What are resource plan templates?

Resources planning templates are tools for ensuring the necessary resources are allocated to the right project at the correct times. Proper use of resource planning templates helps project managers stay on schedule and avoid conflicts with other teams who require access to the same resources. Some helpful resource plan templates include:

• Resource availability trackers
• Team availability trackers
• Resource allocation planning
• Team timesheets
• Resource capacity planning

Keeping these templates updated and filled with current information helps your team stay on track and maximize productivity. When you successfully allocate your resources, you avoid unwanted delays and missed deadlines.

What are the benefits of working with a template for resource planning?

There are many advantages to working with a template for your team’s resource planning.

Reduces time spent on planning

Using resource planning templates reduces time spent creating these spreadsheets from scratch, giving your employees more time to focus on meeting project deadlines. A high-quality template eliminates guesswork about whether your spreadsheet has all the necessary elements to be an effective planning tool. You can simply plug in your team names, dates and related data and share the spreadsheet with relevant personnel.

Allows you to delegate resource planning responsibilities

As an employer or team lead, delegating time management and planning tasks is an important part of your role. With a resource planning template in your back pocket, you can feel confident handing off the responsibility of resource planning to your direct reports, knowing that the document they produce meets your standards and needs.

Easier to update

Effective resource planning requires you to keep your information current and constantly update your template to ensure there are no conflicts arising. With a template, you can quickly open the document, make necessary updates and inform anyone who needs to review the changes that the document has been revised.

Resource planning templates to get you started

To start the resource planning process, use these free templates as a jumping-off point. These downloadable templates allow you to make changes to the content of the spreadsheet while benefiting from the preplanned layout.

Team availability tracking template

A critical aspect of resource allocation is finding team members who are available to take on the new tasks at any given time. With a team availability tracking template, you can see at a glance who is free to assist on what days. This can be especially helpful on public holidays or during the summer months when many staff members are taking vacation time. Tracking your team’s availability ensures you aren’t left without the necessary workforce when you need it.

To start planning and visualizing your team’s availability and progress, simply click here to download a free team availability tracking template.

Resource allocation template

Once you have your available resources, it’s time to assign a resource to a project for its duration (or a defined period). Allocating your resources can become complicated, especially if you have a large project team. With a resource plan template for resource allocation, you can easily track your resources and what they are assigned to. Resource allocation templates are critical to managing your team’s time effectively and maximizing productivity when employees work on multiple projects at one time.

The resource allocation template can be used in combination with your availability tracker to prevent scheduling conflicts. Click here to download a template for resource allocation.

Timesheet template

A timesheet template is an important tool for keeping track of how many hours your team is spending on specific tasks or projects. This is necessary information for both their pay and, typically, invoicing your clients for the working hours of your staff. Using a timesheet template can help you manage your budget and ensure your team isn’t spending too many hours on tasks that don’t pay enough to justify the workload. To download a free timesheet template for your team, click here.

With the help of these resource plan templates, you can increase your team’s productivity and avoid unwanted delays or conflicts.