Resources, periods, capacity, and demand

Define ordered periods at the resolution the decision can credibly support. Define each constrained resource separately—capital dollars, design hours, lane-closure nights, specialized crews, concrete-plant throughput, equipment, or facility slots—and assign one unambiguous unit. Never add unlike units or substitute nominal headcount for available hours.

For every resource-period cell, record usable capacity after existing commitments, reserves, maintenance, calendars, and policy restrictions. For every initiative-resource-period cell, record incremental demand on the same basis. Each numeric cell needs a basis, evidence identifiers, or an explicit assumption flag. Zero means known zero; blank means unknown. Missing required cells make analysis incomplete rather than silently contributing zero.

Avoid false precision. Use the coarsest periods and units that remain decision-relevant, document whether capacity carries forward, and model seasonal or mobilization limits explicitly. Scenario overrides should explain why the capacity changes; they do not rewrite the baseline.

Next: candidates, evidence, and uncertainty.