Project Planning Basics Project: set of activities which ends with specific accomplishment (the goal) –Non-routine tasks –Distinct start/finish dates –Resource constraints (time/money/people/equipment). Problem solving process –What am I trying to do? –What are my choices? –How do I decide? –Decide and execute!

Divide and Conquer Tasks: activities which must be completed to achieve goal. –Break the project into tasks and subtasks. –Tasks have: Start and end points Are short relative to the project Are significant (not "going to library", but rather, "search literature"). Use verb-noun form for naming tasks, e.g. "create drawings" or "build prototype". Use action verbs such as "create", "define" and "gather" rather than "will be made". Each task has a duration. Very difficult to estimate durations accurately. Doubling your best guess may work well.

Project Planning Basics - 2 Milestones: important checkpoints or interim goals –Used to catch scheduling problems early –Name by noun-verb form, for example: "report due", "parts ordered", "prototype complete" Your plan will evolve –Be flexible and update on a regular basis –Identify risk areas, for example: Things you don't know how to do but will have to learn Difficulty/duration unknown Delivery times unpredictable

Work Breakdown Statement WBS: A categorized list of tasks with an estimate of resources required to complete the task. WBS # Task Description Est. Person -Hrs WhoResources Matls. and Suppls. 5Profile motor power 5.1Design test stand20SE, JMPro/E 5.2Build test stand15SE, JMFrame & brake parts$35 5.3Test 3 motors3SE, JMStroboscope$75 5.4Plot torque vs. speed2JMExcel

Gantt Chart Basics Project planning tool –Represents timing of tasks in project. –Simple to understand and easy to construct –Used by most project managers.

Gantt Chart Basics Each task takes up one row Dates run along the top in increments of days, weeks or months Expected time for each task a horizontal bar –left end marks the beginning –right end marks the expected completion date. Tasks may run sequentially, in parallel or overlapping.

Gantt Chart – contd. Keep the tasks to a manageable number –No more than 15 or 20 –Chart fits on a single page –More complex projects may require subordinate charts –Add a column for initials: who is responsible Important events appear on timeline, but are not tasks –E.g. prototype completion date, design review/presentation date. –“Milestone" events are special symbol, often an upside- down triangle.

Making Gantt Charts on Excel