Analyze team capacity, plan resource allocation, and balance workload across projects. Forecast staffing needs and optimize team utilization while maintaining sustainable pace.

Capacity Planning Table of Contents [Overview]( overview) [When to Use]( when to use) [Quick Start]( quick start) [Reference Guides]( reference guides) [Best Practices]( best practices) Overview Capacity planning ensures teams have sufficient resources to deliver work at sustainable pace, prevents burnout, and enables accurate commitment to stakeholders. When to Use Annual or quarterly planning cycles Allocating people to projects Adjusting team size Planning for holidays and absences Forecasting resource needs Balancing multiple projects Identifying bottlenecks Quick Start Minimal working example: Reference Guides Detailed implementations in the references/ directory: Guide Contents [Capacity Assessment](references/capacity assessment.md) Capacity Assessment [Capacity Planning Template](references/capacity planning template.md) Capacity Planning Template [Resource Leveling](references/resource leveling.md) Resource Leveling [Capacity Forecasting](references/capacity forecasting.md) Capacity Forecasting Best Practices ✅ DO Plan capacity at 85% utilization (15% buffer) Account for meetings, training, and overhead Include known absences (vacation, holidays) Identify skill bottlenecks early Balance workload fairly across team Review capacity monthly Adjust plans based on actual velocity Cross train on critical skills Communicate realistic commitments to stakeholders Build contingency for emergencies ❌ DON'T Plan at 100% utilization Ignore meetings and overhead Assign work without checking skills Create overload with continuous surprises Forget about learning/training time Leave capacity planning to last minute Overcommit team consistently Burn out key people Ignore team feedback on workload Plan without considering absences

capacity-planning