Physical or virtual resource assignments

A documented list of people, equipment, facilities, and services allocated to project work, noting whether they are onsite or remote. It specifies who is assigned, for how long, and under what conditions. This enables scheduling, onboarding, and coordination.

Key Points

  • Output of Acquire Resources that records finalized allocations to activities or work packages.
  • Covers both onsite (physical) and remote/distributed (virtual) resources.
  • Includes role, named resource (if known), effort or FTE, start/end dates, working hours, time zone, location or remote status, sourcing type, and cost rate.
  • Captures access needs, tools/licenses, equipment or facility needs, dependencies, constraints, and backup coverage.
  • Links to WBS elements or schedule activity IDs to show exactly where the resource will work.
  • Living document during execution; changes that affect cost/schedule typically follow change control.

Purpose

  • Provide a single source of truth for who is doing what, when, and from where.
  • Enable onboarding, access provisioning, logistics, and vendor coordination.
  • Support scheduling, capacity management, and avoidance of over-allocation or gaps.

How to Create

  • Start from approved resource requirements and the current schedule or backlog.
  • Identify candidates (internal, contractor, vendor) and validate skills, availability, and location/time zone.
  • Negotiate with functional managers or vendors to confirm allocations, effort (%), and dates.
  • Record details: role, named individual or pool, FTE or hours, start/end, working hours, location/remote, time zone, cost rate, and sourcing type.
  • Add operational needs: required equipment, software licenses, facility access, security clearances, and onboarding tasks.
  • Map each assignment to specific activities or backlog items using IDs for traceability.
  • Obtain approvals from the resource owner and store the assignment list in the project repository.

How to Use

  • Update the schedule and resource calendars with confirmed names, availability, and time zones.
  • Trigger onboarding and access requests, equipment shipments, facility bookings, and license provisioning.
  • Coordinate collaboration windows for virtual team members across regions.
  • Monitor workload and conflicts; adjust assignments or raise change requests when impacts arise.
  • Support cost tracking by linking assignments to rates, charge codes, and vendor agreements.
  • Communicate the roster and contact paths to the team, vendors, and operations.

Ownership & Update Cadence

The project manager maintains the list; functional managers and vendor leads own the commitment of their staff. The PMO may define format and controls.

  • Update when new resources are acquired, allocations change, dates shift, or onboarding status changes.
  • Review at least weekly during execution and at each sprint or milestone boundary.
  • Submit a change request if updates affect scope, schedule, or cost baselines.
  • Offboard promptly at assignment end to reclaim licenses, equipment, and budget.

Example

Cloud migration project assignments for the next iteration:

  • Cloud Architect (Vendor), 0.5 FTE, Remote (GMT+1), 01–28 Feb, supports design reviews for Activities A123–A127, requires Azure Architect license and VPN access.
  • Network Engineer (Internal), 1.0 FTE, Onsite HQ, 12–23 Feb, Activities A210–A215, lab access and rack space reserved, after-hours maintenance window 20:00–00:00.
  • DBA (Contractor), 0.25 FTE, Remote (EST), 15 Feb–08 Mar, Activities A305–A309, production read access, backup DBA is John Kim.
  • Test Lab Facility, Exclusive use, Onsite Lab 2, 19–21 Feb, supports system testing for A400, requires safety induction completed by 16 Feb.

PMP Example Question

After negotiating with a functional manager, you secure a network engineer at 50% remote for four weeks and an onsite lab for three days of testing. What should you update next?

  1. Resource requirements.
  2. Stakeholder register.
  3. Physical or virtual resource assignments.
  4. Team charter.

Correct Answer: C — Physical or virtual resource assignments.

Explanation: The confirmed allocations are recorded in the assignment list produced by Acquire Resources. Other documents do not capture final, time-bound resource commitments.

Advanced Project Management — Measuring Project Performance

Move beyond guesswork and status reporting. This course helps you measure real progress, spot problems early, and make confident decisions using proven project performance techniques. If you manage complex projects and want clearer visibility and control, this course is built for you.

This is not abstract theory. You’ll work step by step through Earned Value Management (EVM), learning how cost, schedule, and scope come together to show true performance. You’ll build a solid foundation in EVM concepts, understand why formulas work, and learn how performance data actually supports leadership decisions.

You’ll master Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), control accounts, and budget baselines, then apply core EVM metrics like EAC, TCPI, and variance analysis. Through a detailed real-world example, you’ll forecast outcomes, analyze trends, and understand contingencies and management reserves with confidence.

Learn how experienced project managers monitor performance, communicate results clearly, and take corrective action before projects slip. With practical exercises and hands-on analysis, you’ll be ready to apply EVM immediately. Enroll now and start managing performance with clarity and control.



Advance your Lean Six Sigma expertise!

HK School of Management helps you take Lean Six Sigma to the next level—without the overwhelm. Master advanced statistical tools, Excel-based analysis, and real-world improvement techniques to solve complex problems with confidence. For the price of lunch, you get practical templates, guided examples, and hands-on project experience you can use immediately at work. Backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee—zero risk, real impact.

Learn More