Building Our Resource Management Map

The primary objective of this initiative is to address the complexities of resource management within the game development industry by fostering a collaborative community of production leaders. The project seeks to move beyond traditional, often controversial, definitions of resource management to explore how studios can effectively balance project demands, team stability, and individual well-being. By facilitating discussions among producers in Sydney, Australia, the initiative aims to map out diverse methodologies and visualize the underlying values and trade-offs inherent in current industry practices.

The scope of this effort encompasses a wide spectrum of studio environments, ranging from small, multi-project teams that frequently reallocate staff to meet shifting business requirements, to large-scale AAA studios focused on preserving team cohesion and long-term project assignments. Key challenges identified by participants include capacity planning, team budgeting, the impact of context switching, and the management of individual knowledge silos, often referred to as the bus factor.

The methodology relies on a community-driven approach, utilizing professional meetups and collaborative visualization exercises to gather real-world examples and qualitative data. By examining various frameworks—such as the Scaled Agile Framework’s lean budgeting model and critiques regarding the dehumanizing nature of the term "resource"—the project encourages leaders to challenge existing paradigms. The initiative serves as a platform for sharing these insights, offering resources for those unable to attend in person to conduct their own internal assessments, ultimately aiming to refine how production teams are structured and supported across the industry.