Hybrid Resource Load Management: Skill-Based Leveling with Individual Tracking

In this article: Learn how to manage resources efficiently using a hybrid approach in LYNX. This setup lets you plan and level work by skill availability while still tracking individual resource loads — ensuring both scheduling consistency and detailed visibility across teams and calendars.

Overview

In LYNX, you can manage workloads at both the skill and individual levels.
This hybrid approach allows you to plan and level tasks based on skill availability, while still tracking individual resource utilization. It’s ideal when organizations want efficient, skill-based scheduling — but also need visibility into each person’s workload.

When to Use This Approach

Choose this setup when:

• Scheduling and leveling should occur at the skill level (not per individual).

• Resource Managers need to monitor individual load as tasks are assigned.

• Resources within a skill group use different calendars (e.g., different regions or shifts).

LYNX supports both objectives by linking skill-based planning with individual resource calendars.

How It Works

When leveling is driven by skill availability, a leading skill calendar must be selected.
This calendar defines the main working and non-working days for planning. For example, when the Standard Calendar is used as the leading one, tasks are leveled based on that calendar’s availability, even if some individual resources follow different calendars.

This setup ensures consistency in scheduling while still reflecting the true workload distribution across individuals.

Example 1: Four Testers with Two Calendars

The skill System Tester includes four resources:

• David and Eric – on the Singapore Calendar

• Steve and Tom – on the Standard Calendar

During the Christmas period:

• The Standard Calendar has three non-working days.

• The Singapore Calendar has one non-working day.

In the Resource Load Diagram

• On December 24 and 26, the Standard Calendar shows 0% availability, but LYNX displays 200% availability because two Singapore-based testers are working.

• When shown as absolute values, the diagram displays 2 FTE available (David and Eric), while Steve and Tom are unavailable.

Understanding Load Calculations

The load diagram calculation window (e.g., December 15–31) may include both working and non-working days.

Example:

• Tom (Standard Calendar) → 10 workdays, 80 available hours → 100% load.

• Eric (Singapore Calendar) → 12 workdays, 96 available hours → 83% load, since he can deliver the same 10 workdays of effort with 16 extra hours available.

Because the Standard Calendar is leading, LYNX does not schedule tasks for Singapore-based testers on Standard Calendar holidays, even though they are technically available.

Example 2: Adjusted Capacity (3.5 FTE)

With the same four testers but a reduced total availability of 3.5 FTE, the results adapt accordingly:

• Within a 13-day window, total availability = 312 hours.

• Of this, 160 hours are allocated (51%), and 152 hours remain unallocated.

This demonstrates how load balancing dynamically adjusts at both the skill and individual levels.

FAQ: Why Does the Blue Line Move Up (Peaks) or Down in the Resource Load Diagram?

When resources within a skill group have different calendars, the blue line in the Resource Load Diagram may move up or down.
This happens because the line represents the total skill availability over time, calculated using the leading calendar as a reference.

For example:

• On days where some resources are available (based on their local calendar) while others are not, the aggregate availability changes.

• If the leading calendar marks a non-working day but other calendars remain active, the total availability appears to increase (blue line moves up).

• Conversely, if more resources are unavailable due to local holidays, the total availability appears to decrease (blue line moves down).

In essence, the blue line visualizes the dynamic total availability for a skill, adjusted for all active resource calendars within that skill group.

Key Takeaways

• Skill-Based Leveling: Ensures planning efficiency and consistent scheduling.

• Individual Tracking: Maintains detailed visibility of each resource’s load.

• Leading Calendar: Aligns planning across regions with different calendars.

By combining these principles, LYNX enables hybrid resource management — planning by skill while tracking by person.