ACM C A03

Project Management Systems &

Techniques

Precedence Diagramming Method

CPM – Imposed finish dates
Logic vs. Constraints
• An event to start after some activities
have completed
• An event to start on a particular date
An Example
• 100 km of Pipe Laying Project
• Project Components
• Dig a Trench
• Gravel Sub-Base
• Lay the pipe
• Backfill
• Compact
• Can you schedule this project and draw the
network?
If you draw a CPM network
Are they actually “consecutive?”

A better method using

Line of Balance will be
discussed later
Fast Track Projects
 How can I represent this
project in CPM network
Stair-type schedule
• Stair Type method for utility pipe
installation project
• PDM

• Each activity is divided into two or more

parts
• It is popular for projects such as heavy
construction (highway, utilities, etc.)
• Increase in the number of activities
• Confusing similarity of their titles.
 Unrealistic!

Precedence diagram, for utility pipe installation project, using start-to-start

relationships with no lags

Successor finishes
before the predecessor.
Precedence diagram, for utility pipe installation project, using start-to-start
relationships with lags

Situation is unacceptable,

Solution : either increase the lags or add FF relationships,

 Precedence diagram, for utility pipe installation project, using a
combination relationships and lags

Precedence diagram, for utility pipe installation project, using a combination

relationships and more lags

Note : Relationships “driving in one way,”

How do you take care of
relationships between
project activities?
Four Types of Relationships
• Finish to Start (FS)
• Start to Start (SS)
• Finish to Finish (FF)
• Start to Finish (SF)
Relationships
• 4 categories
• F-S
• S-S
• F-F
• S-F
• 3 types
• No lag
• Positive lag
• Negative lag

12 different relationships
Example

• B CAN finish when A finish

• B CANNOT finish before A
• B can be DELAYED and finish after A
Pipe Laying Project
One more thing…

MS Project does not allow this kind of relationships !

Four relationships
• FS
• Most common type relationship
• Concrete can be poured after the formwork is complete
• SS
• Excavation and site clearance in large projects
• FF
• Backfilling cannot finish until is pipe is installed
• SF
• Most uncommon relationship
 Are the activities contiguous (continuous) or
interruptible?

Interruptible Activity : An activity that begins and can

be performed on intermittent basis (paused, In reality
resumed, etc.) both
scenarios
are
Contiguous : An activity that proceeds continuously possible!
until it is finished
 Forward Pass

0 5

In the forward pass, activity A starts the project. ES = 0; EF = 0 + 5 (duration) = 5.

Activity B is connected to A by a combination relationship:
Forward Pass
-2 5
0 7
0 5 0 7

i. The SS relationship (with no lag) means B can start just after A has started. This means
activity B’s ES = 0.
EF = ES + Dur = 0 + 7 = 7 so the early dates are (0, 7)

ii. The FF relationship (with no lag) means B can finish just after A is
complete:

EF(B) = EF(A) + Lag (if any) = 5 + 0 = 5

ES = EF – Dur = 5–7 = −2 so the early dates are (−2, 5)
The second answer violates the SS relationship so the first answer
prevails.
Activity B is connected to A by a combination relationship:
Forward Pass
-2 5 0 3
0 7 4 7
0 5 0 7 4 7

The same method applies to activity C:

i. The SS relationship (with no lag) means C can start just after B has
started. This means activity C’s ES = 0.
EF = ES + Dur = 0 + 3 = 3 so the early dates are (0, 3)
ii. The FF relationship (with no lag) means C can finish just after B is
complete:
EF(C) = EF(B) + Lag (if any) = 7 + 0 = 7
ES = EF – Dur = 7–3 = 4 so the early dates are (4, 7)
The first answer violates the SS relationship so the second answer
prevails.
Activity B is connected to A by a combination relationship: Backward Pass

-2 5 0 3
0 7 4 7
0 5 0 7 4 7
4 7

In the backward pass, we start at the end of activity C with its finish no
earlier than day 7: LF = 7; LS = LF − Dur = 7 − 3 = 4, so the late dates are
(4, 7)
Activity B is connected to A by a combination relationship: Backward Pass

-2 5 0 3
0 7 4 7
0 5 0 7 4 7
4 7
0 7
4 11
For activity B:

i. The FF relationship (with no lag) means B can finish just before C is com-
plete, LF (B) = LF (C) − Lag = 7 − 0 = 7. LS = LF − Dur = 7 − 7 = 0,

so the late dates are (0, 7)

ii. The SS relationship (with no lag) means B can start just before C starts,
LS(B) = LS(C) − Lag = 4 − 0 = 4. LF = LS + Dur = 4 + 7 = 11, so the
late dates are (4, 11)
The second answer delays the completion of the project, so it is
rejected. The first answer prevails.
Activity B is connected to A by a combination relationship: Backward Pass

-2 5 0 3
0 7 4 7
0 5 0 7 4 7
0 5 0 7 4 7
0 0 7
5
2 7 4 11
Activity A:

i. The FF relationship (with no lag) means A can finish just before B is com-
plete, LF (A) = LF (B) − Lag = 7 − 0 = 7. LS = LF − Dur = 7 − 5 = 2,
so the late dates are (2, 7)

The SS relationship (with no lag) means A can start just before B starts,
LS(A) = LS(B) − Lag = 0 − 0 = 0. LF = LS + Dur = 0 + 5 = 5, so the
late dates are (0, 5)

The first answer delays the completion of the project (by delaying
the start of B), so it is rejected. The second answer prevails.
Calculate duration
Sno Activity Duration Predecessor Relation Lag
1 A 10 - -
2 B 5 A SS 6
3 C 3 B SS 1
Calculate duration
Sno Activity Duration Predecessor Relation Lag
1 A 10 - -
2 B 5 A FF -
3 C 3 B FF -
Calculate duration
Sno Activity Duration Predecessor Relation Lag
1 A 10 - -
2 B 12 A FF -
3 C 3 B FF -
Calculate duration
Sno Activity Duration Predecessor Relation Lag
1 A 5 - -
2 B 7 A SS, FF -
3 C 3 B SS, FF -
Sno Activity Duration Predecessor Relation Lag
1 A 10 - -
2 B 6 A SS, FF 2,0
3 C 5 B SS, FF 3,0

What will happen if A, B, C are contiguous activities?

What about negative lags?

Start Float and Finish Float

Are SF and FNF same?

Solve this network
Precedence networks are node networks that allow for the
use of four types of relationships:

• Finish to start (FS),

• Start to start (SS),
• Finish to finish(FF),
• Start to finish (SF).