Construction Management & Planning
Mid Semester Examination
Project Scheduling Techniques
MEHBOOB MUSTAFA SIDDIQUI
F16CE150
“Scheduling is a Manager’s virtue”
In many industries such as engineering and construction the
development and maintenance of project schedule is a
responsibility of a full time schedule or team of schedulers
depending on the size of the project.
Scheduling techniques help to align the timeline, the scope and your
Introduction resources.
A schedule has to fit a specified timeframe and use available
resources with the right skills.
Given many uncertainties, variables and a possibility that resource
availability or a project scope may change, it’s hard to create a
schedule that will last.
The time element is one of the triple constraints that every project
leader must contend with: scope, schedule, and resources/budget.
Project Scheduling Techniques
Gannt Chart
Scheduling is carried out in advance of the • A sort of a bar-chart
project commencing and involves:
PERT
Identifying the tasks that need to be
carried out. • A mathematical analysis using network
circuits
Estimating how long they will take.
Allocating resources (mainly personnel).
CPM
• Graphical & Mathematical, also puts in
Scheduling when the tasks will occur.
concern ‘critical’ activities which need
attention.
Features of Project Scheduling Techniques
Gantt Chart
In the Gantt chart, every task is represented by a bar of a timeline chart.
The left edge shows time the task is planned to start and the right edge shows time
the task is planned to end.
The Gantt chart is used for daily/weekly tracking of project progress.
It is easy to use and maintain.
It has become the most commonly used project schedule chart because of its
simplicity and the focus it creates when tracking the project.
Critical Path Method
Pros
Is widely used and recognized.
CPM “generates a graphical view of a project and Is simple and effective at organizing large and complex
calculates how much time and resources are required projects
to complete each activity. Optimize critical paths and reduce project duration.
Enables improve efficiency with better allocation of
It also determines critical activities requiring attention resources
so that the project can be completed on time.” Enhances the visibility of the impact of any schedule
changes
Cons
Burdensome to manage for large and complex
projects.
Fails to account for resource allocation and might
require other methods to complement it.
Not be so handy if there are many uncertainties in the
project.
DATA Step 1
Step 2 Step 3
Program Evaluation and Review Technique
PERT is a technique used to calculate the Expected Time for a tasks.”
Each task duration is estimated three times, the best case, worst case,
and most likely case. Pros
A worst case schedule is developed using only worst case estimates. Comprehensive Analysis for events independently and in
A best case schedule is developed using only best case estimates. combination.
Offers a “What-if-Analysis” that enables better planning
for uncertainties and risk.
Takes the deadline into account at the start.
Cons
Is labor-intensive and expensive in nature.
Carries the risk of prediction inaccuracy.
PERT charts are deadline-focused, and they might not fully
communicate the financial positioning of a project.
THE END
