Chapter 6: Project Time Management Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition Using Critical Chain Scheduling, PERT, and MS Project 2003 Thursday, March 1

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition2 Today’s Schedule Complete Chapter 6 Time Management Critical Chain Scheduling PERT Analysis Using MS Project Assignments #7 and #8 are posted Test #2 on Calendar

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition3 Overview of Project Time Management Processes Activity definition: Identifying the specific activities must be performed to produce the project deliverables. Activity sequencing: Identifying and relationships between project activities. Activity resource estimating: Estimating how many resources should be used. Activity duration estimating: Estimating the number of work periods needed to complete individual activities.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition4 Overview of Project Time Management Processes (cont’d) Schedule development: Analyzing activity sequences, activity resource estimates, and activity duration estimates to create the project schedule. Schedule control: Controlling and managing changes to the project schedule.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition5 What do you say … From your text, page 240, Discussion Questions 1 through 5

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition6 Gantt Chart for Software Launch

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition7 SMART Criteria Adding Milestones to Gantt Charts Specific Measurable Assignable Realistic Time-framed

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition8 Using Critical Path Analysis to Make Schedule Trade-offs Free slack or free float - time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of any immediately following activities. Total slack or total float - time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the planned project finish date. A forward pass through the network diagram determines the early start and finish dates. A backward pass determines the late start and finish dates.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition9 Multitasking Example Multitasking often adds time and increases risk level of project

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition10 Critical Chain Scheduling Attempts to minimize multitasking, which occurs when a resource works on more than one task at a time. Critical chain scheduling considers limited resources when creating a project schedule includes buffers to protect the project completion date.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition11 Buffers and Critical Chain Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time allowed. People often add a buffer to each task and use the additional time whether it’s needed or not. Critical chain scheduling removes buffers from individual tasks and instead creates: A project buffer or additional time added before the project’s due date. Feeding buffers or additional time added before tasks on the critical path.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition12 Example of Uncertainty in Model

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition13 Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) Estimate project duration when there is a high degree of uncertainty about the individual activity duration estimates. PERT uses probabilistic time estimates: Duration estimates based on using optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic estimates of activity durations, or a three-point estimate.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition14 PERT Formula and Example PERT weighted average = optimistic time + 4X most likely time + pessimistic time 6 Example: PERT weighted average = 8 workdays + 4 X 10 workdays + 24 workdays = 12 days 6 optimistic time= 8 days most likely time = 10 days pessimistic time = 24 days Therefore, you’d use 12 days on the network diagram instead of 10 when using PERT for the above example.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition15 Perform reality checks on schedules Allow for contingencies. Don’t plan for everyone to work at 100 percent capacity all the time. Hold progress meetings with stakeholders and be clear and honest in communicating schedule issues. If you know the project completion date will slip, negotiate with the project sponsor.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition16 Words of Caution on Using Project Management Software Many people misuse project management software because they don’t understand important concepts and have not had training. You must enter dependencies to have dates adjust automatically and to determine the critical path. You must enter actual schedule information to compare planned and actual progress.

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition17 You try it … From your textbook Chapter 6, page 241, #4 Look at the tasks and as a class, we’ll develop Duration Estimates to use for the homework Complete #3, Using MS Project, with a partner

Information Technology Project Management, Fourth Edition18 For Tuesday, March 13 Complete Chapter 6 Complete Assignment #7 Begin Assignment #8