Schedule Control in PMP

What is the definition of Schedule Control in PMP?

• It is a method of monitoring schedule performance and controlling changes to the schedule baseline.
• Measurement of schedule performance efficiency is the schedule performance index (SPI)
  If the SPI is greater than 1.0 or 100%, the project is ahead of schedule. If the SPI is less than 1.0 or 100%, the project is behind schedule.

What is Project Schedule

In PMP, Project Schedule is:

• a collection of planned dates for performing activities and meeting schedule milestones.
• to coordinate activities into a master plan in order to complete the project objectives on time.

Simulation in PMP

Simulation is a technique that uses computer models and estimates of risk to translate uncertainties at a detailed level into their potential impact on project objectives.

The techniques includes:

• Monte Carlo Analysis
  - uses Three-Point Estimates for variables in the model.
  - simulates various outcomes of the project schedule to provide statistical distribution of the calculated results.
  
  
• What-If Analysis
  - uses the project's logic network to assess the feasibility of the schedule under adverse conditions.
  - can also used to mitigate the impact of unexpected simulations when preparing the risk response plan.

Schedule Compression in Project Time Management

Schedule compression is the shortening of the project schedule without affecting the project scope. I alleviates bottlenecks without sacrificing the project schedule.

What is Fast-Tracking?

• It is the process of compressing total project duration by performing some activities concurrently that were originally scheduled sequentially.
• It usually comes without any extra cost incurred.
  

What is Crashing?

• Crashing is a schedule compression method.
• It analyses cost and schedule tradeoffs to determine how to obtain the greatest amount of schedule compression for the least incremental cost.

Key Terms in CPM

For CPM, I have listed the following key terms:

• Free Float
  This is the total time a single activity can be delayed without delayhing the early start of any successor activities.
  
  
• Total Slack
  This is the total time an activity can be delayed without delaying project completion.
  
  
• Project Slack
  This is the total time the project can be delayed without passing the customer expected completion date.

Critical Path Method in Schedule Development

Schedule development is an act of establishing start and finish dates for project activities so that a project schedules can be created.

What is Critical Path Method (CPM)?

• CPM includes determining the longest path in the network diagram.
• It states the earliest and latest an activitiy can start.
• The earliest and lastest it can be completed.

What is the critical path?

• it is the longest duration path through a network diagram.
• it determines the shortest time to complete the project.

What is Parametric Estimation?

Parametric estimates:

• are quatitiatively based durations made by multiplying a productivitiy unit rate by the quantities reqired for a specific category of work.
• provide regression analysis, learning curve, etc.

Analogous Estimation

One of the estimation common used in project management is the "Analogous Estimation". What exactly is Analogous Estimation?

• It is also known as "Top Down" Estimation.
• It uses estimations from previous activities to estimate future durations. The validity of duration estimates derived using this method depends on:
  - historical information
  - similarity of the historical projects
  - expert judgement
  

What is Three Point Estimation

In PMP, the term "Three Point Estimation" is a technique used to estimate the time required for a project based on historical information. This includes:

• Most Optimistic
  Best case scenario in which nothing goes wrong and all conditions are optimal.
  
  
• Most Likely
  The most likely duration and there may be some problem but a lot will go right.
  
  
• Most Pessimistic
  The worst case scenario which everything goes wrong.
  

Activity Duration Estimation

What is Activity Duration Estimation?

Activity Duration Estimation is the act of estimating the number of work units needed to complete individual project activities and this shapes the preliminary project schedule.

What are the key terms in Activity Duration Estimation?

• Elapsed Time
  This is the actual calender days/months/years required for an activity from start to finish.
  
  
• Effort
  This is the number of person-hours or persons-days required to complete the activity.
  This estimates the effort to be provided based on the cost estimation and resources estimation.
  

Definition of Precedence Relationship in PMP

Precedence Relationship

Precedence Relationship is always assigned to activities based on the dependencies of each activity.

There are four recognized precedence relationships:

• Finish-to-Start (FS)
• Finish-to-Finish (FF)
• Start-to-Start (SS)
• Start-to-Finish (SF)

What is Lag?

• is a delay in the start of a successor activity.
• is determined by a dependency.

What is Lead?

• is implemented when you need to accelerate a successor activity in order to shorten the overall project schedule.
• will vary in length depending on the acceleration required by the amended schedule.
  

Activity Dependencies

Types of Activity Dependencies include:

• Mandatory / Hard Logic
  - Inherent in the nature of work done.
  
  
• External
  - Based on the needs of a party outside of the project.
  
  
• Discretionary
  - Dependencies defined by Project Management Team at their discretion.
  - There is no choice between Mandatory and External Dependencies.
  - This is the preferred method of arranging activities based on conditions, guidelines or best practices.
  
  

What is Activity Sequencing and Activity Dependency in PMP

Activity Sequencing is:

• a planning method for the purpose of creating the project schedule.
• identifying and documenting interactivity dependencies among project activities.

An example of activity sequencing is the flowchart.


Activity Dependency is:

• a logical relationship that exists between 2 project activities.
• the sequence among project activities.
  

What is Activity?

Activity in PMP is defined as:

• must be performed to produce the project's deliverables.
• is usually defined at the work package level.

Work Packages or Tasks are:

• activities that can be broken down into tasks by the work package owner.
  

An Activity:

• is an element of project work that requires action to produce a deliverable.
• shares some common characteristics such as expected duration, budget and resources.
  

Project Time Management in PMP

Project Time Management in PMP consists of the following areas:

• Activity Definition
  Identify the specific scheduled activities that need to be performed to produce the various project deliverables.
  
  
• Activity Sequencing
  Identify and document the dependencies among the scheduled activities.
  
  
• Activity Resources Estimation
  Estimate the type and quantify of resources that will be needed to complete each scheduled activity.
  
  
• Activity Duration Estimation
  Estimate the number of work periods that will be needed to complete each scheduled activity.
  
  
• Schedule Development
  Analyze activity sequence, duration, resource and schedule constraint to create the project plan.
  
  
• Schedule Control
  Control changes to the project schedule.