and tools for effective resource management.
Artificial intelligence offers numerous game-changing capabilities but will AI resource management be effective enough without human involvement? Let’s figure it out in the article.
The Benefits of AI Resource Management
First, let’s outline the capabilities of AI that optimize resource management.
Performing Data Analysis and Forecasting
The definitive advantage of AI is that it’s capable of processing and analyzing enormous volumes of data much faster and more accurately than humans: it takes just a few seconds for the algorithm to perform complex data analysis and deliver actionable insights. This allows project and resource managers to:
- Identify resource trends;
- Predict resource shortages or surpluses;
- Forecast project timelines with a higher degree of confidence.
For example, AI algorithms can analyze historical project data and predict potential bottlenecks so managers can take corrective actions to avoid them.
Automating Tasks
AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, e.g., creating schedules, collating reports, or tracking resource utilization. This allows project/resource managers and team members to save time and focus on more strategic or creative activities.
Providing Real-Time Insights
AI-powered systems can keep track of real-time data and provide real-time updates, e.g., on resource status, project milestones, or potential risks. These insights help project managers make informed decisions quickly and effectively.
Optimization Algorithms
AI can suggest ways to optimize resource allocation across projects. The technology analyzes numerous variables (resource availability, skill sets, project priorities, etc.) and recommends the best possible options for resource distribution to ensure efficient project completion.
Now that the capabilities of artificial intelligence are clear, let’s consider the areas where it cannot replace humans.
Areas of Human Excellence in Resource Management
Despite all the capabilities and benefits AI provides, there are still areas where human intelligence is irreplaceable, and project resource management is no exception. People have creativity, emotional intelligence, and intuition, which can sometimes be decisive in achieving desired outcomes. Let’s take a closer look.
Seeing the big picture
People can take into account the border context of a project, including its alignment with organizational goals and cultural peculiarities. For example, when making resource management decisions, project/resource managers can align them with the long-term objectives of a company or adapt strategies to changing conditions. Sometimes, project managers can even ignore the recommendations provided by AI, as real-life circumstances can be more complicated and specific than the ones predicted by AI algorithms.
Managing relationships between people
Managing resources involves managing people, which can sometimes be rather complex. It requires building relationships, resolving conflicts, and fostering collaboration within project teams. This is something that cannot be done without human involvement. Also, emotional intelligence, which is solely human ability, allows project and resource managers to understand team members’ actions, motivate them, and address interpersonal issues effectively.
Ethics
Sometimes, resource management involves making decisions that have moral considerations. And what is still peculiar only to people is bringing moral reasoning and a sense of fairness to these decisions. This helps ensure that resources are allocated in line with the values of an organization.
Creativity and Innovation
While AI operates within the boundaries of an algorithm and data, people can think outside the box. That’s why project and resource managers can find innovative or creative solutions to address resource management challenges, and these decisions can be far more effective than the ones suggested by AI.
We’ve considered the unique capabilities of humans and machines, and now it’s time to review how they can work together to manage resources with maximum effectiveness.
Optimizing Resource Management: The Joint Efforts of Artificial and Human Intelligence
As we’ve seen in the previous section, there are areas where people cannot be replaced with artificial intelligence, and these areas play a crucial role in successful project resource management. So, to manage resources across projects most effectively, you need to combine AI insights with human reasoning. In this case, their synergy will create a comprehensive approach to resource management, where each compensates for the other’s limitations. Here are the areas where this approach will bring maximum benefits.
1. Decision-Making.
AI provides data-driven insights and predictions, which human managers can interpret within the project’s unique context. For instance, while AI might detect a resource conflict based on scheduling overlaps, a project/resource manager can assess team workloads and make adjustments based on real-world considerations.
2. Scenario Planning.
AI can generate multiple scenarios for resource allocation based on different variables. Human managers can evaluate these scenarios to determine the most viable option based on different factors: e.g., team expertise, project risk, or stakeholder expectations.
3. Managing Multi-Project Environments.
In organizations managing multiple simultaneous projects, resource conflicts are inevitable. AI can quickly analyze resource dependencies and recommend adjustments across projects, while human managers can mediate between project leads to implement these changes effectively.
4. Talent Development.
AI tools can identify skill gaps within teams and suggest specific training programs. Resource managers can then use these insights to create personalized development plans, which will contribute to employees’ professional growth and retention.
5. Dynamic Resource Allocation.
AI’s capability for providing real-time updates and optimization helps ensure efficient resource utilization. Resource managers can supplement this with actual and relevant feedback to adjust allocations as needed. This approach will maintain flexibility in a dynamic project environment.
6. Long-Term Strategic Planning.
AI can provide data-driven insights into resource trends over time so that organizations can plan for future needs. At the same time, resource managers can use these insights in strategic workforce planning.
A good example of synergy between AI-powered tools and human intelligence is leveraging an AI resource management software, for example, Epicflow, which is an optimal solution for managing shared resources across multiple projects. It won’t manage resources by itself but will become a powerful partner for every project participant, and here’s why:
- It automatically calculates task priorities across the whole multi-project environment;
- It forecasts resources’ workloads and capacity for bottleneck-free planning;
- It detects and predicts bottlenecks and suggests ways to eliminate them;
- It performs scenario analysis for optimum decision-making;
- Its AI virtual assistant Epica makes interaction with the system super easy and effective.
Conclusion
Let’s summarize the main points of the article.
- AI provides project and resource managers with valuable assistance when it comes to data analysis, making forecasts, and automating routine tasks as well as delivers actionable insights for making decisions and helps optimize processes.
- At the same time, there are areas where AI cannot replace humans in project resource management. Artificial intelligence cannot see the big picture, take ethical implications into account, establish and manage interpersonal relationships, or suggest out-of-the-box solutions.
- Human and artificial intelligence work best in the following fields of project resource management: decision-making, scenario planning, managing multi-project environments, employees’ professional development, resource allocations in dynamic environments, and long-term strategic planning.
- The best way to optimize resource management and take advantage of AI capabilities combined with human reasoning is to leverage an AI-powered resource management system.