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Planning & Scheduling Table of Contents |
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| Topic 1 |
Planning: Principles of planning provides an overview of the answers to the
question "Why Plan?"It addresses the consequences of poor planning and the benefits of proper planning. This session discusses the development of an
activity list and understanding the relationships between predecessor and
successor activities. |
| Topic 2 |
Precedence
Diagramming Method (PDM): PDM or activity on node method is explained. Early and late start and finish dates are discussed. Calculations for the forward pass and backward pass are explained and an exercise is provided. Concepts of total float, free float, critical path, and near critical paths are also presented. |
| Topic 3 |
Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) ADM or activity on arrow is explained and compared to the PDM. The ADM is applied to the same example used in the PDM session. The same calculations and features as discussed for PDM are explained for ADM. ADM is presented for overall knowledge and not for utilization. |
| Topic 4 |
Overlapping Techniques: Network overlapping techniques are presented to familiarize participants with other logical relationships in addition to simple finish to start relationships such as start to start, finish to finish, and finish to start. |
| Topic 5 |
Computer Reports: Sample computer generated schedules and reports are presented for review and analysis. Emphasis is placed on using the documents to ensure the developed plan is workable, realistic, and as intended prior to its implementation. |
| Topic 6 |
Schedule Submittal Analysis: Actual project schedule submittals are analyzed to provide insight into how they should be reviewed. Actual case submittals are reviewed to assess their completeness. |
| Topic 7 |
Status and Progress: The requirement of timely and accurate information regarding quality, time, and cost variances for management to take remedial action is discussed. The differences between and methods for reporting status and progress of work plans are presented. |
| Topic 8 |
Updates and Revisions: Updating and revising schedules are necessary steps to determine the impact of activity status, progress, and changes on the completion of the project. Changes to the work and work sequencing resulting in changes to activity relationships and impact on contract completion are discussed. |
| Topic 9 |
Work Breakdown Structure: Defining and using work breakdown structures is necessary for segregating work by responsibility and accommodating resource assignments. |
| Topic 10 |
Resource Allocation and Leveling: Resource availability is crucial to successful timely project completion. Resource assignment and leveling provides a basis for arriving at target schedules which take into account resource limitations. |
| Topic 11 |
Cost/Time Requirements: There may be conditions which necessitate accelerating or stretching project schedules/contract times. Studies are usually performed to determine cost benefit trade-offs of "crashing" work schedules to meet or beat contract times. |
| Topic 12 |
Performance Measurement: Performance measurement provides accurate project assessments and forecasts of project time and cost variances. Earned values are compared against the baseline values and against actual values to determine variances. |
| Topic 13 |
Schedule Use in Delay Analysis: It is generally acknowledged that only CPM schedules can be used to establish and quantify project delay in construction delay claims. The steps necessary to prepare as-built and entitlement schedules are presented and methods for quantifying excusable compensable and non-compensable delay, and non-excusable delay are discussed. |
| Topic 14 |
Multiple Projects - Planning & Scheduling: The complexities of project priority assignments, limited resources to performed work concurrently on multiple projects, and having the responsibility to complete all projects by a fixed deadline is a situation often encountered by project managers. This situation is presented and solutions are discussed. Management reports for displaying progress on multiple projects are also discussed. |