Calculate and Plan Working Capacity for Project Schedules

Many project failures stem from overly optimistic schedules that fail to account for non-working time. Understanding true labor capacity is essential for building reliable plans and managing expectations. This course provides the foundational knowledge and practical methods necessary to accurately calculate available working time, helping you build robust project schedules and manage team capacity effectively without unexpected crunch periods. What you'll learn: * Understand the difference between calendar time, scheduled time, and productive working capacity. * Analyze standard labor calendars, including considerations for holidays, weekends, and regional variations. * Apply structured methods to calculate total available working hours per individual and per team over defined periods. * Practice capacity planning techniques for effectively distributing workload and balancing resources. * Configure simple models for estimating productivity under flexible working arrangements and remote team structures. * Apply calculated capacity data to set realistic project milestones and deadlines that prevent resource burnout. The course begins by defining key time metrics and labor standards, then moves into step-by-step calculations for annual, quarterly, and monthly capacity. Finally, you will apply these figures to foundational project scheduling exercises. This course is designed for beginners in project management, team leadership, or human resources who need to master the basics of workforce capacity planning. No prior experience in scheduling or resource management is required. Start planning your projects with confidence and accuracy today.