Schedule Management-PMP

What is a Project Schedule?

Activities are assigned a duration and sequenced in a logical order Defines start & end dates of the project/project activities in between Scheduling software is usually used to develop the project schedule (Gantt Chart) Microsoft Project is the most popular tool used for project schedule development The project management plan is comprehensive and includes the project schedule.

Schedule Compression

Calculated to see if the desired completion date can be met and what will have to change to meet that date. Most often performed during project planning, but can also be performed after execution. Techniques: Fast Tracking Crashing

Critical Path Method

Critical Path - The longest duration path through a network diagram and determines the shortest time to complete the project.

Key Schedule Definitions

Duration - The total number of work periods required to complete a schedule activity or component, and usually expressed in workdays or work weeks Effort - The number of labor units required to complete a scheduled activity or component, often expressed in hours, days, or weeks Level of Effort (LOE) - An activity that does not produce definitive end products and is measured by the passage of time Milestone - A significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio or activity with zero duration

Schedule Compression Techniques

Fast Tracking - A technique in which activities or phases normally completed in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their duration. Crashing - A technique used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by adding resources. *REMEMBER - Crashing takes "CASH"

Dependency Types

Mandatory (Hard Logic) - Something MUST BE completed before something else Discretionary (Soft Logic) - There is a preferred method or order of performing the work External - Something outside the project must be completed before activities in the project can be started

Other Schedule Analysis Techniques

Monte Carlo Analysis - Uses a computer to simulate the outcomes of a project making use of input values selected at random from probability distributions Resource Leveling - Resource leveling is used to produce a resource limited schedule and results in a more even spread of the workload of resources used on the project Critical Chain Method (Theory of Constraints) - Uses buffers in the schedule to account for limited resources and project uncertainties

Estimation Types

One time - Experts make a guess, only for high level estimates Analogous - Based on previous projects Parametric - Uses a mathematical model to estimate based on historical records and other information Heuristics (what-if) - Based on trial and error and comparing the outcomes

Schedule Management Summary

Project Schedule Formats Bar charts Milestone charts Project schedule network diagrams Schedule Baseline = Approved schedule with baseline start & finish dates

Project Schedule Management

includes processes required to manage timely completion of the project. primarily concerned with developing a project schedule & controlling changes to the schedule. defines how schedule contingencies will be reported and assessed. Identifying the list of project activities Estimating time/resources required to complete each of the identified activities Sequencing activities to occur one after the other in a logical manner.