Project Planning

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic you should be able to:

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic you should be able to: describe, interpret and create ….. ‒ Gantt charts ‒ critical path analysis (CPA) ……. as tools for project planning;

How can ICT help? Project Management tools: Gantt charts Critical Path Analysis (CPA)

Gantt Charts e.g. shooting one scene of a car commercial

Gantt Charts a tool for planning and scheduling projects takes the form of a timeline chart lays out the order for tasks to be carried out. each task is represented as a block of time each block gives an indication of how long a task is expected to take

Using Gantt Charts for Planning an overall plan of the project can be constructed lists the order that tasks need to be completed indicates when each task is to begin indicates the time it will take for each task lists any necessary predecessor tasks indicates where simultaneous tasks can occur indicates total time of project

Using Gantt Charts for Planning staff can be allocated to tasks people and equipment hired at the right time pressure points can be identified –busy times & critical tasks

Gantt Charts

Critical Path Analysis

In a complex project: some of the work can go on at the same time; other sections of work will depend on earlier sections being completed.

Critical Path Analysis In a complex project: some of the work can go on at the same time; other sections of work will depend on earlier sections being completed. Critical path analysis is a way of : showing the relationships between the parts of the project, showing the times that each part will take to complete showing the order each part must be done in. identifying the critical path.

Critical Path Analysis In a complex project: some of the work can go on at the same time; other sections of work will depend on earlier sections being completed. Critical path analysis is a way of : showing the relationships between the parts of the project, showing the times that each part will take to complete showing the order each part must be done in. identifying the critical path. the critical path is the path that takes the longest time.

Critical Path Analysis In a complex project: some of the work can go on at the same time; other sections of work will depend on earlier sections being completed. Critical path analysis is a way of : showing the relationships between the parts of the project, showing the times that each part will take to complete showing the order each part must be done in. identifying the critical path. the critical path is the path that takes the longest time. if one of the parts on this critical path is delayed, then the whole project will be delayed.

CPA example:

a project can be broken down into seven tasks - A to G. –task A, which takes 4 weeks must be completed before B or C can start. –both A and C must be completed before B can start.

CPA example: a project can be broken down into seven tasks - A to G. –task A, which takes 4 weeks must be completed before B or C can start. –both A and C must be completed before B can start.

CPA example: a project can be broken down into seven tasks - A to G. –task A, which takes 4 weeks must be completed before B or C can start. –both A and C must be completed before B can start. So the earliest that task B could begin would be six weeks into the project (4 weeks for A and 2 weeks for B).

CPA example: each path from start to end has a total time, –found by adding up the times of each task on the path. the critical path is the path that takes the longest time.

CPA example: in the diagram the critical path is A->C->B->E->G which takes a total of 14 weeks to complete.

CPA example: in the diagram the critical path is A->C->B->E->G which takes a total of 14 weeks to complete. CPA allows the project manager to identify tasks where running over time will have an effect on meeting the overall deadline –extra resources can be allocated to them if they start to run behind schedule.