OPMA 5364 Project Management

Part 5

Project Scheduling

Topic Outline: Project Scheduling

Identifying relationships among activities Project network diagrams Identifying critical paths and critical activities Determining activity slack times Gantt charts Project scheduling exercise Microsoft Project example Other precedence relationships Management of project schedules
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Identifying Activity Relationships

In addition to estimating activity time duration and cost, relationships among activities must also be identified Relationships: What task immediately precedes this task? What task immediately follows this task? What tasks can be done concurrently? These are referred to as precedence relationships The main relationship for scheduling is what task immediately precedes the current task, which is referred to as the immediate predecessor task
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Project Network Diagrams

Network diagrams show the precedence relationships among activities Its easier to understand these relationships graphically Network diagrams help to understand the flow of work in a project Network diagrams are a useful tool for project planning and control, as well as for scheduling One (perhaps exaggerated) claim is that the network represents of the planning process
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2 Versions of Network Diagrams

Activity-on-Arrow (AOA) networks

also called Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) simpler for projects with many dependencies emphasizes events; milestones can be easily flagged sometimes requires dummy activities
also called Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) easier to draw for simple projects emphasizes activities no dummy activities
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Activity-on-Node (AON) networks

Activities vs. Events

Activity a chunk of work that is part of the project; an activity may be broken down into multiple subactivities Event a significant point in time during the project, such as a milestone event; an event could be the time at which an activity is completed or the time at which related concurrent activities have all completed Dummy Activity an artificial activity with zero time duration that only shows a precedence relationship among activities
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Activity-on-Arrow (AOA) Networks

c b g d f e

k k j

or

Dashed lines are called dummy activities

Activity m n r s

Predecessor _ _ m, n n

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Install rough electrical & plumbing

8
Install drywall

11
Install finished plumbing

Pour basement floor Install drains Erect frame & roof

Install cooling & heating

10
9 4
Lay brickwork Finish carpeting Finish roof Lay storm drains Lay flooring

Install kitchen equipment

12
Paint

Excavate & pour footings

Pour foundation

16

Finish electrical work

Project Network for House Construction

(AOA network)

14
Install roof drainage Finish grading

13

Finish floors

18

Pour walks; Landscape

15
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Project Network Example

Task Pred. Dur. Task Pred. Dur. a -4 g c,d 1 b -3 h e 4 c a 3 i f 5 d a 2 j e,g 6 e b 6 k h,i 1 f b 4 Draw AOA and AON networks

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Activity-on-Arrow (AOA or ADM) Network

(Initial Network)

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Activity-on-Arrow (AOA or ADM) Network

(Final Network)

g j

e f

h i

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Activity-on-Node (AON or PDM) Network

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Project Network Example

A project has the following activities and precedence relationships: Predecessor Predecessor Activity Activities Activity Activities a -f c,e b a g b c a h b,d d a i b,d e b j f,g,h Draw AOA and AON networks
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Activity on Arrow
(Initial Network)

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Activity on Arrow
(Final Network)

b a

g e

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Activity on Node

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Critical Path
path any route along the network from start to finish Critical Path path with the longest total duration This is the shortest time in which the project can be completed. Critical Activity an activity on the critical path *If a critical activity is delayed, the entire project will be delayed. Close attention must be given to critical activities to prevent project delay. There may be more than one critical path.
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Critical Path
Brute force approach to finding critical path: 1. identify all possible paths from start to finish 2. sum up durations for each path 3. largest total indicates critical path
(This approach is inefficient, but is instructive)

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d=4

b=2

g=9

3 h=9

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Slack Times
ESTEarliest Start Time Largest EFT of all predecessors EFTEarliest Finish Time EST + duration for this task LFTLatest Finish Time Smallest LST of following tasks LSTLatest Start Time LFT duration for this task SlackLFT EFT or LST EST
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Computing Slack Times

EST

EFT

Task = duration
slack = xxxx LST LFT

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Slack Times Example

Task Pred. Dur. Task Pred. Dur. a -4 g c,d 1 b -3 h e 4 c a 3 i f 5 d a 2 j e,g 6 e b 6 k h,i 1 f b 4 For each task, compute ES, EF, LF, LS, Slack
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c=3 slack=

EST

EFT

Task=dur slack=xxx g=1 slack= j=6 slack=

LST LFT

a=4 slack= d=2 slack=

Start
e=6 slack= h=4 slack= k=1 slack= f=4 slack= i=5 slack=

Finish

b=3 slack=

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Gantt Charts
The main purpose of a Gantt chart is to display the schedule of activities They are easy to understand They are flexible in that you can also show other information on the chart, such as resources required, who is responsible, critical activities, percent complete, etc. All project management software packages will create Gantt charts
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Gantt Chart
Activity
a b c d e f g h i

Time (weeks)
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Project Scheduling Exercise

DynaTech Equipment Corp. case Divide into small groups Read case (5 minutes) Assignment: (40 minutes) List the immediate predecessors and WBS number for each activity Draw project network diagram (lowest level) Draw Gantt chart Determine project completion time
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Microsoft Project Example

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Microsoft Project Example

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Microsoft Project Example

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Other Precedence Relationships

The typical precedence relationship between two activities is that when the first activity has finished, then the second activity can start. In this case the first activity is called the immediate predecessor of the second activity. This is referred to as a Finish-to-Start linkage. Other precedence relationships, or linkages, are also possible. Lead and lag times are also possible.
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Other Precedence Relationships

Finish-to-Start Linkage (FS)
Activity 1 Activity 2

Lead and Lag Times Lead (-) and Lag (+) times are expressed as part of the immediate predecessor notation. So 1FS+3 listed for the immediate predecessor of Activity 2 means that Activity 1 is the predecessor with a Finishto-Start linkage and a 3-day lag time after Activity 1 finishes before Activity 2 can start. 1FS-3 means that Activity 2 can start 3 days before Activity 1 finishes. 1FF+3; 1SF-5; 1SS+4

Start-to-Start Linkage (SS)

Activity 1 Activity 2

Finish-to-Finish Linkage (FF)

Activity 1
Activity 2

Start-to-Finish Linkage (SF)

Activity 2

Activity 1

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Management of Project Schedules

Meeting project deadlines is often the most important goal in project management Careful scheduling of project activities is critical to meeting the project due date Effective project managers should have a good understanding of the issues involved in activity scheduling

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Ineffective Scheduling
Notice: As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday, and employees will receive their cards in two weeks.

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