tidsressursen

Tidsressursen, or the time resource, refers to the amount of time available for carrying out work within a given period. It is a finite constraint in planning and scheduling and is central to project management, production planning, and service delivery. Time is typically expressed in hours or calendar time and is distributed across people, machines, and processes.

Measuring tidsressursen involves calculating capacity: the total available work hours within the planning horizon, adjusted for holidays, vacations, and maintenance. Demand or workload is the sum of hours required for all planned tasks. Utilization and slack describe how well the resource aligns with demand, and capacity planning aims to minimize peaks and shortages.

Allocation is performed by scheduling tasks, assigning resources, and sequencing work to balance the load. Common tools and techniques include Gantt charts, the critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT), resource leveling, and capacity planning. Time-tracking data from timesheets can feed planning tools to refine estimates and adjustments.

Applications of the concept span many sectors, including software development, construction, manufacturing, and service industries. It helps manage lead times, throughput, and on-time delivery by ensuring that the time available is matched to the expected workload. Challenges include estimation uncertainty, interruptions, multitasking, and variability in productivity. Effective tidsressursen management seeks to smooth workload, protect critical deadlines, and enable informed decision-making about scope and staffing.

Example: a team has 320 hours available in a two-week sprint, while tasks are estimated at 360 hours, signaling a need for scope adjustment, resource expansion, or renegotiated deadlines.