Project Management Chapter 9

Late start date (EF)

- the latest possible point in time in which uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can start, based upon the schedule network logic, the project completion date, and any schedule constraints.

External dependency

A relationship between project activities and non-project activities.

Free float

The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor or violating a schedule constraint.

Limitations

The more milestones there are, the less meaningful they become Too many milestones create tracking/management time drains

Work package

The work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost and duration can be estimated and managed.

Mandatory dependency

a relationship that is contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work.

Discretionary dependencies

defined by the project team., sometimes referred to as soft logic and should be used with care since they may limit later scheduling options

Early start date (EF)

the earliest possible point in time on which uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can start, based upon the schedule network logic, the data date, and any schedule constraints.

Planning Steps

1. Build a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) 2. Identify task relationships/dependencies 3. Estimate the work packages 4. Calculate the initial schedule 5. Assign and level resources, especially people

What are the four steps in resource leveling?

1.Forecast the resource requirements throughout the project for the initial schedule (use a resource breakdown structure to manage this) 2.Identify resource peaks (based on assigned tasks for each resource) 3.For peaks, delay non-critical tasks within their available float 4.Eliminate the remaining peaks by reevaluating the work package

Successor activity

A dependent activity that logically comes after another activity in a schedule.

activity

A distinct, scheduled portion of work performed during the course of a project.

Milestone

A significant point or event in a project, program

Predecessor activity

An activity that logically comes before a dependent activity in a schedule.

Expert judgment

Judgment provided based upon expertise in an application area, knowledge area, discipline, industry, etc., as appropriate for the activity being performed. Such expertise may be provided by any group or person with specialized education, knowledge, skill, experience, or training.

What are the 3 categories of general dependencies?

Mandatory Discretionary External

Total float

The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint.

Discretionary dependency

a relationship that is established based on knowledge of best practices in an... area where a specific sequence is desired

Activity definition

developing a more detailed WBS and supporting explanations to understand all the work to be done, in order to develop realistic cost and duration estimates

Mandatory dependencies

inherent in the nature of the work being performed on a project, sometimes referred to as hard logic

external dependencies

involve relationships between project and non-project activities

Duration:

the actual length of clock/calendar time worked on an activity plus any other elapsed time. It's how and when the effort is scheduled.

Effort:

the amount of expended work units (e.g. hours, days) required to complete a task. Effort generally does not equal duration. •The work effort needs to be known before duration can be calculated

Lead

the amount of time that a successor activity can be advanced with respect to its predecessors.

Lag

the amount of time that a successor activity is required to be delayed with respect to a predecessors.

Early finish date (ES)

the earliest possible point in time on which uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can finish, based upon the schedule network logic, the data date, and any schedule constraints

Late finish date (ES)

the latest possible point in time when the uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can finish based upon the network logic, the project completion date, and any schedule constraints

Effort

the number of labor units required to complete a schedule activity or WBS component/work package, usually expressed in hours, days or weeks.

Duration

the total number of work periods (not including holidays or other non-work periods) required to complete a schedule activity, usually expressed as workdays or workweeks

What are the goals for planning step 5?

§Make the schedule work with what you're provided §Balance the 6-sided equilibrium constraint (i.e. scope, cost, time, quality, risk, resources) in a way to best satisfy the customer

Milestones are useful markers:

§Project/phase start and finish dates are useful anchors §Major progress points or completion of key deliverables §Most anything that the project team decides

Planning Step 3: Estimate the work package

•Effort •The work effort needs to be known before duration can be calculated •Duration •Assess all assumptions, constraints, risks...changes to these could change these two estimates (e.g people skills, experience, characteristics) •People who do the work should help create the estimates An expert or knowledgeable person should review them (e.g expert judgement)