Richard Fisher 1 The University of Texas at Dallas Project Management BA 4320 Richard Fisher The University of Texas at Dallas

Richard Fisher 2 The University of Texas at Dallas Project Management A PROJECT is a set of tasks (activities) with a definite beginning and ending point. Phases –Project Planning –Project Scheduling –Project Tracking

Richard Fisher 3 The University of Texas at Dallas Steps in Project Management Network Analysis F Task Definition and Decomposition F Define Relationships F Estimate Task Times F Construct Diagram F Network Evaluation F Project Tracking and Revision

Richard Fisher 4 The University of Texas at Dallas Tasks F Task (Activity) --A work component needed to be accomplished; a task within the overall project that has a definite beginning and ending point. The activity consumes time. F Decomposition - outlining F Unit measure for tasks F Resources required for task

Richard Fisher 5 The University of Texas at Dallas PM Networks ACTIVITY (TASK) --A work component needed to be accomplished; a task within the overall project that has a definite beginning and ending point. The activity consumes time. EVENTS -- Designates the beginning and / or ending of activities. A point in time. Also shows the precedence relationships of the activities. NETWORK -- A combination of Activities and Events that describe the logic of the project. There is one definite starting and ending point.

Richard Fisher 6 The University of Texas at Dallas Relationships F Relationships determine task sequencing F Finish-to-Start –Task B cannot start until Task A is finished –Most common type F Start-to-Start –Task B cannot start until Task A is started –A delay is often used in this relationship AB A B

Richard Fisher 7 The University of Texas at Dallas Relationships F Finish-to-Finish –Task B cannot finish until Task A is finished F Start-to-Finish –Task B cannot finish until Task A is started A B A B

Richard Fisher 8 The University of Texas at Dallas Precedence Relationships Task C may not begin until both A and B have been completed. A and B may occur concurrently and are parallel tasks. B A CD B A C F D E Task D may begin after B is completed. Task E may begin after C is completed. A-B-D-F and A-C-E-F are parallel paths.

Richard Fisher 9 The University of Texas at Dallas CPM- Critical Path Method CRITICAL PATH -- The path through the network consisting of several activities whose total activity times are the longest of any path through the network. The most pressing, dangerous, risky path through the network. Usually denoted by heavy lines through the activities on the Critical Path. CRITICAL PATH TIME -- Total time of all activities on the critical path.

Richard Fisher 10 The University of Texas at Dallas CPM Terminology EXPECTED TIME of a task (activity) EARLIEST START -- Earliest time expected to complete all previous tasks. EARLIEST FINISH = ES + T for a task. LATEST FINISH -- Latest time a task can finish and still allow the project to finish on time. LATEST START = LF - T for a task. SLACK TIME = LF - EF or LS - ES (there is NO slack on the CP) T ES EF LF LS S

Richard Fisher 11 The University of Texas at Dallas Steps in Project Management Network Analysis F Task Definition and Decomposition F Define Relationships F Estimate Task Times F Construct Diagram F Network Evaluation F Project Tracking and Revision

Richard Fisher 12 The University of Texas at Dallas Network Evaluation Steps 1. Construct network diagram showing tasks, relationships and task times using standard format 2. Define the various paths through the network 3. Moving from left-to-right calculate the ES (Earliest Start) and EF (Earliest Finish) time for each task 4. Define Critical Path 5. Moving from right-to-left calculate the LF(Latest Finish) and LS (Latest Start) for each task 6. Note Slack Times

Richard Fisher 13 The University of Texas at Dallas Sample Laboratory Example

Richard Fisher 14 The University of Texas at Dallas Task (Activity) Diagramming On the critical path: ES = LS & EF = LF T ESEF LFLS (Expected Task time) 1. Description of Task goes here

Richard Fisher 15 The University of Texas at Dallas Sample Laboratory CMP 1. Begin project 3.Inspect lab 2. Build lab 4.Install equip 6. Train Staff 5.Recruit staff 7. Pilot eval 8. End project

Richard Fisher 16 The University of Texas at Dallas Gantt Charts F Use Horizontal Bars to represent Tasks on a Horizontal Time Line

Richard Fisher 17 The University of Texas at Dallas Project Tracking Tips F Update Project as needed F Make sure tasks are broken down enough to see progress (or lack of progress) F Poor task status communication often means poor progress F Watch for changes in Critical Path F Make sure that there are no resource conflicts