Which statement describes resource leveling's effect?

• A. It shortens the project duration by overlapping tasks.
• B. It smooths resource usage by delaying tasks to balance demand, potentially extending the schedule.
• C. It increases resource costs.
• D. It eliminates the critical path entirely.

Answer: (A)

Resource leveling focuses on smoothing how resources are used by adjusting the start and finish times of activities to balance demand when resources are scarce or over-allocated. This often means delaying certain tasks so no resource is overbooked, which can push the overall project end date further out. That’s why the best description is that it smooths resource usage by delaying tasks to balance demand, potentially extending the schedule. It doesn’t shorten the timeline by overlapping work, it doesn’t inherently raise costs, and it doesn’t eliminate the critical path (it can shift it if delays occur).