10 Free Resource Breakdown Structure Templates

As a project manager, you know that effective resource allocation can make or break your project. A Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) is a powerful tool that provides a clear, hierarchical view of all resources needed for your project’s success.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to 10 free RBS templates that you can start using immediately to:

Organize your project resources by type (e.g., labor, equipment, materials)
Identify resource gaps and overlaps
Estimate costs more accurately
Improve communication with stakeholders

Whether you’re managing a small team or a complex enterprise project, these templates will help you:

Visualize your resource needs at a glance
Make informed decisions about resource allocation
Track resource utilization throughout the project lifecycle

Let’s explore how these RBS templates can transform your project management approach. But first, we’ll briefly explain what an RBS is and why it’s crucial for project success.

10 Free Resource Breakdown Structure Templates

What Are Resource Breakdown Structure Templates?

A Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) is a resource management tool that helps analyze, categorize, and visualize all the resources needed for a project.

A proper resource breakdown structure offers a clear and organized view of human and non-human resources required to achieve excellent project results.

In simple words, an RBS template is a hierarchical chart, or a tree diagram that breaks down a project’s resource needs into smaller, manageable components, including:

Human resources: This includes required resources such as managers, team members, and contractors, detailing their roles, responsibilities, and expertise
Material resources: Consists of physical items such as construction materials, equipment, and supplies
Financial resources: Focuses on project funding allocation, ensuring efficient use of financial resources
Informational resources: Includes digital resources like information systems, tools, databases, and research needed for decision-making
Time resources: Critical for success, covering time management, scheduling, and timelines for meeting milestones

An RBS template offers a common resource capacity planning and allocation framework for project managers, helping avoid future resource constraints.

Whether managing a construction project, software development, or a marketing campaign, an RBS can be tailored to fit the specifics of your project.

What Makes a Good Resource Breakdown Structure Template?

A good resource breakdown structure (RBS) template helps make project management effective, provides visibility to project stakeholders, and arranges the resources necessary for completing and delivering projects on time.

Here are key elements that make an RBS template effective:

Clarity and simplicity: The template should be easy to understand and use, with a straightforward layout that clearly displays all resources
Comprehensive categorization: It should cover all resource types, including human, material, financial, informational, and time resources. Each category should be clearly defined and broken down into specific components
Hierarchical structure: An effective RBS template presents resources in a hierarchical format, making it easy to see how each resource relates to the overall project. This helps in identifying dependencies and potential bottlenecks
Flexibility: The template should be adaptable to different projects and industries, allowing customization catering to specific project requirements
Responsibility assignment: It should include sections for assigning roles to group resources and responsibilities, ensuring everyone knows who is responsible for what
Detailed descriptions: Each resource should have a detailed description, including quantities, costs, and any special requirements
Visual appeal: A visually appealing template with color-coding or other visual aids can make it easier to read and understand
Ease of update: The template should be easy to update as the project progresses, allowing for dynamic changes in resource allocation

10 Free Resource Breakdown Structure Templates

A simple Google search will reveal tons of resource breakdown structure templates. However, not all structure templates are created equal.

Well, we have done the legwork for you. Here are the best resource breakdown structure templates to simplify project management:

1. ClickUp Resource Management People Template

Combine the right resources with the right personnel with the ClickUp Resource Management People Template

Effective resource management is crucial for any business or organization. The ClickUp Resource Management People Template is designed to help human resources ensure everyone is aligned in managing personnel and allocating resources.

Here’s how you can use this template in the best possible way with its various built-in views:

Timeline view: Plan task completion schedules
Review status view: Track who needs to review tasks and when
Getting Started Guide view: Provide new members with an overview of the team and their roles
Team Workload view: Monitor each team member’s workload to prevent overworking
Resources view: Store and organize resources needed for tasks
Task statuses: Categorize tasks into Complete, In Progress, Reviewed, and To Review to track progress
Status updates: Keep team members informed by updating task statuses as you progress
Task monitoring and analysis: Ensure maximum productivity by regularly monitoring and analyzing tasks

This template is a comprehensive tool to facilitate resource management and enhance team efficiency.

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2. ClickUp Resource Allocation Template

Track your company’s resources and manpower with the ClickUp Resource Allocation Template

Without a proper resource allocation template, projects risk inefficiency and delay. This is where the ClickUp Resource Allocation Template comes in!

This template helps you drive project success by ensuring that the right resources, time, and budget are allocated to the project.

Here are some of the key features of this template:

Custom statuses: Create tasks with custom statuses (e.g., Client Review, Complete, In Progress) to track resource allocation progress effectively
Custom fields: Categorize and add attributes (e.g., Total Budget, Resource Notes, Client, Project Stages) to manage resources efficiently
Custom views: Access different views (e.g., Team Workload, Getting Started Guide, By Projects) tailored to your needs for easy information retrieval
Project management: Use features like comment reactions, tagging, nested subtasks, and emails to enhance resource allocation tracking

An efficient resource allocation template helps you to deliver high-quality project work by allocating the right resources.

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You can also leverage ClickUp’s Resource Management Software to create a Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) for your projects.

Here’s how it can help:

Identify the resources needed for each subtask (e.g., developers, designers, testers).
Assign team members to specific tasks to ensure accountability and track progress
Define deadlines for each task to keep the project on track. ClickUp allows you to set task due dates and manage timelines effectively
Use the Workload view to allocate resources efficiently. Monitor team capacity and balance workloads across projects

Also read: Learn how to handle different types of project management resources.

3. ClickUp Resource Planning Template

Allocate and visualize resources with the ClickUp Resource Planning Template

Resource planning is one of the first steps of project management because it ensures that all necessary resources are identified, allocated, and scheduled before project execution.

The ClickUp Resource Planning Template helps you take a proactive approach and prevent shortages, avoids conflicts, and optimizes resource use. By establishing a clear resource plan, teams can set realistic timelines, manage budgets effectively, and improve overall project coordination and success.

This template is packed with powerful features that can help you:

Prevent resource over-allocation: Ensure resources are used efficiently, avoiding over-allocation and burnout
Maximize project output: Increase the number of projects completed within a given time frame by optimizing resource use
Identify and resolve conflicts: Detect potential resource conflicts early and develop effective strategies to address them
Align with business goals: Enhance organizational alignment with business objectives and goals through effective workload planning

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4. ClickUp Project Resource Matrix Template

Track and manage resources with the ClickUp Project Resource Matrix Template

Effective resource planning is crucial for projects as it determines the total expected cost of resources.

A project resource matrix can help you visualize and manage the resources needed for each project easily, ensuring better organization and optimal outcomes.

ClickUp’s Project Resource Matrix Template allows you to:

Visualize resource requirements: See resource needs across multiple projects
Manage workloads and capacity: Oversee the entire team’s workload and capacity
Optimize team collaboration: Ensure everyone is aligned and working together effectively

It also offers several other benefits:

Comprehensive resource overview: Offers a detailed view of all resources available for a project
Efficient resource use: Tracks availability and usage to ensure resources are used effectively
Accurate project timeline: Helps maintain a precise timeline for project completion
Enhanced stakeholder communication: Facilitates easier and clearer communication with stakeholders

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5. ClickUp Employee Workload Template

Efficiently manage team workload with the ClickUp Employee Workload Template

Are you deciding whether to take on additional work or new projects? Look no further! The ClickUp Employee Workload Template allows you to efficiently manage your team’s workload by allocating capacity weekly.

This is how you can use this template:

Step 1: Begin by analyzing the tasks and roles of each team member. Break down their duties into general categories (such as project management, client communication, and research). Use ClickUp’s Table view to create a list of tasks and allocate percentage weights to them
Step 2: Once you’ve identified the specific tasks and roles, estimate how long each task will take. You can estimate in hours or days. Visualize these estimates using ClickUp’s Gantt charts
Step 3: Clearly define expectations for task completion. Specify deadlines and consequences for not meeting them. Ensure everyone on the team is aware of these expectations. Use ClickUp’s Milestones to set deadlines and create a timeline for task completion
Step 4: Based on the outlined tasks, roles, and expectations, assign specific tasks to team members. Be transparent about who is responsible for each task and set realistic timelines. Manage task assignments using ClickUp’s Board View
Step 5: Monitor progress regularly to ensure tasks are completed on time. Set up check-ins, reminders, and automated updates. Create Recurring Tasks in ClickUp to stay on top of progress and use ClickUp Automations for timely reminders

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Bonus: 10 Best Capacity Planning Tools (Free and Paid)

6. ClickUp Backward Planning Whiteboard Template

Plan and visualize task timelines with ClickUp’s Backward Resource Managing Template

Backward planning is a project management technique where the project timeline is planned in reverse, starting from the end goal and working backward to the present. This method ensures that all necessary tasks and resources are identified and allocated efficiently to meet the final deadline.

The ClickUp Backward Planning Whiteboard Template is a utility-driven backward resource planning template that helps pinpoint critical milestones, manage dependencies, and ensure that project objectives are met on time, reducing the risk of last-minute issues.

This template helps you:

Plan action steps: Discover and outline the specific action steps to achieve project objectives
Track team progress: Use visual tools to monitor progress and ensure project tasks are on track
Manage tasks: Break down complex tasks into smaller and more manageable milestones
Assess each step: Gain a clear understanding of how each step contributes to the overall success of the project

From brainstorming ideas to setting up project goals, this template empowers you to be in control of all key elements for successful project completion.

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7. ClickUp Work Breakdown Template

Easily track deliverables with the ClickUp Work Breakdown Template

The ClickUp Work Breakdown Template allows you to organize complex projects into manageable tasks. It details each step to ensure clarity, enhance team coordination, and prevent overlooked tasks.

The work breakdown template lets you:

Gain a complete overview of essential project elements such as deliverables, tasks, and timelines to streamline your project planning process
Understand strengths and potential bottlenecks in advance and create a strategy to prepare for unforeseen situations
Create tasks with custom statuses (e.g., ‘To Do,’ ‘In Progress,’ ‘Completed’) to track project progress effectively
Categorize tasks and add relevant attributes (such as priority, due date, or team assignment) to manage projects efficiently. Begin by using ClickUp’s Whiteboard view. Customize it to fit your specific workflow, incorporating other views as needed
Leverage time-tracking capabilities, tags, dependency warnings, and email notifications. Keep everyone informed and improve overall project management
Accurately estimate project costs and resource allocation to maximize efficiency

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8. ClickUp Pi Planning Template

Create a comprehensive plan for any project with the ClickUp Pi Planning Template

With this Pi Planning Template, you can guide your team toward a common goal and select the stories to focus on during a particular sprint. This template provides a clear view of your team’s backlog, including workload, capacity, and potential risks for optimizing sprint planning.

The ClickUp Pi Planning Template is an interactive tool designed to help teams:

Break down tasks: Simplify complex tasks into smaller, manageable pieces
Organize for clarity: Arrange tasks into respective sprints based on priority for better understanding and focus
Allocate resources: Plan and allocate resources effectively for successful project execution

This whiteboard template also offers the following features:

Tailored task tracking: Create custom statuses to precisely monitor sprint and project progress
Flexible organization: Use custom fields to categorize and add details for effective project planning and visualization
Versatile viewpoints: Build your ideal ClickUp workflow by starting with this template and customizing it with List, Gantt, Workload, and Calendar views
Comprehensive project management: Enhance project planning with tags, dependency alerts, email notifications, and other essential tools

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9. Excel Resource Planning Template by Tactical Project Manager

Leverage the Excel Resource Planning Template by Tactical Project Manager to ensure project success with the optimum use of resources.

This resource breakdown structure template allows you to manage workloads and assign the right task to the right people at the right time.

Here are some of the most popular features of this template:

Automatically generate a fully-styled planning sheet for your desired timeframe. Displays team members and project assignments in an intuitive layout
Maintain your project list and assign employees to specific projects. The tool generates a planning sheet based on your input.
Track billable hours effortlessly. Monitor billable hours for clear client reporting
Track weekly resource breakdowns for informed project allocation
Accounts for holidays and absences; track with ‘Vacation/Days off’ project

By using this resource planning template, you get a complete picture of your team’s workload and devise a strategy to drive optimum efficiency from each team member, ensuring superior project outcomes.

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10. Google Sheets Resource Planning Template by Google Workspace Marketplace

The Google Sheets Resource Planning Template by Google Workspace Marketplace is a utility-driven project management template popular among business analysts and project leads.

From budget control to task tracking, project schedule to resource category, this template has many features that can help you be on top of key project management metrics.

Here are some of the most powerful features of this template that is available on the free version:

Work breakdown structure: Plan, allocate, and execute better with a complete overview of tasks and sub-tasks
Track progress: Leverage Gantt charts, color alerts, and progress features to stay on top of task status
Manage time: Use timescales to view and adjust start and end dates and add milestones to complete important project phases on time

This project management structure template allows you to manage project scope and develop important strategies to ensure desirable project outcomes.

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Choose the Right Resource Breakdown Structure Template

Managing project resources can often feel daunting, but having the right tools can make all the difference. The 10 free resource breakdown structures templates we covered today are designed to clarify, streamline workflows, enhance work breakdown structures, and ensure efficient resource allocation.

From ClickUp’s versatile resource tracking, project management tools, and project planning templates to practical solutions from Excel and Google Sheets, these tools can help you comprehensively overview your project’s needs and progress.

But ClickUp not only provides one of the largest collections of resource planning templates. It also comes packed with project management features such as ClickUp Docs, ClickUp Whiteboards, and the ClickUp Resource Management Software.

By leveraging these features, you can enhance communication within your team, avoid resource constraints, and keep your projects on track for successful completion.