PROJECT PROJECT SCHEDULINGSCHEDULING

By Deepika chaudharyBy Deepika chaudhary

Project SchedulingProject Scheduling

Scheduling means estimation of Scheduling means estimation of time and resources required to time and resources required to complete activities and organise complete activities and organise them.them.

The following tools can be used in The following tools can be used in project schedulingproject scheduling

ToolsTools

Gantt chartGantt chart Critical Path MethodCritical Path Method PERT chartPERT chart

Gantt ChartGantt Chart

A conceptually simple and A conceptually simple and effective technique in Gantt chart.effective technique in Gantt chart.

A Gantt chart also known as A Gantt chart also known as timeline chart can be developed timeline chart can be developed for entire projectfor entire project

Seperate chart can be developed Seperate chart can be developed for each project functionfor each project function

This calendar oriented chart This calendar oriented chart represent each activity as a bar in represent each activity as a bar in calendar starting from the calendar starting from the starting date and ending at starting date and ending at ending date for that activity.ending date for that activity.

A A Gantt chartGantt chart is a popular type of is a popular type of bar chartbar chart that illustrates a that illustrates a project scheduleproject schedule. Gantt charts . Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of the illustrate the start and finish dates of the terminal elementsterminal elements and and summary elementssummary elements of a of a project. Terminal elements and summary project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project. Some Gantt charts also structure of the project. Some Gantt charts also show the dependency (i.e., precedence network) show the dependency (i.e., precedence network) relationships between activities. Gantt charts relationships between activities. Gantt charts can be used to show current schedule status can be used to show current schedule status using percent-complete shadings and a vertical using percent-complete shadings and a vertical "TODAY" line (also called "TIME NOW" or "DATA "TODAY" line (also called "TIME NOW" or "DATA DATE"), as shown here DATE"), as shown here

Critical Path MethodCritical Path Method

In 1957, Dupont developed a In 1957, Dupont developed a project management method project management method designed to address the designed to address the challenge of shutting down for challenge of shutting down for maintenance and then restarting maintenance and then restarting the plants once the maintenance the plants once the maintenance has been completed.has been completed.

Given the complexity of process Given the complexity of process they developed the critical path they developed the critical path method for managing of projects.method for managing of projects.

CPM provides the following CPM provides the following benefitsbenefits

Provide graphical view of project.Provide graphical view of project. Predicts the time required to view Predicts the time required to view

the project.the project.

Shows which activities are critical to Shows which activities are critical to maintain the schedule and which are not.maintain the schedule and which are not.

CPM models the activities and events of a CPM models the activities and events of a project as a network.project as a network.

Activities are depicted as nodes on the Activities are depicted as nodes on the network and events that signify the network and events that signify the beginning and ending of activities are beginning and ending of activities are depicted as arcs or lines between the depicted as arcs or lines between the nodes.nodes.

Steps in CPM planningSteps in CPM planning

Make a list of all activities involved Make a list of all activities involved in the project.in the project.

Determine the sequence of Determine the sequence of activities.activities.

Draw the network DiagramDraw the network Diagram Estimate activity completion time.Estimate activity completion time. Identify the critical path ( The Identify the critical path ( The

critical path is the longest duration critical path is the longest duration path through the network.)path through the network.)

The critical path can be The critical path can be determined through following four determined through following four parameters.parameters.

ES – Earliest Start timeES – Earliest Start time EF – Earliest Finish TimeEF – Earliest Finish Time LF - Latest Finish TimeLF - Latest Finish Time LS – Latest Start TimeLS – Latest Start Time

ES – The earliest time at which the activity ES – The earliest time at which the activity can start given that its precedent activities can start given that its precedent activities must be completed first.must be completed first.

EF- Es + the time required to finish the EF- Es + the time required to finish the activity.activity.

LF- the time at which the activity can be LF- the time at which the activity can be completed without delaying the project.completed without delaying the project.

LS – Its equal to the latest finish time LS – Its equal to the latest finish time minus time required to finish the activityminus time required to finish the activity

Slack TimeSlack Time

For an activity is the time For an activity is the time between its earliest and latest between its earliest and latest start time or between its earliest start time or between its earliest and latest finish time.and latest finish time.

Slack is the amount of time that Slack is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed past its an activity can be delayed past its earliest start or earliest finish earliest start or earliest finish without delaying the project.without delaying the project.

A critical path is the path through A critical path is the path through the project network in which one the project network in which one for all activities in the path a for all activities in the path a delay in critical path delays the delay in critical path delays the project. Similarly to accelerate project. Similarly to accelerate the project it is necessary to the project it is necessary to reduce the total time required for reduce the total time required for the activities in critical path.the activities in critical path.

PERT CHARTPERT CHART

A PERT chart is a project A PERT chart is a project management tool used to schedule management tool used to schedule organize and coordinate tasks within organize and coordinate tasks within a project .a project .

PERT stands for program evaluation PERT stands for program evaluation and review technique a methodology and review technique a methodology developed by US navy in 1950 to developed by US navy in 1950 to manage the polaris submarine manage the polaris submarine missile program.missile program.

The PERT chart is sometimes preferred The PERT chart is sometimes preferred over the Gantt chart, another popular over the Gantt chart, another popular project management charting method, project management charting method, because it clearly illustrates task because it clearly illustrates task dependencies. On the other hand, the dependencies. On the other hand, the PERT chart can be much more difficult PERT chart can be much more difficult to interpret, especially on complex to interpret, especially on complex projects. Frequently, project managers projects. Frequently, project managers use both techniques. use both techniques.