What is a resource request workflow?

A resource request workflow is a standardized process used in project management to formally request, review, approve, and allocate resources (people, skills, equipment) needed for a project or specific tasks.

What are the typical steps in an efficient resource request and allocation workflow?

A typical efficient workflow involves 4 steps: 1) Project Manager creates the request (specifying roles, skills, hours/time), 2) Project Manager submits the request for approval (usually to a Resource Manager), 3) Resource Manager reviews, approves, and assigns specific resources based on availability and skills, and 4) Approved resources are allocated to the project, ready for task assignment by the PM.

Why is an inefficient resource request process a problem?

An inefficient process causes delays in project staffing, leads to incomplete request information, lacks standardization, can result in requests getting lost, makes matching skills to tasks difficult, delays approvals, and provides no real-time visibility into the request status.

How can PSA software improve the resource request workflow?

PSA software improves the workflow by providing standardized request forms, automating request routing and approvals, integrating with real-time resource availability and skill data, allowing for real-time status tracking, and automatically linking approved resources to the project plan.

Does Birdview PSA support a multi-step resource request workflow with approvals?

Yes, Birdview PSA supports configuring multi-step automated approval workflows for resource requests, routing requests from Project Managers to Resource Managers or other approvers for digital review and sign-off.

How does PSA software help the Resource Manager find the right person for a request?

PSA software helps the Resource Manager by integrating the request with real-time resource data. The RM can easily view resource availability calendars, workload heatmaps, and filter resources by required skills and roles within the same platform to find the best-fit candidates.

Can Project Managers track the status of their resource requests in Birdview PSA?

Yes, in Birdview PSA, Project Managers can view the real-time status of their submitted resource requests (e.g., Submitted, Under Review, Approved) and see who the request is currently assigned to in the approval workflow.

What information should be included in a resource request?

An efficient resource request should include the project name, the task requiring the resource, the required Job Role or specific Skills, the estimated effort needed (hours or % time), the required dates or timeframe, and the priority level.

How does Birdview PSA handle matching generic role requests to specific people?

Birdview PSA allows Resource Managers to review a request for a generic role (e.g., 'Senior Developer') and then use the system's resource search and filtering capabilities to identify available specific people (e.g., 'Alice Smith') who fit that role/skill criteria and have capacity. The RM assigns the specific person within the allocation request in the system.

What happens in Birdview PSA after a resource request is approved?

After a resource request is approved in Birdview PSA, the system automatically reflects the assigned specific resources as allocated to the Project Manager's project for the approved duration. The Project Manager can then proceed to assign these resources to specific tasks within their project plan.