PK0-003 Chapter 4: Schedule Planning

What are the 4 types of logical relationships between predecessor and successor activities?

-Finish-to-start: In a finish-to-start relationship, the successor activity cannot begin until the predecessor activity has completed. This is the most frequently used logical relationship and is the default setting for most project-scheduling software packages. -Start-to-finish: In a start-to-finish relationship, the predecessor activity must start before the successor activity can finish. This relationship is seldom used. -Finish-to-finish: A finish-to-finish relationship is where the predecessor activity must finish before the successor activity finishes. -Start-to-start: In a start-to-start relationship, the predecessor activity depends on starting before the successive activity can start.

Describe the act of "Activity Definition".

Activity Definition is the process of breaking down the work packages from the WBS into individual activities that make up all the work of the work package. Activity Definition is typically not a stand-alone process. It is part of the iterative process of further decomposing the WBS to a manageable level.

What is Activity Sequencing?

Activity Sequencing is the process of identifying dependency relationships between project activities and sequencing them in proper order. First you need to identify the type of dependency, and then you need to determine the specific relationship between the activities.

When is analogous estimating often used?

Analogous (top-down) estimating is most frequently used at the early stages of project planning, when you have limited information regarding the project.

What are the 5 Activity Duration estimation techniques mentioned in the text?

-Analogous (top-down estimating) -Expert Judgement -Parametric estimating -Three-point estimates -PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)

What is CDM?

Conditional diagramming method (CDM) is a way to diagram activities that loop, or are repeated throughout the project, and is a way to diagram activities that are not in sequential order. You would use CDM in conjunction with the graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT). GERT allows for conditional loops in the project schedule as well. This analysis technique is rarely used in practice.

What are the 2 Duration Compression techniques?

Crashing and Fast-tracking.

How is Crashing typically implemented?

Crashing is typically implemented by adding more resources to the critical path tasks in order to complete the project more quickly. Crashing could also be accomplished by requiring mandatory overtime for critical path tasks, by speeding up delivery times from vendors, and so on.

When using CPM what does a forward pass accomplish?

Forward pass: The first step in determining your critical path is to complete a forward pass through the network diagram. This means that you are working from the left to the right of your network diagram. This will give you two calculations for each activity: *early start* and *early finish*. Early start is the earliest date an activity can begin, as logically constrained by the network. Early finish is the earliest date an activity can finish, as logically constrained by the network.

What is PDM?

The most commonly used network diagramming method is the precedence diagramming method (PDM). PDM uses boxes to represent the project activities and arrows to connect the boxes and show the dependencies.

What is the Scheduling Baseline?

The schedule baseline is the final, approved version of the project schedule that includes the baseline start and finish dates and resource assignments. It should have sign-off from project stakeholders and affected functional managers.

What are the three types of Activity Dependencies?

-A mandatory dependency is defined by the type of work being performed, and one activity is dependent on another activity. -A discretionary dependency is usually process- or procedure-driven and may include best-practice techniques. -An external dependency is a relationship between a project task and some factor outside the project that drives the scheduling of that task.

Once the Project Schedule is complete what are 3 ways mentioned in the text that one can communicate it to the project stakeholders?

-Use the networking diagram, but add dates and highlight the critical path. -Milestone charts. -Gantt Charts.

When using CPM what does a backward pass accomplish?

Backward pass: The next step to complete the critical path is to complete a backward pass. This means you start at the finish of your network diagram and work back though each path until you reach the start. This gives you two calculations, late finish and late start. Late finish is the latest date an activity can complete without impacting the project end date. Late start is the latest date you can start an activity without impacting the project end date.

After you have established the activity dependency relationships how do you put these relationships into perspective?

By creating a Network Diagram! A network diagram depicts the project activities and the interrelationships among these activities. Diagramming methods in text: PDM, ADM, CDM, CCM.

Explain CPM?

Critical path method (CPM) determines the amount of float time for each activity on the schedule by calculating the earliest start date, earliest finish date, latest start date, and latest finish date for each. Float is then calculated to determine the amount of time you can delay the earliest start of an activity without delaying the ending of the project. Activities with zero float are considered critical path activities. If a critical path task does not finish as scheduled, the project end date will be affected.

How is Fast-tracking used?

Fast tracking is performing two tasks in parallel that were previously scheduled to start sequentially.

When using CPM how do you calculate float?

Float: The final step in determining the critical path is to calculate float for each activity on the network diagram. Float is determined by subtracting the early start from the late start or the early finish from the late finish for each activity.

What is a Gantt Chart?

Gantt charts are probably one of the most commonly used methods to display the project schedule. They can show milestones, deliverables, subdeliverables, or all the activities of the project, if needed. Gantt charts typically display the tasks using a horizontal bar chart format across a timeline.

What is a Milestone Chart?

Milestone charts are another method to display your schedule information. A milestone marks a key event in the project life cycle or the completion of a major deliverable. A milestone chart tracks the scheduled dates and actual completion dates for the major milestones.

How much float is to be found on the critical path?

NONE. Activities with zero float are considered critical path activities.

Are activities included on the WBS?

No. According to industry standards, activities are not included on a WBS.

Describe Analogous Estimating.

Analogous estimating, or top-down estimating Analogous estimating (top-down estimating) is the use of actual durations from similar activities on a previous project. It is usually the least accurate way of estimating activity duration.

What is ADM?

Arrow Diagramming Method: In the ADM method, the arrows themselves represent the activities, and the nodes are the connecting points between the activities.

What is parametric estimating?

Parametric estimating Parametric estimating is a quantitatively based estimating method that multiplies the quantity of work by the rate.

Compare 3-point estimating to PERT?

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is much like 3-point estimating save that is weights the most likely scenario, whereas 3-point treats optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely-scenarios the same in weighting.

What is the Critical Path?

The longest full path on the project. ABD is critical path on image.