A project needs more people, but every team already has commitments. Resource allocation is the practical decision about where work, people, and time go. It can help a project move forward without necessarily handing over decision-making authority. That makes it different from delegation: effective delegation also calls for choosing someone who can benefit from the task and supporting them as they carry it out. section 5.2 section 5.3.3 section 14.2.4
Before moving work or people, check four things:
- Priority: Which commitments would change, and what timeline trade-offs are acceptable? section 14.2.4
- Dependencies: Could doing one task earlier let other work proceed in parallel? section 11.4.2
- Capacity: Can another team help without leaving its own work understaffed? section 14.2.4 section 1.3.5
- Agreement: Who will do the work, when is it due, and how will the change be communicated? section 11.4.2
Unblock two teams
Suppose frontend development is waiting for backend tasks. The teams can prioritize API endpoint definitions and data modeling so some development runs in parallel. They might add people from both teams, lend a frontend developer to help define endpoints, and arrange backend support for integration. Recording the revised plan, staffing, timelines, and deliverables in a shared tracker and follow-up email keeps the agreement visible. section 11.4.2
Allocation belongs in project planning alongside budget, team building, and communication. Revisit it when a new request threatens existing commitments: a useful response may be to reprioritize, seek help elsewhere, or explain a revised timeline. Check the cost to ongoing operations before committing people to a new initiative. section 10.3 section 14.2.4 section 1.3.5
