Trends in Project Management

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Chapter 6
Developing a Project Plan
Luck favors to a prepared mind.. Louis
Pasteur
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Developing a Project Plan
The biggest and important part of a project plan
is establishing the project network
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Project Network

• The project network is the tool for planning,
  scheduling and monitoring project progress.

• The project network presents a graphic display
  of the flow and sequence of work through the
  project

• Provides the basis for scheduling labor and
  equipment
• Provides an estimate of the projects duration
• Provides a basis for budgeting cash flow
• Highlights activities that are critical and
  should not be delayed
• Help managers get and stay on plan

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Project Network

• The project networks are developed from the WBS

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Project Network

• The project networks are developed from the WBS

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Project Network

• The project networks are developed from the WBS

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Project Network - Terminology

• Activity an element of theproject that requires
  time.
• Merge activity an activity that has two or more
  preceding activities on which it depends.
• Parallel (concurrent) activities Activities
  that can occur at the same time if desired.

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Project Network - Terminology

• Path a sequence of connected, dependent
  activities.
• Critical path the longest path through the
  activity network that allows for the completion
  of all project-related activities

D
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Project Network - Terminology
Burst activity an activity that has more than
one activity immediately following it (more than
one dependency arrow flowing from it)
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Basic Rules in Developing Project Networks

• Networks typically flow from left to right.
• An activity cannot begin until all of its
  preceding activities are complete.
• Arrows indicate precedence and flow and can cross
  over each other.
• Looping is not allowed.

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Basic Rules in Developing Project Networks
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Basic Rules in Developing Project Networks
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Project Networks Prototype Example
This project is about preparing initial project
plan regarding with building a new business center
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Project Networks Prototype ExamplePartial
Network
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Project Networks Prototype ExampleComplete
Network
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Project Networks Prototype Example
This project is about preparing initial project
plan regarding with building a new business center
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Project Networks Prototype ExampleNetwork
Computation Process

• Forward PassEarliest Times
• How soon can the activity start? (early startES)
• How soon can the activity finish? (early
  finishEF)
• How soon can the project finish? (expected
  time-ET)
• Backward PassLatest Times
• How late can the activity start? (late startLS)
• How late can the activity finish? (late
  finishLF)
• Which activities represent the critical path?
• How long can it be delayed? (slack or floatSL)

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Project Networks Prototype Example
ES ID EF
SL Description Description
LS Dur LF
B
Construction plans Construction plans

E
Staff Report Staff Report

H
Occupancy Occupancy

A
Application approval Application approval

C
Traffic Study Traffic Study

F
Comission approval Comission approval

G
Wait for Construction Wait for Construction

D
Service Check Service Check

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Project Networks Prototype Example
ES ID EF
SL Description Description
LS Dur LF
B
Construction plans Construction plans
15
E
Staff Report Staff Report
15
H
Occupancy Occupancy
35
A
Application approval Application approval
5
C
Traffic Study Traffic Study
10
F
Comission approval Comission approval
10
G
Wait for Construction Wait for Construction
170
D
Service Check Service Check
5
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Prototype Example- Forward Pass
ES ID EF
SL Description Description
LS Dur LF
5 B 20
Construction plans Construction plans
15
20 E 35
Staff Report Staff Report
15
200 H 235
Occupancy Occupancy
35
0 A 5
Application approval Application approval
5
5 C 15
Traffic Study Traffic Study
10
20 F 30
Comission approval Comission approval
10
30 G 200
Wait for Construction Wait for Construction
170
5 D 10
Service Check Service Check
5
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Prototype Example-Backward Pass
ES ID EF
SL Description Description
LS Dur LF
5 B 20
Construction plans Construction plans
5 15 20
20 E 35
Staff Report Staff Report
185 15 200
200 H 235
Occupancy Occupancy
200 35 235
0 A 5
Application approval Application approval
0 5 5
5 C 15
Traffic Study Traffic Study
10 10 20
20 F 30
Comission approval Comission approval
20 10 30
30 G 200
Wait for Construction Wait for Construction
30 170 200
5 D 10
Service Check Service Check
15 5 20
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Prototype Example-Slack (Float)
Total Slack The amount of time an activity can be
delayed without delaying the entire project