1. Planning PERT - Project Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM - Critical Path Method are network analysis techniques that are commonly used in project management in order to schedule, plan and control activities within the project.

2. PERT/CPM is made up of three parts Planning: describes the project details and the network including, a) Identifying and sequencing activities, b) Drawing the network model, c) Estimating time and costs of each activity. Scheduling: Analysis of the project network to determine completion times, critical activities and the start and finish times for activities. Control: Keeping track of progress and making the necessary adjustments.

3. Example: Computer Training Centre You have decided to start a training program in computer systems and networks. For this reason you have acquired a disused warehouse in Battersea, which has recently been refurbished to facilitate a computer laboratory and supporting administrative space. Management have held a shareholder’s meeting where funds were allocated to the project and a committee was formed in order to oversee the project. The main tasks for the committee are as follows, Secure the room for the laboratory, furnish it and complete the preparation for installing the hardware Staff the new laboratory. The new lab has to be made available within three months, which is the total time allocated to the project.

4. Simplified activity table for this project

5. Construct Network nodes 1,2,3,n, each of which are linked by activities A, B, C … and the links show the order of each activity. •  Rule 1: Each activity (arrow) can be used only once and it must link two separate nodes. •  Rule 2: Two nodes can have only one arrow between them.

6. Procedure for constructing PERT/CPM diagrams The quickest way top construct the diagram is to follow three simple steps, Step 1. Identify the relationships that are independent, those that are 1:M and those that are M: 1. The independent activities can run at any time, so they all start from node 1 and go their separate ways. Step 2. Draw all the activities as separate relationships either 1:M or M: 1 and the activities labelled accordingly. Step 3. The next step is to link these dependent graphs according to their activity arrows.

7. Step 1 Identify Activities: a) Independent b) 1:M c) M:1 Independent activities (A, C, H), 1:M are (A: B, D), (C: E, F) M: 1 are, (D, H, I :J), (B, G :I), (E, F :G)

8. Step 2: Draw separate relationships Independent activities (A, C, H), 1:M are (A: B, D), (C: E, F) M: 1 are, (D, H, I :J), (B, G :I), (E, F :G)

9. Step 3: link these dependent graphs according to their activity arrows. Number nodes arbitrarily.

10. Each task is connected to its successor tasks in such a way as to form a network of nodes and connecting lines. The chart is complete when all final tasks come together at the completion node. When drawing up the plan, be sure to include tasks for documentation writing. These tasks are usually time- consuming; so don't underestimate how long it will take to complete them. PERT charts are usually drawn on ruled paper with the horizontal axis indicating time period divisions in days, weeks, months, and so on. Although it is possible to draw a PERT chart for an entire project, the usual practice is to break the plans into smaller, more meaningful parts.