Methods to Develop and Maintain Project Schedules

BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE
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Contents
AMP LO 6.......................................................................................................................................3
LO 6: Understand how to develop and maintain project schedules................................................3
6.1 Outline different methods used to develop and maintain project schedules.........................3
6.2 Show how the different methods can be used for projects of different scales and
complexity to: estimate the duration of project activities (including critical path analysis).......3
6.2 Show how the different methods can be used for projects of different scales and
complexity to: monitor progress against project schedules (including earned value
management)................................................................................................................................5
6.2 Show how the different methods can be used for projects of different scales and
complexity to: maintain project schedules to take account of deviations from the initial project
plan (including critical path analysis, critical chain)...................................................................6
6.2 Show how the different methods can be used for projects of different scales and
complexity to: communicate project schedules to different stakeholders (including the use of
Gantt charts, work breakdown structures, histograms, S-curves)...............................................9
6.3 Recognise when program evaluation review technique (PERT) or Monte Carlo simulation
would be appropriate methods to estimate the duration of project activities..............................9
AMP LO 12...................................................................................................................................10
Learning Outcome 12 - Understand the roles of ethics and professionalism within project
management...................................................................................................................................10
12.1 Determine how to behave in compliance with recognised standards of conduct for project
management...............................................................................................................................10
12.2 Explain the main features of a profession and individual, organisational and institutional
responsibilities for developing and maintaining a profession...................................................11
12.3 Explain the personal qualities and technical expertise required to function as a
professional................................................................................................................................12
12.4 Describe the characteristics and benefits of a community of practice within a profession
...................................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
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AMP LO 6
LO 6: Understand how to develop and maintain project schedules
6.1 Outline different methods used to develop and maintain project schedules
The different methods of project scheduling include -
1. Mathematical analysis - PERT and CPA are the two usually used methods by project
managers. These help in calculating time span of project by scope of the project.
a. Critical path method - the tree diagram of every project has critical path which estimates
minimum and maximum time needed to complete the project. This method also helps in
determining critical task which must be incorporated into project.
b. PERT- it is a method to schedule flow of task in project as well as evaluation total time taken
to finish it. This method assists represent the way each task is relying on the other. In order to
schedule the project by using this technique, it is required to define the activities or tasks, arrange
them in systematic manner as well as define milestones.
2. Gantt Chart - for tracking progress as well as reporting purposes, this method is a
visualisation technique which is utilised in management of a project in civil engineering.
It is utilised by the managers most of the time in order to get an idea regarding average
time required to complete a project. Gantt chart scheduled of project as a bar chart which
represent main activities in systematic way in the sequence on left versus time. Each
activity is represented through a bar which reflects the initiation and date of activity and
thus its duration.
6.2 (i) Show how the different methods can be used for projects of different scales and
complexity to: estimate the duration of project activities (including critical path analysis)
On the projects which are small scale or large scale, PERT charts and critical path analysis
are used in which the first step is to list all the activities in plan. For each particular activity, the
earliest starting date is demonstrated, estimated time length it will require whether it is sequential
of parallel is demonstrated. For planning of building a house, there are some task sequences and
each task takes distinct amount of resources and time. To build the walls and lay roof, it takes
more time than to install fixtures and faucets.
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If the project manager had to figure out the critical path of the project, they would look at
the sequence which takes most amount of time like -
The task description of and the duration of activity are as follows:
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