A Gantt chart is a graphical depiction of a project schedule in which project task durations are shown as horizontal bars. Gantt charts are the easiest and most intuitive way to communicate a project schedule. They are created as part of the Project Management Plan, and give stakeholders an instant picture of what the project is set to accomplish, and when. … [Read more...]
Because a project is defined as a temporary endeavor (PMBOK 1.1), deadlines are baked into the success criteria of all projects. Since all projects have a defined end point, the circumstances around this end point can result in project success or failure. Managing the project schedule can be one of the most formidable parts of project management. I've seen more … [Read more...]
The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is an important step in project scheduling. PERT charts are a central part of any project management course. They are quick to draw and intuitive to use. How to Draw a PERT Chart There are two rules: Tasks (activities) are represented as arrows Milestone dates are nodes PERT charts are also called … [Read more...]
If there's one part of project management that's bigger than all the rest, it's project scheduling. Since a project is defined as a temporary endeavor with a distinct beginning and end, defining when that end takes place and making sure it finishes on time are, by definition, extremely important to any project, large or small. Professional project managers look at … [Read more...]
If there's one part of project management that's bigger than all the rest, it's project scheduling. Since a project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end, defining when that end takes place and making sure it finishes on time are extremely important to any project, large or small. Professional project managers look at the schedule every day and … [Read more...]
Estimating task durations is one of the fundamental parts of project management. It involves the estimation of the amount of time required by a certain project activity given the available resources. This happen directly after cost estimating. In the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), the main output of the Estimate Activity Duration process are Activity … [Read more...]
Developing a functional schedule requires that tasks have dependencies. That means they have relationships to one another, they are not orphans adrift at sea. All Tasks Should have a Dependency The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) states that all tasks should have a dependency. This is because by definition, if a task is part of a project it must be related … [Read more...]
If there is only one foundational part of project management, it would have to be breaking down the project into manageable parts. Those parts are called phases and tasks. Everything else is built upon that foundation, so it should not be taken lightly. Although it seems trivial, it is one of the most important parts of a project manager's job. Example Task List In … [Read more...]
The project deadlines are firm but the resources are occupied. The deadlines have been tightened but the quality must stay the same. The customer wants the highest quality product at the lowest cost. These are some of the many issues a project manager must deal with on a daily basis. On a foundational level, the project manager must balance the cost-quality-time … [Read more...]
If there is only one foundational part of project management, it would have to be breaking down the project into manageable parts. Those parts are called phases and tasks. Everything else is built upon that foundation, so it should not be taken lightly. Although it seems trivial, it is one of the most important parts of a project manager's job. Example Activity … [Read more...]
