1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Gantt Chart Basics Project planning tool –Represents timing of tasks in project. –Simple to understand and easy to construct –Used by most project managers. http://www.ganttchart.com/

6. 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.

8. 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.

9. Making Gantt Charts on Excel