Developing a Project Plan Chapter 6 Luck favors to a prepared mind….. Louis Pasteur.

Developing a Project Developing a Project PlanPlan

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Luck favors to a prepared mind…..

Louis Pasteur

Developing a Project PlanDeveloping a Project Plan

The biggest and important part of a project plan is establishing the project network

Project NetworkProject 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 project’s 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

Project NetworkProject Network• The project networks are developed from the WBS

Project NetworkProject Network• The project networks are developed from the WBS

Project NetworkProject Network• The project networks are developed from the WBS

Project Network - TerminologyProject Network - Terminology

• Activity:Activity: an element of the an element of theproject that requires time.project that requires time.

• Merge activity:Merge activity: an activity an activity that has two or more preceding that has two or more preceding activities on which it depends.activities on which it depends.

• Parallel (concurrent) Parallel (concurrent) activities:activities: Activities that can Activities that can occur at the same time if occur at the same time if desired.desired.

A

C

B D

Project Network - TerminologyProject Network - Terminology

• Path:Path: a sequence of connected, a sequence of connected, dependent activities.dependent activities.

• Critical path:Critical path: the longest path through the longest path through the activity network that allows for the the activity network that allows for the completion of all project-related completion of all project-related activities;activities;

C

A B D

Project Network - TerminologyProject Network - Terminology

Burst activity:Burst activity: an activity that has an activity that has more than one activity immediately more than one activity immediately following it (more than one following it (more than one dependency arrow flowing from it)dependency arrow flowing from it)

B

D

A C

Basic Rules in Developing Project Basic Rules in Developing Project NetworksNetworks

• Networks typically flow from left to right.Networks typically flow from left to right.

• An activity cannot begin until all of its An activity cannot begin until all of its

preceding activities are complete.preceding activities are complete.

• Arrows indicate precedence and flow and can Arrows indicate precedence and flow and can

cross over each other.cross over each other.

• Looping is not allowed.Looping is not allowed.

Basic Rules in Developing Project Basic Rules in Developing Project NetworksNetworks

Basic Rules in Developing Project Basic Rules in Developing Project NetworksNetworks

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype Example

This project is about preparing initial project plan regarding with building a new business center

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype ExamplePartial NetworkPartial Network

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype ExampleComplete NetworkComplete Network

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype Example

This project is about preparing initial project plan regarding with building a new business center

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype ExampleNetwork Computation ProcessNetwork Computation Process

• Forward Pass—Earliest TimesForward Pass—Earliest Times• How soon can the activity start? (early start—How soon can the activity start? (early start—

ES)ES)

• How soon can the activity finish? (early finish—How soon can the activity finish? (early finish—EF)EF)

• How soon can the project finish? (expected How soon can the project finish? (expected time-ET)time-ET)

• Backward Pass—Latest TimesBackward Pass—Latest Times

• How late can the activity start? (late start—LS)How late can the activity start? (late start—LS)

• How late can the activity finish? (late finish—How late can the activity finish? (late finish—LF)LF)

• Which activities represent the critical path?Which activities represent the critical path?

• How long can it be delayed? (slack or float—SL)How long can it be delayed? (slack or float—SL)

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype Example

AAApplication Application approvalapproval

BBConstruction Construction plansplans

CCTraffic Traffic StudyStudy

DDService Service CheckCheck

FFComission Comission approvalapproval

EEStaff ReportStaff Report

GGWait for Wait for ConstructionConstruction

HHOccupancyOccupancy

ESES IDID EEFF

SLSL DescriptionDescription

LSLS DuDurr

LLFF

Project Networks – Prototype ExampleProject Networks – Prototype Example

AAApplication Application approvalapproval

55

BBConstruction Construction plansplans

1155

CCTraffic StudyTraffic Study

1100

DDService Service CheckCheck

55

FFComission Comission approvalapproval

1100

EEStaff ReportStaff Report

1155

GGWait for Wait for ConstructionConstruction

171700

HHOccupancyOccupancy

3355

ESES IDID EEFF

SLSL DescriptionDescription

LSLS DuDurr

LLFF

Prototype ExamplePrototype Example- Forward Pass- Forward Pass

00 AA 55Application Application approvalapproval

55

55 BB 2200

Construction Construction plansplans

115555 CC 11

55Traffic StudyTraffic Study

1100

55 DD 1100

Service CheckService Check

55

2200

FF 3300

Comission Comission approvalapproval

1100

2200

EE 3355

Staff ReportStaff Report

1155

3030 GG 202000

Wait for Wait for ConstructionConstruction

171700

202000

HH 232355

OccupancyOccupancy

3535

ESES IDID EEFF

SLSL DescriptionDescription

LSLS DuDurr

LLFF

Prototype ExamplePrototype Example-Backward Pass-Backward Pass

00 AA 55Application Application approvalapproval

00 55 55

55 BB 2200

Construction Construction plansplans

55 1155

220055 CC 11

55Traffic StudyTraffic Study

1100

1100

2200

55 DD 1100

Service CheckService Check

1155

55 2200

2200

FF 3300

Comission Comission approvalapproval

2200

1100

3300

2020 EE 3535Staff ReportStaff Report

181855

1515 202000

3030 GG 202000

Wait for Wait for ConstructionConstruction

3030 171700

202000

202000

HH 232355

OccupancyOccupancy

202000

3535 232355

ESES IDID EEFF

SLSL DescriptionDescription

LSLS DuDurr

LLFF

Prototype ExamplePrototype Example-Slack (Float)-Slack (Float)

Total SlackThe amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the entire project