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Project Scheduling: Irfan Muhammad Khan

This document discusses project scheduling techniques. It defines key scheduling concepts like the work breakdown structure (WBS), precedence, concurrency, leads and lags. Network diagrams like PERT and CPM are described as are critical path, float, slack and different task dependencies. Common scheduling tools like bar charts, milestone charts and Gantt charts are outlined. Methods for reducing project duration through crashing, fast tracking and adding resources are also summarized.

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Faisal Kareem
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34 views26 pages

Project Scheduling: Irfan Muhammad Khan

This document discusses project scheduling techniques. It defines key scheduling concepts like the work breakdown structure (WBS), precedence, concurrency, leads and lags. Network diagrams like PERT and CPM are described as are critical path, float, slack and different task dependencies. Common scheduling tools like bar charts, milestone charts and Gantt charts are outlined. Methods for reducing project duration through crashing, fast tracking and adding resources are also summarized.

Uploaded by

Faisal Kareem
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Project Scheduling

Irfan Muhammad Khan


Flash Back to WBS
WBS is a hierarchical and incremental
decomposition of the project:
Phases
Deliverables
Work packages
It shows subdivision of effort.
The work breakdown structure provides a
common framework for overall planning and
control of a contract
Scheduling
Once tasks (from the WBS) and size/effort (from
estimation) are known: then schedule
Primary objectives
Best time
Least cost
Least risk

Secondary objectives
Evaluation of schedule alternatives
Effective use of resources
Communications
Terminology
Precedence:
A task that must occur before another is said to have
precedence of the other

Concurrence:
Concurrent tasks are those that can occur at the same time
(in parallel)

Leads & Lag Time


Delays between activities
Time required before or after a given task
Terminology
Milestones
Have a duration of zero
Identify critical points in your schedule
Shown as inverted triangle or a diamond
Often used at review or delivery times
Or at end or beginning of phases
Ex: Software Requirements Review (SRR)
Ex: User Sign-off
Can be tied to contract terms
Terminology
Example
Milestones
Terminology
Slack & Float
Float & Slack: synonymous terms
Free Slack
Slack an activity has before it delays next task
Total Slack
Slack an activity has before delaying whole project
Slack Time TS = TL TE
TE = earliest time an event can take place
TL = latest date it can occur w/o extending projects
completion date
Scheduling Techniques
Mathematical Analysis
Network Diagrams
PERT
CPM
Bar Charts
Milestone Chart
Gantt Chart
Network Diagrams
Developed in the 1950s
A graphical representation of the tasks
necessary to complete a project
Visualizes the flow of tasks & relationships
Mathematical Analysis
PERT
Program Evaluation and Review Technique
CPM
Critical Path Method
Sometimes treated synonymously
Modeled using network diagrams
Network Diagrams
Two classic formats
AOA: Activity on Arrow
AON: Activity on Node
Each task labeled with
Identifier (usually a letter/code)
Duration (in std. unit like days)

There is 1 start & 1 end event


Time goes from left to right
Node Formats
Network Diagrams
AOA consists of
Circles representing Events
Such as start or end of a given task
Lines representing Tasks
Thing being done Build UI

AON
Tasks on Nodes
Nodes can be circles or rectangles (usually latter)
Task information written on node
Arrows are dependencies between tasks
Critical Path
The specific set of sequential tasks upon which the
project completion date depends
or the longest full path
All projects have a Critical Path
Accelerating non-critical tasks do not directly shorten the
schedule
Critical Path Example
CPM
Critical Path Method
The process for determining and optimizing the critical path
Non-CP tasks can start earlier or later w/o impacting
completion date
Note: Critical Path may change to another as you shorten
the current
4 Task Dependency
Types
Mandatory Dependencies
Hard logic dependencies
Nature of the work dictates an ordering
Ex: Coding has to precede testing
Ex: UI design precedes UI implementation

Optional Dependencies
Soft logic dependencies
Determined by the project management team
Process-driven
Ex: optional order of creating certain modules
4 Task Dependency
Types
External Dependencies
Outside of the project itself
Ex: Release of 3rd party product; contract signoff
Ex: stakeholders, suppliers, year end

Resource Dependencies
Two task rely on the same resource
Ex: You have only one DBA but multiple DB tasks
Task Dependency
Relationships
Finish-to-Start (FS)
B cannot start till A finishes
A: Construct fence; B: Paint Fence
Start-to-Start (SS)
B cannot start till A starts
A: Pour foundation; B: Level concrete
Finish-to-Finish (FF)
B cannot finish till A finishes
A: Add wiring; B: Inspect electrical
Start-to-Finish (SF)
B cannot finish till A starts (rare)
Example Step 1
Milestone Chart
Sometimes called a bar charts
Simple Gantt chart
Either showing just highest summary bars
Or milestones only
Bar Chart
Gantt Chart
Gantt Chart
Disadvantages
Does not show interdependencies well
Advantages
Easily understood
Easily created and maintained
Note: Software now shows dependencies
among tasks in Gantt charts
In the old days Gantt charts did not show these
dependencies, bar charts typically do not.
Modern Gantt charts do show them.
Reducing Project
Duration
How can you shorten the schedule?
Via
Reducing scope (or quality)
Adding resources
Concurrency (perform tasks in parallel)
Substitution of activities
Compression
Techniques
Shorten the overall duration of the project
Crashing
Looks at cost and schedule tradeoffs
Gain greatest compression with least cost
Add resources to critical path tasks
Limit or reduce requirements (scope)
Changing the sequence of tasks

Fast Tracking
Overlapping of phases, activities or tasks that would otherwise
be sequential
Involves some risk
May cause rework

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