Business Tools for Career Readiness
Project Management:
The Basics for Success
Module 3
with Rob Stone, M.Ed., PMP
Planning: Scheduling
The Project Schedule
• Shows the relationship of the project
activities and tasks
• Shows the dependencies (which tasks
follow other tasks in a logical sequence)
Example
Let’s consider a short project with very few
tasks – “Flying to Darwin”
Flying to Darwin
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
Kalgoorlie
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
(½ Hour Loading)
(½ Hour Loading)
Kalgoorlie
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
(½ Hour Loading)
(½ Hour Loading)
Kalgoorlie
Two Concepts
• Sequential
• Simultaneous
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
(½ Hour Loading)
(½ Hour Loading)
Kalgoorlie
Two More Concepts
• Critical Path
• Float Time
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
Critical Path
Kalgoorlie
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
Float Time
(1 Hour)
Kalgoorlie
Flying to Darwin
Marble Bar
Dongara
Darwin
Slack Time
(1 Hour)
Kalgoorlie
Critical Path
Generally, but not always, the sequence of
schedule activities that determines the
duration of the project. It is the longest
path through the project.
©2013 Project Management Institute.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge®, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition
Float Time
Total Float Time (Slack Time)
The total amount of time a schedule activity may
be delayed from its early start date without
delaying the project finish date or violating a
schedule constraint.
Free Float
The total amount of time a schedule activity can be
delayed without delaying the early start of any
immediately following schedule activities.
©2013 Project Management Institute.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge®, (PMBOK® Guide) – Fifth Edition
What Does a Schedule Look Like?
Gantt Chart
Network Diagram
They both show the same basic information
in different ways
Project Diagrams
• Gantt Chart
• Network Diagram
– AOA (Activity On Arrow)
– AON (Activity On Node)
– PERT Chart (an early AON Diagram)
• CPM (Critical Path Method)
Project Diagrams
• Gantt Chart
• 1917, Henry Gantt
• Network Diagram
– AOA (Activity On Arrow)
• 1959, DuPont
– AON (Activity On Node)
• 1960, Navy and Booze Allen
– PERT Chart (An early AON Diagram)
• CPM (Critical Path Method)
• 1959, DuPont
Original Gantt View
Time
Gantt’s Adaptation
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
Time
First Transition
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
Time
Second Transition
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
Time
Third Transition
1.0
1 2
1.0 2.0
3 4 5
6 7
3.0
PERT Chart
1.0
1 2
1.0 2.0
3 4 5
6 7
3.0
Gantt Chart
The Project Schedule
• Tasks across a timeline
• Road map
– Project
– Project Manager
– Customers and stakeholders
• Communication tool
• Tracking tool
