OPMA 5364 Part 5

OPMA 5364
Project Management

Part 5

Project Scheduling
Part 5 - Project Scheduling 2
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
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
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
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
Activity-on-Node (AON) networks
also called Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
easier to draw for simple projects
emphasizes activities
no dummy activities
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
Activity-on-Arrow (AOA) Networks
b
c
d
e
f
g
Activity Predecessor
m
n
r
s
_
_
m, n
n
m r
n s
k
j
k
j
j
k
or
Dashed lines are called dummy activities
1 2
Excavate
& pour
footings
Pour
foundation
Install
drains
Project Network for
House Construction
(AOA network)
3
6
7
4
8
9
5
10
11
12
16
18 13
17 15
14
Install rough
electrical & plumbing
Pour
basement
floor
Install
cooling &
heating
Erect
frame & roof
Lay
brickwork
Lay
storm
drains
Install
drywall
Lay
flooring
Install
finished
plumbing
Install
kitchen
equipment
Paint
Finish
roof
Install
roof
drainage
Finish
grading
Finish
floors
Pour
walks;
Landscape
Finish
electrical
work
Finish
carpeting
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
Activity-on-Arrow (AOA or ADM) Network
(Initial Network)
Activity-on-Arrow (AOA or ADM) Network
(Final Network)
a
b
d
c
g
j
k
i
h
f
e
Activity-on-Node (AON or PDM) Network
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
Project Network Example
Activity on Arrow
(Initial Network)
Activity on Arrow
(Final Network)
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
Activity on Node
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.
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)
1
2 6
4 7
5 3
b = 2
d = 4
g = 9
h = 9
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
Computing Slack Times
Task = duration
slack = xxxx
EST EFT
LST LFT
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
Start
Finish
a=4
slack=
b=3
slack=
c=3
slack=
d=2
slack=
e=6
slack=
f=4
slack=
g=1
slack=
h=4
slack=
i=5
slack=
j=6
slack=
k=1
slack=
Task=dur
slack=xxx
EST EFT
LFT LST
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
Gantt Chart
Activity
a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

i
Time (weeks)
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
Microsoft Project Example
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.
Other Precedence Relationships
Finish-to-Start
Linkage (FS)
Start-to-Start
Linkage (SS)
Finish-to-Finish
Linkage (FF)
Start-to-Finish
Linkage (SF)
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 1
Activity 2
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 Finish-
to-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
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
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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OPMA 5364

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