CCD 1104: Intro to
Project Management
Mbiri M. Stephen
St. Paul’s University, Nairobi
Campus
Social Science, Community
Development
Week 6 Project Scheduling
Project schedule.
• Scheduling process.
• Time estimates.
What is Project Scheduling
A schedule is the conversion of a project action plan into an operating
timetable
It serves as the basis for monitoring and controlling project activity
It is probably the major tool for the management of projects along
with the plan and budget
In a project environment, the scheduling function is more important
than it would be in an ongoing operation
Project Scheduling
Identify Project
Tasks (WBS)
Estimate Task
Duration
Determine Resource
Requirements
Construct/Analyze
Project Network
Prepare the
Schedule/Timeline
Basic Approach of scheduling Techniques
• This form is about:
a) a network of activity and event relationships
• b)This network should graphically portray the sequential relations
between the tasks in a project
• Tasks that must precede or follow other tasks are then clearly
identified, in time as well as function.
Determining expected Project Completion
Date
Networks are a powerful tool for planning and controlling a project and
have the following benefits:
It is a consistent framework for planning, scheduling, monitoring,
and controlling the project
It illustrates the interdependence of all tasks, work packages, and
work elements
It denotes the times when specific individuals must be available for
work on a given task
It aids in ensuring that the proper communications take place
between departments and functions
It determines an expected project completion date
Critical Activities
This is done by identifying the delay of project completion time, thus:
It identifies activities with slack that can be delayed for specific
periods without penalty
It determines the dates on which tasks may be started - or must be
started if the project is to stay on schedule
It illustrates which tasks must be coordinated to avoid resource
timing conflicts
It illustrates which tasks may run, or must be run, in parallel to
achieve the predetermined project completion date
It relieves some interpersonal conflict by clearly showing task
dependencies
Network Techniques: PERT and CPM
• With the exception of Gantt charts, the most common approach to
scheduling is the use of network techniques such as PERT and CPM
• The Program Evaluation and Review Technique was developed by the
U.S. Navy in 1958
• The Critical Path Method was developed by Dupont, Inc during the
same time period
PERT & CPM usage In Projects
• PERT has been primarily used for research and development projects.
• CPM was designed for construction projects and has been generally
embraced by the construction industry
• PERT uses probabilistic time estimates while CPM uses deterministic
time estimates.
• In CPM activities can be crashed at extra cost to speed up the
completion time.
• The two methods are quite similar and are often combined for
educational presentation
KEY TERMINOLOGIES
Activity - A specific task or set of tasks that are required by the
project, use up resources, and take time to complete
Event - The result of completing one or more activities. An
identifiable end state occurring at a particular time. Events use no
resources.
Network - The combination of all activities and events define the
project and the activity precedence relationships
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 project’s critical path is understood to mean that sequence of
critical activities that connect the project’s start event to its finish
event
Timeline in Tabular Form
• Good approach for schedules without many sets of activities in complex
relationships.
• Does not require specialised skills in preparing GANTT charts, etc.
Sample GANTT Chart