Project Management Tools &

Techniques - PERT

DIBYESH GIRI
MCA-06 [Pune University]
Kathmandu, Nepal
Smart Tech Ideas
http://www.smarttechideas.com
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques - PERT
PERT and CPM are two techniques that are useful in
managing the project. These two techniques are basically
useful in managerial function like
•Planning
•Scheduling
•Control
PERT – Program Evaluation and Review Technique.
PERT has developed in 1950’s in USA. It has developed
mainly to evaluate the nuclear missile projects. These
missiles were to be launched from ocean surface by mobile
submarine – Poluris Missile.
PERT has mainly used for planning and scheduling of any
projects. But now a days it is using for research and
Development projects. It also help in find out any
uncertainties in the project plan.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques - CPM
CPM – Critical Path Method
CPM is mainly used for to find out the cost and
time estimate of any project. CPM is used in
certain projects like construction, it is not so
useful for certain jobs.
Critical Path is the longest path through the
network. So that the network should contain the
required steps and that must be completed on
time to avoid delay in completing the project.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
The broad steps for drawing PERT and CPM
2. Decompose the project in activities. Define that
activities or job.
3. Estimate time for each activity.
4. Order of activities - Predecessor
- Successor
5. Drawing the project graph or diagram.

Event Event
Activity
Initial Node Terminal Node
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
Job-Id Job Description Immediate Time
Predecessor
Prepare Plan
A NIL 10
Prepare Material
B A 5
Talk with Publisher
C A 4
Finalize Material
D B 6
Finalize Cover
E C 9
Print the Book
F D and E 5
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques

3 6
1 6 5
10 5
B D
A F
2
4 9 5
C 4 E

PERT - Program Evaluation and Review Technique

 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
3 4
2 5 8
2

1
5 6 6 1
4
5
2
7
3 4
3
2

Find out the Critical Path

 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
• Path A – Nodes are 1,2,5,8 – 9 days
• Path B – Nodes are 1,3,5,8 – 13 days
• Path C – Nodes are 1,3,6,7,8 – 16 days
• Path D – Nodes are 1,3,4,6,7,8 – 15 days
• Path E – Nodes are 1,3,4,7,8 – 10 days

Path C is the Critical Path

 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
3 4
2 5 8
2

1
5 6 6 1
4
5
2
7
3 4
3
2

Critical path is the longest path through the network

 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
March 9,07 (20)
Build Scanner
March 9,07 (60) Nov 17,07 (90)
Build Parser Integration &
Jan 1,07 Jan 3,07(45)
Test
Start Design March 9,07 (180)
Build Code
Generator
Finish
March 22,08
Write Manual
March 9,07 (90)

PERT chart for a simple compiler project.

Pink line indicates critical path.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
Any delay in critical path will cause a delay
in the entire project. The manager will
clearly want to monitor the activities on the
critical path much more closely than other
activities.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
Advantages of PERT for S/W Project
2. It forces the manager to plan the project.
3. It shows the interrelationships among the tasks in the
project.
4. It clearly identifies the critical path of the project.
5. Manager should monitor the critical activity very closely.
6. It shows all parallel activities & so he may allocate
resources in optimistic manner.
7. It enable the manager to monitor and control the S/W
project.
With above example manager can efficiently handle the activities
like
• Hiring people
• Purchasing equipment
• Securing office space
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques

3 6
4 3
E 5 4 G
2 F 2
2 B 4 7 8
1 H
A 2 C
2
D

System development PERT chart

1) Find out Critical Path
2) Find out Earliest Event Time
3) Find out Latest Event Time
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques

Earliest Event Time

2
Event Number 3
9
Latest Event Time

• Earliest Start Time (Earliest Event Time) = Maximum of (Largest Preceding Event Time +
activity duration)

2) Latest Start Time (Latest Event Time) = Smallest Succeeding Event Time – activity duration)

3) Earliest Finish Time = Earliest Start Time + activity duration

4) Latest Finish Time = Latest Start Time + activity duration

Latest Finish Time means latest occurrence time of the event at which
the activity terminates.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques

1
4 3 7 7
4 5 6
E 7 8
4 3
4
2 F G
B
11 2 13
7
1 0 2
2
2 4 11 H 8
13
0 A 2 C
2
D
2
3
9
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
Activity times in PERT network.
Critical Path – the path from beginning to
end over which the total time required will
be greater than for any other path.

The dotted line indicates dummy activity

where no time or resources are
consumed. The dummy activities can
therefore be used to link parallel activities.
 Project Management Tools &
Find out
Techniques
2. Critical Path
3. Earliest Start Time
4. Earliest Finish Time
5. Latest Start Time
6. Latest Finish Time
4
5
2 7
6
5 6
1 3 2 0

3 2
3
3
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques

Earliest
Start
Event Time 6
4
Activity 6 5
2 7
0 6 19
3 2 3 0 5 13 6
1 13 19
0 3
3 3 2

Latest 6
3
Start 6
Time
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques
Activity Activity Earliest Latest
Duration
Start Time (Earliest Finish Start Time Finish Time
start time of Time (Latest Start time
beginning of You should of the end of
Activity) Activity)
Start
You can start
1 2 3 4=(2+3) 5=(6-2) 6
1-2 3 0 3 0 3
2-3 3 3 6 3 6
2-4 2 3 5 4 6
3-4 0 6 6 6 6
3-5 3 6 9 10 13
3-6 2 6 8 17 19
4-5 7 6 13 6 13
4-6 5 6 11 14 19
5-6 6 13 19 13 19
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
MS-Project makes it easier than ever to
manage schedule, project status & report
project information.

MS-Project has fundamental management

features that you need to stay informed,
so project stay on track in budget.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
Features:
• Manage project smarter & efficiently.
• With dynamic scheduling, instantly impact of schedule
or resource change on your overall project schedule.
• Quickly project management process with new step by
step, interactive project guidance.
• Stay informed. Gain better understanding to your
projects with improved group information displays
within network diagram & usage views.
• Display Gantt Chart & views even print column and
row totals.
• Easily convert existing task lists in Microsoft excel &
outlook into project plan.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
Features
2. Clear baseline for selected task or an entire
project.
3. Templates – Create and access MSP
templates easily.
4. Auto save.
Microsoft Project is a multifaceted and full-featured
program. However its complexity is simplified
by its familiarity, the looks, and feel is same as
other Microsoft products, we will have no
trouble when navigating project.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
• Microsoft Project is a powerful, flexible project
management tool that we can use to control simple
or complex projects.
• It helps us schedule and track all activities, so we
stay on top of their progress and now.
• With Microsoft project central, which we can install
on our company’s intranet or internet exchanging
project information with the people involved is easier
than ever.
• As we build a project plan, MS-Project calculates
and creates a working schedule based on
information we provide about the tasks to be done,
the people who work on them, the equipment and
supplies used to accomplish them, and the costs
involved.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
MS-Project is somewhat hybrid of Microsoft
Outlook and Excel. It helps in putting together
a plan of action, fill-in and organize all details
that must be completed in order to achieve
the goal.
Apart from being easily and flexible tool, it
expands into web compatible software, thus
enabling easy communication. It helps to
study in control with minimum effort in
minimum time.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
When managing a project using MS-Project we can use its
following features
• Custom fields to identify specific information in fields.
• Views and tables to display the exact information we
want to review.
• Filters and groups to focus on the information that
needs our attention.
• Network diagram enhancements to customize the
display of the Network diagram (PERT Chart). So we
can view Specific information without using ad-on
tools.
 Project Management Tools &
Techniques – MS Project
Some of the major tasks that MS-Project can
take care of
• Views
• Links
• Constraints
• Resources
• Assignments
• Cost
• Hyperlinks
• Workgroups