What Are Resource Requirements?

Resource Requirements identify the types and quantities of resources required for each work package or activity. In PMBOK 8, resource requirements are the output of the Estimate Activity Resources process — they translate work packages into resource needs before specific individuals are assigned. Resource requirements specify the skill type, experience level, and quantity required for each activity, without necessarily naming the specific person. This allows resource planning to precede team acquisition and ensures the project has a clear picture of what it needs before negotiating with resource managers or hiring vendors.

What's Inside This Resource Requirements Example

This Resource Requirements example covers Project Phoenix — MCG's $72,250 website launch, March 17 to June 13, 2025. The spreadsheet documents resource requirements for all 87 schedule activities, organized by phase:

• Human Resource Requirements: Role, skill level (Junior / Mid / Senior / Expert), estimated hours per work package, and required start/end dates for each role
• Equipment Requirements: Staging server (full project duration), QA device lab (Weeks 8–12), video conferencing (full project)
• Software Requirements: CMS license, PM tool subscription, design software licenses, automated testing tools — all with required availability dates and renewal/cancellation notes
• Vendor Requirements: External design services (BrightFrame — 8 weeks, Weeks 2–9), hosting provider onboarding (Week 1)

A resource requirements histogram is included for human labor: peak demand occurs in Week 5–6 (development + design overlap) at 52 person-hours per week, compared to the baseline average of 38 person-hours per week.

How Alex Morgan Used This Document

Alex Morgan used the Resource Requirements document as the primary input to the resource acquisition conversations with MCG's department managers. Before a single team member was named, Alex could show the manager exactly what skills were needed, for how many hours, and during which weeks — eliminating the ambiguity that typically makes resource negotiations adversarial.

The resource requirements histogram was the most useful exhibit in those conversations. The Week 5–6 peak (52 person-hours) reflected the overlap between active development and ongoing design revisions. MCG's IT manager saw the histogram and proactively confirmed the Lead Developer's availability through Week 9 — three weeks before that confirmation would have been needed. That early confirmation removed a resource risk from the Risk Register entirely.

The Data Migration Specialist requirement was the most constrained: the role was only needed for Weeks 6–11, and MCG had only one person with that skill set, already allocated 50% to another project. The resource requirements document quantified the need as 80 hours across six weeks (approximately 13 hours/week) — which fit within the 50% availability. Without the resource requirements, that negotiation would have been based on vague descriptions; with it, the IT manager could approve in one conversation.

Download and Customize

This Resource Requirements example is available as a free download. Use it as a reference to build your own resource requirements document, or start with the blank template and apply it to your project's work packages.

• Download the Resource Requirements Template — PMBOK 8 (blank, ready to use)
• Read the article: Resource Requirements in PMBOK 8 — Guide and Best Practices

Resource Requirements Example: Key Takeaways

The Project Phoenix Resource Requirements document demonstrates the value of separating "what skills do we need" from "who will we assign." By building the requirements document before naming individuals, Alex created an objective specification that resource managers could evaluate against their team's availability — rather than a subjective request for specific people that would have triggered political negotiation. The Data Migration Specialist example is the clearest illustration: 80 hours at 13/week, clearly bounded to Weeks 6–11, approved in one conversation. Quantify resource needs precisely before you start acquiring resources.

Want to go deeper? The PMBOK Guide 8th Edition is the definitive reference for modern project management. Get your copy and use it alongside these examples to build a solid, practical understanding of every performance domain.