TIME MANAGEMENT

Activity Planning
 Introduction 1
The unit will cover several methods
Precedence analysis
Gantt Charts
PERT / CPA
On Arrow Networks
Precedence Networks
 Introduction 2
Activity Planning will help to:
ensure that the appropriate resources will be
available precisely when required
avoid different activities competing for the same
resource at the same time
produce a detailed schedule showing which staff
carry out each activity
Produce a detailed plan against which actual
achievement may be measured
produce a timed forecast
re-plan the project during its life to correct drift from
a target
 Precedence analysis
Must be done before an activity plan can
be produced
Reviews the activities that are to be
carried out
Decides what activities must be carried
out before particular activity can start
 Gantt Charts
Developed by Henry Gantt, around 1917
Gantt charts are easy to use and produce
They are very useful for use on less
complex projects
Commonly used due to there simplicity
Gantt charts are easily understood and
easy to read
 Gantt Charts

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6

Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
 Gantt Charts
Draw the following Gantt chart
Tasks Precedence Time
a - 5 days
b - 4 days
c a 6 days
d b 2 days
e b 5 days
f c,d8 days
 Gantt Charts

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4

Task a
Task b
Task c
Task d
Task e
Task f
 Network planning models
PERT
The Program Evaluation and Review Technique
Developed by:
US Navy for
Missile/submarine project in 1958
 Network planning models
CPM
Critical Path Method
Also known as CPA
Critical Path Analysis
Developed by
DuPont Inc. in the
Late fifties early sixties to facilitate
building of complex process plant
 Network planning models
PERT
developed for use on R&D projects
CPM
developed for use in construction projects
When developed the two techniques were
very similar
Now there is virtually no difference
between the two
 Network planning models
A simple on arrow network model

2 d
a
e 5 g
b End
Start 1 3 5
h
c
f 5
4
 Terminology
Activity
A specific task, uses resources takes time to
complete
Event
The result of completing an activity
Events use no resources
They are instances in time, points on the
network, conditions of a system that can be
recognised
 Terminology
Network
The combination of all activities (often drawn
as lines) and events (often drawn as nodes at
the beginning and end of each line) defines the
project and the activity precedence
relationship.
Arrow heads placed on the lines indicate the
direction of flow. Before and an event can be
realised all the activities that immediately
precede it must be completed
 Terminology
Path
The series of connected activities (or
intermediate events) between any two events
in a network
Critical
Activities, events, or paths, which, if delayed,
will delay the completion of the project
A projects critical path is understood to mean
that sequence of critical activities (and critical
events) that connect the projects start event
to its finish event
 Terminology
Critical Path:
The longest time path through the task network;
The "longest" path (in terms of time) to the completion
of a project. If shortened, it would shorten the time it
takes to complete the project.
 Network syntax
Time moves from left to right
Nodes are numbered sequentially
A network may not contain loops
Precedents are the immediate preceding
activities
 Network syntax
Time moves from left to right
Nodes are numbered sequentially

a b
1 2 3
 Network syntax
A network may not contain loops

d 4
c

a
1 2 3
b
This is not allowed
 Network syntax
Precedents are the immediate preceding
activities

Design Build Commission

1 2 3 4
 On Arrow Networks
Draw the following as an on arrow network
Tasks Precedence Time
a - 5 days
b - 4 days
c a 6 days
d b 2 days
e b 5 days
f c,d8 days
 On Arrow Networks
How to start ..
a 2
start 1
b

3
 On Arrow Networks
What not to do

c
a 2 4
start 1
b
d 5
3
e
6
 On Arrow Networks
A better way

c
a 2
start 1
b
d
3
e
 On Arrow Networks
It is then less confusing that c & d go to
the same event but what about e & f ?
c f
a 2 4 6
start 1
b d

e
3 5
 On Arrow Networks
The completed on arrow network .

c
a 2 4 f
start 1
b d 5 end
e
3
 On Arrow Networks
Another on arrow network to draw
TasksPrecedence Time
a - 6 weeks
b - 4 weeks
c a 3 weeks
d b 4 weeks
e b 3 weeks
f - 10 weeks
g e,f 3 weeks
h c,d 2 weeks
 On Arrow Networks
The network with activity times added

2 c=3
a=6

b=4 d=4 h=2

1 3 4 6
e=3
g=3
f=10
5
 Terminologies
Forward Pass:
The calculation of the early start and early finish dates for the
uncompleted portions of all network activities.
Backward Pass:
The calculation of late finish dates and late start dates for the
uncompleted portions of all schedule activities. Determined by working
backwards through the schedule network logic from the projects end
date. The end date may be calculated in a forward pass.
Slack:
The total amount of time that a schedule activity may be delayed from its
early start date without delaying the project finish date. Calculated using
the critical path method technique and determining the difference
between the early finish dates and late finish dates.
 On Arrow Networks
Each event circle can contain the
information below

Event
number

Earliest Latest
date date

Slack
Event
 Event numbers

3 6
1 4

5
 Timed activities

2
C=3
A=6

3 H=2 6
1 D=4 4
B=4
E=3
G=3
F=10 5
 Forward pass

2
6
C=3
A=6

3 H=2 6
1 D=4 4
B=4 4 13
0 9
E=3
G=3
F=10 5
10
 Backward pass

2
6 8
C=3
A=6

3 H=2 6
1 D=4 4
B=4 4 13 13
0 0 7 9 11
E=3
G=3
F=10 5
10 10
 Event, Slack and Activity Float

2
6 8
2 C=3
A=6

3 H=2 6
1 D=4 4
B=4 4 13 13
0 0 7 9 11 0
0 3 2
E=3
G=3
F=10 5
10 10
0
The Complete On Arrow Network

2
6 8
2 C=3
A=6

3 H=2 6
1 D=4 4
B=4 4 13 13
0 0 7 9 11 0
0 3 2
E=3
G=3
F=10 5
10 10
0
 Precedence Networks
Precedence network also known as
Activity on Node
Becoming more common as it is used by
many project planning software packages
Often preferred by project managers
Slack Time:
The amount of time a task can be delayed before
the project finish date
Total slack can be positive or negative. If total slack is
a positive it indicates the amount of time that the task
can be delayed without delaying the project finish date.
If negative, it indicates the amount of time that must be
saved so that the project finish date is not delayed.
Total Slack = Latest Start - Earliest Start
 Precedence Networks

Precedence networks must start with a

start node and end with a end node
 Precedence Networks
A simple precedence network

a d
g
Start b e End

c f h
 This is the same network drawn as an On
Arrow network
2 d
a
e 5 g
b End
Start 1 3 5
h
c
f 5
4
 Precedence Networks
Draw the following as an Precedence network
Tasks Precedence Time
a - 5 days
b - 4 days
c a 6 days
d b 2 days
e b 5 days
f c,d8 days
 Precedence Networks
The completed Precedence Network

a c

Start d f End

b e
 The same network drawn as an On Arrow
Network
c
a 2 4 f
start 1
b d 5 end
e
3
 Precedence Networks
Another on precedence network to draw
TasksPrecedence Time
a - 6 weeks
b - 4 weeks
c a 3 weeks
d b 4 weeks
e b 3 weeks
f - 10 weeks
g e,f 4 weeks
h c,d 2 weeks
 This is the same network drawn as an On
Arrow network
2 C=3
A=6

B=4 D=4 H=2

1 3 4 6
E=3
G=4
F=10
5