Project Management

Dr. Md. Rakibul Hoque

University of Dhaka
 Project Network

 Network
 Event
 Activity
 Critical Path Method (CPM)
 Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT)
 Networking Basics

 Network: A network is a graphical

representation of all activities and events
that must be completed to reach the end
objective of a project, showing the planned
sequence of their accomplishments, their
precedence relationships and
interdependencies. Thus the basic components
of a network are events and activities.
 Networking Basics
 Activity: An Activity is a task or set of tasks that
requires time and resources for its completion. In
Other word an activity represents a job or a
project element to be completed. It is a
relationship between two events and usually
devotes the efforts required to perform a task
measured in terms of elapsed time. An Activity is
denoted by an arrow. The length of the arrow
doesn’t represent time length, but the direction of
the arrow represents the flow direction.
 Networking Basics
The features of an activity are:
It usually consumes time and resources.
It is represented on the network by an arrow, the
direction of arrow indicating the sequence in which the
events are to occur.
It must be independent i.e. each arrow is used to
represent exactly one, and only one, operation of
segment of an overall program.
The length of the arrow doesn’t represent time length
the direction of the arrow represents the flow direction
 Networking Basics

 Event : An event usually the end state of

one or more activities, an event is a
specific accomplishment, physical or
mental, in a project. It is denoted by “node”
or “circle”. An event is a point in time, but it
has no direction. The main characteristics of
an event are.
 Networking Basics

 It is recognizable at a particular instant of

time, which is a point in time and not a
passage of time.
 It does not, therefore, consume time or
resources.
 It is represented on a network by a
geometrical figure such as a “node” or
“circle”.
 Networking Basics

 Predecessor Event: An event which restricts or

precedes another, it establishes the starting point
of an activity.
 Successor Event: An event which succeeds
another, it establishes the termination point of an
activity.
 Objective Event: An event which has no
successor event. It is the goal of the project and
usually has a committed date.
 Networking Basics

 Arrows: In an arrow diagram, an

arrow is used to represent a job or
activity. An arrow is drawn for each
job. The sequence of the arrows
indicates the flow of the work form the
beginning of the project to the end.
The diagram has one beginning point
and one end point.
 Critical Path Method
 The Critical Path Method of scheduling is an
effective method of scheduling for
Project Management. It was first developed by
DuPont in early 1950s for construction projects,
and is now commonly used not only in
construction, but in other fields such as software
project management, research projects, and
product development projects. Any project that
has a large number of interdependent activities
can apply this method of scheduling.
 Critical Path Method
The essential technique inherent in the method is to
construct a list or model including all required
activities to complete the task, the time they will take,
and the sequence in which interdependent tasks have
to be performed. The method then figures out what
activities are critical to the completion of a project
(the critical path) and what activities have some
"float time" (are less critical). This allows
management to prioritize critical activities.
 Features of Critical Path
Method (CPM)
 CPM is a deterministic network
 It was developed by DuPont in early 1950s for
construction projects
 CPM is now commonly used not only in construction
other fields such as software project management,
research projects, and product development projects.
 Any project that has a large number of
interdependent activities can apply this method of
scheduling.
 Features of Critical Path
Method (CPM)

 It is the path with the lowest slack value.

When a network contains negative slack,
the path with the most negative slack is
identified as the critical path.
 CPM gives single time duration for
completing project activities
 All activities belonging to the Critical Path
are Critical Activities
 Identification Rule of Critical
Path
 Critical path can be defined as the longest
sequence of activities leading to the end objective
 The longest of all paths is the Critical Path
 The length of the Critical Path represents the
project completion time
 It is the path with the lowest slack value
 The duration of Critical Path shows the shortest
possible project completion time
 Program Evaluation and
Review Technique (PERT)

 The Program Evaluation and Review

Technique commonly abbreviated PERT is
a model for project management invented by
United States Department of Defense's US
Navy Special Projects Office in 1958 as part
of the Polaris mobile submarine launched
ballistic missile project. This project was a
direct response to the Sputnik Crisis.
 Program Evaluation and
Review Technique (PERT)

 PERT is basically a method for analyzing

the tasks involved in completing a given
project, especially the time needed to
complete each task, and identifying the
minimum time needed to complete the
total project.
 Program Evaluation and
Review Technique (PERT)

 This project model was the first of its kind, a

revival for scientific management, founded
in Fordism and Taylorism. Though every
company now has their own "project model"
of some kind, they all resemble PERT in
some respect. Only DuPont Corporation's
Critical Path method was invented at
roughly the same time as PERT.
 Features of Program Evaluation
and Review Technique (PERT)

 It is a probabilistic networking technique

 PERT is a model for project management
invented by United States Department of
Defense's US Navy
 PERT was developed in 1958 as part of the
Polaris mobile submarine launched ballistic
missile project.
 PERT provides three time duration for single
activity and event
 Program Evaluation and
Review Technique (PERT)

 PERT was developed for and has been used

most frequently research and development
types of programmes
 The PERT technique assumes that the
activities and their network relationships
have been well defined, but it allows for
uncertainties in the activity times.
 Program Evaluation and
Review Technique (PERT)

 Average time (TE) is calculated for

network construction
 Expected Time (TE) = (a + 4m + b) / 6
 a = Optimistic Time
 b = Pessimistic Time
 m = Most Likely / Normal Time
 Activity Optimistic Most Likely Pessimistic
A 1-2 9 12 21
B 1-3 6 12 18
C 2-4 1 1.5 5
D 3-4 4 8.5 10
E 2-5 10 14 24
F 4-5 1 2 3