Critical Path Scheduling

Practice Standard for Scheduling—Third Edition provides the latest thinking regarding good and accepted practices in the area of scheduling for a project. This updated practice standard expounds on the information contained in Section 6 on Project Schedule Management of the PMBOK® Guide. In this new edition, you will learn to identify the elements of a good schedule model, its purpose, use, and benefits. You will also discover what is required to produce and maintain a good schedule model. Also included: a definition of schedule model; uses and benefits of the schedule model; definitions of key terms and steps for scheduling; detailed descriptions of scheduling components; guidance on the principles and concepts of schedule model creation and use; descriptions of schedule model principles and concepts; uses and applications of adaptive project management approaches, such as agile, in scheduling; guidance and information on generally accepted good practices; and more.

This unique tool provides a fresh approach to construction scheduling by focusing on ways in which the Critical Path Method (CPM) can be used to answer the important questions that arise on virtually every construction project. Critical Path Method (CPM) Tutor for Construction Planning and Scheduling helps commercial contractors meet today’s ever-increasing demands to improve operational efficiency and increase profitability. The construction schedule is heavily dependent upon the skill of the practitioner and responsible participants, and one which greatly impacts the efficiency, cost, and overall success or failure of a project. This book explains the practical application of the CPM, the most widely used and taught technique for construction planning and scheduling. You’ll be guided through each step of the CPM process--from planning and communication to deciding payment and/or claims. Practitioners and students will quickly understand both the mechanics and the use of the CPM. Contractors will be able to apply this knowledge to plan their work more completely, better communicate their plans, accurately evaluate the impact of delays, and make better on-the-spot decisions. Features real-world construction examples and worked problems Describes how to measure on-site/field productivity and address potential issues Shows how to effectively communicate progress, targets, and requests with subcontractors and stakeholders

Planning is an important management function and its effective execution is crucial to ensure the success of any project. This second edition of Thomas Uher’s and Adam Zantis' textbook maintains its focus on operational rather than strategic aspects of programming and scheduling of projects, providing the reader with the practical planning skills needed to be successful. Unlike most other textbooks that largely focus on the critical path method, Programming and Scheduling Techniques includes a comprehensive review of a range of practices used around the world. Topics covered in this thoroughly revised edition include: deterministic scheduling techniques including the bar chart, the critical path method, the critical chain method, the multiple activity chart and the line of balance a comparison of the critical path and critical chain scheduling techniques options for computer-based scheduling stochastic scheduling techniques including the critical path method based on Monte Carlo simulation and the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) risk in scheduling work study. By covering a broad range of scheduling techniques this book is suitable for those planning projects in any industry, particularly in interdisciplinary or international contexts. Written for students studying undergraduate and postgraduate architecture, building, construction/project management, quantity surveying, property development and civil engineering programs.

The topic of this book is known as dynamic scheduling, and is used to refer to three dimensions of project management and scheduling: the construction of a baseline schedule and the analysis of a project schedule’s risk as preparation of the project control phase during project progress. This dynamic scheduling point of view implicitly assumes that the usability of a project’s baseline schedule is rather limited and only acts as a point of reference in the project life cycle. Consequently, a project schedule should especially be considered as nothing more than a predictive model that can be used for resource efficiency calculations, time and cost risk analyses, project tracking and performance measurement, and so on. In this book, the three dimensions of dynamic scheduling are highlighted in detail and are based on and inspired by a combination of academic research studies at Ghent University (www.ugent.be), in-company trainings at Vlerick Business School (www.vlerick.com) and consultancy projects at OR-AS (www.or-as.be). First, the construction of a project baseline schedule is a central theme throughout the various chapters of the book, and is discussed from a complexity point of view with and without the presence of project resources. Second, the creation of an awareness of the weak parts in a baseline schedule is discussed at the end of the two baseline scheduling parts as schedule risk analysis techniques that can be applied on top of the baseline schedule. Third, the baseline schedule and its risk analyses can be used as guidelines during the project control step where actual deviations can be corrected within the margins of the project’s time and cost reserves. The second edition of this book has seen corrections, additions and amendments in detail throughout the book. Moreover Chapter 15 on "Dynamic Scheduling with ProTrack" has been completely rewritten and extended with a section on "ProTrack as a research tool".

Information Systems Project Management addresses project management in the context of information systems. It deals with general project management principles, with focus on the special characteristics of information systems. It is based on an earlier text, but shortened to focus on essential project management elements.This updated version presents various statistics indicating endemic problems in completing information system projects on time, within budget, at designed functionality. While successful completion of an information systems project is a challenge, there are some things that can be done to improve the probability of project success. This book reviews a number of project management tools, including, developing organizational ability to work on projects, better systems analysis and design, project estimation, and project control and termination.