Human Resources in Project Management – Definition and Meaning
Human resources (also referred to as personnel resources or labor resources) are the people assigned to a project – such as employees, team members, or external experts – who carry out specific tasks and contribute their skills and expertise. They provide the human capacity and competence required to perform project work. Human resources are typically identified as part of resource planning, assessed in terms of availability and skills, and assigned to specific project tasks.
Example, Best Practice, and Further Information
In a software development project, human resources may include Java developers, database administrators, UI/UX designers, and software testers. A proven best practice is to select human resources carefully based on required skills, experience, and availability, and assign them to tasks accordingly. This aligns with resource management according to PMBOK and agile team composition principles. Effective human resource management maximizes efficiency, the quality of project work, and team motivation.