2. Effort estimation
◦ For whole project
◦ For individual activity
Detailed plan
◦ Starting of each activity
◦ End of each activity
◦ Risks
2
3. Project Vs Activity
Project Vs Activity
A project is composed of a number of
related activities
A project may start when at least one of
its activities is ready to start
A project will be completed when all of
its activities have been completed
3
4. Cont…
Cont…
An activity should have a duration that
can be forecasted
An activity must have a clear start and a
clear stop
Some activities may require the time that
other activities are completed before
they can begin
4
5. Activity
Activity Planning
Planning
A project plan is a schedule of activities
indicating the start and stop for each
activity
◦ Also provide the project and resource
schedules
5
6. Cont…
Cont…
During planning, managers consider:
◦ Resource availability
◦ Resource allocation
◦ Staff responsibility
◦ Project Monitoring
◦ Cash flow forecasting
◦ Re-planning of the project towards the pre-
defined goal
6
7. Objectives
Objectives of Activity Planning
of Activity Planning
Feasibility assessment
◦ Time and resource constraints
Resource allocation
◦ Timescale and resource availability
Detailed costing
◦ Cost and their timing
Motivation
Co-ordination
7
8. When to plan
When to plan
During feasibility study and project start-
up
◦ Resource availability
◦ Cash flow control
9. Different Levels of Plans
Different Levels of Plans
Project Schedule: a plan that shows
◦ What are activities
◦ Order of activities
◦ Dates when each activity should start and
stop
◦ When and how much of the resources will be
required
Activity Plan: a plan that describes
◦ how each activity will be undertaken
9
11. Planning and Scheduling the
Planning and Scheduling the
Activities
Activities
Once we have a project plan (or, project
schedule), we need to schedule the
activities in a project taking into account
the resource constraints
11
12. Network Planning Model
Network Planning Model
Time flows from
◦ Left to Right
Simple sequencing
◦ Suitable for small projects
CPM(Critical Path Method)
PERT(Program Evaluation Review Technique)
AOA
Precedence Network
◦ AON
14. CPM Network
CPM Network
A project network should have only one start
node
A project network should have only one end
node
A link have duration
Nodes has no duration
Precedents are immediate preceding activities
Time moves from Left to Right
Nodes are numbered sequentially
A network may not contain loops
◦ Leads to an impossible sequence
A network should not contain dangles
16. Example to construct a CPM
Example to construct a CPM
Id. Activity Name Duration (weeks) Precedents
A Hardware selection 7
B Software design 4
C Hardware Installation 6 A
D Coding 4 B
E Data Preparation 5 B
F User Documentation 9
G User Training 5 E,F
H System Installation 3 C,D
16
19. Critical Path
Critical Path
Any delay in critical path delays the
project
Slack= difference between earliest and
latest dates
Any event with slack 0 is critical.
◦ Path joining these events is critical path
Activity float
◦ Float=difference in earliest finish and it’s latest
start
20. Adding the time dimension
Adding the time dimension
Critical path approach is concerned with:
◦ Project completed as quickly as possible
◦ Identifying activities leads to delay project or
later activities start date, if delayed.
Forward pass
◦ Earliest dates of activities
Backward pass
◦ Latest start dates and the critical path
21. Activity Float
Activity Float
Time allowed for an activity to delay
3 different types:
◦ Total float(no delay in project end date)
= |latest start date – earliest start date|
◦ Free float(delay without affecting subsequent activity)
= |earliest completion date of activity –
earliest start date of succeeding activity|
◦ Interfering float = |total float - free float|
21
22. Cont…
Cont…
Loop representing impossible sequencing
Code Program Test Program Release Program
Correct Error
Diagnose Errors
23. Cont…
Cont…
Dangling activities indicate errors in logic
Write User Manual
Design
Program
Test Program
Code
Program
Install Program
24. Cont…
Cont…
Solution is:
◦ Remove dangle activities
◦ If that is a part of project => re-draw the
network
Write User Manual
Design
Program
Test Program
Code
Program
Install Program
28. Example
Example
Id. Activity Name Duration (weeks) Precedents
A Hardware selection 7
B Software design 4
C Hardware Installation 6 A
D Coding 4 B
E Data Preparation 5 B
F User Documentation 9
G User Training 5 E,F
H System Installation 3 C,D
28
31. B
0 4 W 4
C
7 6 W 13
F
0 9 W 9
A
0 7 w 7
D
4 4 W 8
E
4 5 W 9
H
13 3 W 16
G
9 5 W 14
Finish
Star
t
32. B
0 4 W 4
2 2 6
C
7 6 W 13
7 0 13
F
0 9 W 9
2 2 11
A
0 7 w 7
0 0 7
D
4 4 W 8
9 5 13
E
4 5 W 9
6 2 11
H
13 3 W 16
13 0 16
G
9 5 W 13
11 3 16
Finish
Star
t
33. Significance of critical path
Significance of critical path
During planning stage
◦ Shortening the critical path will reduce the
overall project duration
During management stage
◦ Pay more attention to those activities which
fall in the critical path
33
Editor's Notes
#6:Resource available: Make sure the resources are there when needed
Resource allocation: Make sure there are no competing resources.
Staff responsibility: Schedule showing which staff carry out each activity
Project Monitoring: Measure the actual achievement
Cash flow forecasting:Produce a timed cash flow forecast
Re-planning of the project towards the pre-defined goal:re-plan the project so that it will correct drift from the target.
#7:Once a detailed activity plan is finished, it can be used to achieve the following:
Feasibility assessment: Can the project be delivered on time and within budget (constraints)?
Resources allocation:
How to allocate the resources with best results?
When should those resources be ready?
Detailed costing:
A detailed estimates on the project cost and the timings.
A detailed forecast on when the expenditure is likely to take place.
Motivation:
Providing targets and being able to monitor the achievement of the targets at the end of the activity can be a good strategy to motivate staff.
Co-ordination:
Help to set the time and requirements of staff from different departments to work together in the project, if necessary
Provide a good way for the project teams to communicate, cooperate and collaborate among themselves
#9:The activity plan is done in Steps 4 and 5 of Step Wise framework.
#11:We need to put the activities in a project and arrange them in their order taking into account of the resource.
#21:Total float can be used up once.
Free float can be used up separately.
However, whenever any float is used, the overall timing of the project is changed.
Teachers should distinguish between overall timing of the project and overall duration of the project.
The overall timing of a project should includes the activities and the duration of each activities.
A recalculation of the CPM is need.
#33:Actually, it is the shortening of the critical activity by putting more resources in it.
The CPM allows you to identify what to shorten. However, it does not tell you how to.
