Project Management (CS 3730) Lecture 4 Name:

Transcription

1 Ch. 6: Scheduling Project Work 1. Some people think that project management is nothing but scheduling, but scheduling is just one of the tools used to manage jobs and should not be considered the primary one. a) Why is project management not just scheduling? b) What is the primary reason for scheduling? 2. The author has some thoughts on project scheduling software: a) It is nearly impossible to use the software effectively unless you understand project management and scheduling methodology in particular. Why do you suppose that he is correct? b) Whatever scheduling software you choose, get some professional training on how to use it. Why does he suggest that taking a 2-3 day class is a good investment? 3. The bar chart / Gantt chart is an older (pre ) scheduling tool that are useful to communicate what team members need to do within a given time frame. A Task B C Time a) One drawback of bar charts is that its difficult to determine the impact of a slip on one task, say A, on the rest of the project. What is missing from a bar chart? Lecture 4 Page 1

2 4. Two scheduling methods use arrows/network diagrams to capture the sequential and parallel relationships among activities: CPM (Critical Path Method) and PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique). Two types of network diagrams exist: An activity-on-node network An activity-on-arrow network Activity A Activity C Activity B Activity D 1 Activity A 2 Activity B 3 4 Activity C Activity D Network Terms: Network - graphical representation of a project plan showing the relationships of the activities Activity - a task that consumes time and may also consume resources Events - specific points in time marking the beginning and ending points of activities. Commonly denoted as circles in networks with identifying labels. Milestone - event that represents a point in a project of special significance, e.g., completion of a major phase of work. Project reviews are often conducted at milestones. Critical - a critical activity or event is one that must be achieved by a certain time, having no latitude whatsoever. Critical path - the longest path through a network which determines the earliest completion of project work a) Why do you suppose the activity-on-node diagrams are typically used? 5. The textbook author has some comments on using scheduling software: software identifies the critical path and helps guide how the project should be managed, but don t get carried away by spending all of you time updating, revising, etc. the schedule, i.e., software is a tool so don t become a slave to it. knowing the critical path allows you to determine the impact of a change in project scope or priority change. a) How might a scope increase to an activity not on the critical effect the project deadline? b) What could a manager do if a scope increase of an activity on the critical path occurs? 6. Guidelines for constructing a Network diagram: Don t schedule in more detail than you can manage. What does this mean? No task should have a duration greater than 4 to 6 weeks. Why have this upper limit? No knowledge work (e.g., engineering or software tasks) should have a duration greater than 1 to 3 weeks. How do knowledge work tasks differ to require less maximum time? Lecture 4 Page 2

3 In developing the network diagram you can begin at the end and work toward the beginning, but why is it usually easier to start at the beginning and work toward the end? Why should all times be kept in the same increments (units)? 7. In the Yard Project with the below WBS (Figure 7-3): a) Which activities can be done first? b) Which activities can be done last? c) What are the pros/cons of splitting the Put gas in equipment activity into Put gas in mower and Put gas in trimmer? d) What are the pros/cons of splitting the Edge sidewalk activity into Edge front sidewalk and Edge back sidewalk? Lecture 4 Page 3

4 8. Consider the following CPM diagram for the yard project (Figure 7-4). a) What is meant by DU, ES, LS, EF, and LF? b) Why are Pick up Trash and Put gas in eq. connected ( ] )? c) Why are Trim Weeds, Mow Front and Edge Sidewalk connected( [ )? d) Fill in the ES and EF in the above diagram. 9. Why does the author suggest Schedules should be developed according to what is logically possible, and resource allocation should be done later. This will yield the optimum (i.e., best-case) schedule.? 10. Draw a Network diagram for the tasks in the Clean Room project. Clean Room Clean curtains Vacuum Carpet Pick up toys & clothes Wash walls Dust furniture Lecture 4 Page 4

5 Lecture 4 Page 5