INTRODUCTION

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a project management tool used to
schedule, organize, and coordinate tasks within a project. It is basically a method to analyze the
tasks involved in completing a given project, especially the time needed to complete each task, and
to identify the minimum time needed to complete the total project. It was developed by the
Booz-Allen Hamilton organization & the U.S Navy, 1958 .
DEFINITION
The program (or project) evaluation and review technique, commonly abbreviated PERT, is a
statistical tool, used in project management, which was designed to analyze and represent the
tasks involved in completing a given project & to illustrate the flow of events in a project.
MEANING & CONCEPT
 PERT is complex, require a series of sequential tasks, performed in parallel with other project.
 PERT is a very famous project model that has found its use in various professions,
including nursing. 
 This model helps in judging the time required in completing an activity.
 Nurse administrators can use this model to delegate and assign the work schedule to the nurses in a hospital.
 It not only evidences the cost effectiveness of nursing care but also has great impact on reducing the expenditure by the
patient.
 This model helps to reduce the patient’s hospital stay by judging beforehand the actual care time, manpower, money and the
material required. Therefore, following this model helps to prevent waste of time, money and material, benefiting the patient
and the hospital management .
PURPOSE OF PERT
 To schedule the project. 
 To organize the project.
 To coordinate the tasks. 
 To manage the time. 
 To analyze the work.
FEATURES OF PERT
PERT includes :
 The finished product or service desired. 
 The total time and budget needed to complete the project or program. 
 The starting date and completion date. 
 The sequences of steps or activities. 
 The estimated time and cost of each step or activity. 
 It is a model for project management designed to analyze and represent the task involved in completing a given project
TYPES OF PERT
There are two types of network diagrams,
Activity on arrow (AOA)
i. In the first variant the duration is denoted on arrow connecting diagram nodes. Such diagram
type called AOA.
ii. It is composed of arrows and nodes. The arrows represent the activities and nodes represent the events.
iii. Each activity carries a brief description usually printed on the logical diagram, the activity
name or symbol and the time duration.
iv. At present, this method seems to be the most popular method and it was the first method to
be introduced, developed and computerized
Activity on node (AON)
I. In such diagram the information about the task duration is denoted in the diagram node &
each task is represented in the form of rectangle with definite set of fields.
II. In A-O-N networks, the nodes represent the activities and the arrows, their inter dependencies or precedence relationships.
III. Nodes are usually represented by squares or rectangles, but circles and other convenient geometrical shapes may also be used.
IV. Activity number and description are written within the boxes representing the nodes.
V. Length and direction of the arrows have no significance as they indicate only the dependency of one activity on another.
USES OF PERT
PERT is used when activity times are uncertain.
In many instances , managers have attempted to apply PERT principles to other types of projects including:
 Hospital planning for such issues as costs and social security.
 Educational planning and development.
 Various Accounting Functions.
 Real Estate Development.
 PERT and Computer Project-Scheduling Software.
CHARTS OF PERT
A PERT chart is a graphical representation of the activities of a project, showing the sequence that has to be performed
continuously. It has the critical path of tasks that has to be finished in time. This chart helps to focus only the needed activity and
omit the unwanted arms: therefore it saves time, energy and material.
 STEPS OF PERT
PERT planning following steps :-
1. Identity Activities & events : The activities are tasks require to complete the project. The events marking the beginning &
end of one or more activities. It is helpful to list the tasks in a table that in later steps can be expanded to include on sequence
is duration .
2. Determine the proper sequence of the activities : This steps may be combine with the activity identification steps since
the activity sequence is event for some task . Other tasks may require more analysis to determine exact order in which they
must be perform .
3. Construct a network diagram :  Using the activity sequence information , a network diagram can be drawn showing the
sequence of the serial is & parallel activities .For the original activity –on-are model, the activities are depicted by arrowed
lines & milestones are depicted by circles.
4. Estimate the time required for activity : A distinguishing feature of PERT is its ability to deal with uncertainty in
activity completion times .
For each activity , the model usually includes three time estimates :-
 Optimistic time (O):  Generally the shortest time in which the activity can be completed .
 Most likely time (M) : The completion time having the highest probability note that this time is different for the expected
time.
 Pessimistic time(P) : The longest time that an activity might require.
 Expected time (E) : (Optimistic + 4 x Most likely + Pessimistic) / 6
5 . Determine the critical path :  The critical path is determine by adding the times for the activities in each sequence &
determining the longest path in project. The critical path determines the total time require.
6. Update the PERT chart as the project progresses :  Make adjustment in the PERT chart as the project progresses. As
the project unfolds ,the estimated times can be replaced with actual times. The PERT chart may be modified & improved to
reflect the new situation.
APPLICATION OF PERT IN NURSING
Nurse managers use the PERT system for controlling
 It forces planning and shows how pieces fit together. 
 It does this for all nursing line managers. 
 It establishes a system for periodic evaluation and control at critical points in the program. 
 It reveals problems and is forward – looking. 
 PERT is generally used for complicated and extensive projects or programs. 
 Many records are used to control expenses and otherwise conserve the budget.
These include
 Personnel staffing reports.
 Overtime reports.
 Monthly financial reports and others.
All these reports should be available to nurse managers to help them monitor, evaluate the use
of people and money as a part of the controlling process.
LIMITATIONS OF PERT
 The activity time estimates are somewhat subjective and depend on judgment. In other cases,
if the person or group performing the activity estimates the time there may be bias in the estimate.
 Even if the activity times are well – estimated, PERT assumes time estimates, but the actual distribution may be different . 
ADVANTAGES OF PERT
 Determine the flexibility available with activities .
 Show potential risk with activities .
 Provide good documentation of the project activities .
 Help to set priorities among activities & resource allocation as per priority .
 Useful at any stages of project management .
 Mathematically simple .
 Give critical path and slack time .
 Provide project documentation .
 Useful in monitoring costs .
DISADVANTAGES OF PERT
 It emphasis only on time, not on costs.
 The cost of setting up such system are extensive .
 It is difficult to estimate accurate time & cost of various activities involved in a project .
 Errors in estimation makes the PERT charts ,unreliable as a control aid . 
 These systems will not help managers to solve all their problem.
CONCLUSION
PERT may have been created by the US Navy as part of a nuclear submarine project, but it has become widely-used in all industries
where project management is required, as Booz-Allen Hamilton organization explained in 1958: “Since that time, it has been used
extensively not only by the aerospace industry but also in many situations where management desires to achieve an objective or
complete a task within a scheduled time and cost expenditure; it came into popularity when the algorithm for calculating a
maximum value path was conceived.” PERT is a method of analyzing the tasks involved in completing a given project, especially
the time needed to complete each task, and to identify the minimum time needed to complete the total project. PERT is a very
famous project model that has found its use in various professions, including nursing.