University Project: BU345 Week 4 Network Diagram Essay

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of network diagrams in project management, addressing key concepts such as activity-on-node, critical path analysis, and project scheduling. The report explores the graphical representation of project tasks, responsibilities, and workflow using network diagrams, emphasizing their role in tracking project status and improving employee performance. It explains the significance of early start, late start, early finish, and late finish dates in project schedules, along with the forward and backward pass techniques for determining the critical path and project duration. Furthermore, the essay highlights the importance of the critical path in identifying the longest sequence of activities and its impact on project deadlines. References to relevant academic literature are included to support the analysis.

Running head: NETWORK DIAGRAM ESSAY
Network Diagram Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1NETWORK DIAGRAM ESSAY
Question 1
In the project task, responsibilities and workflow, Network Diagram is represented
graphically. With number of arrows and boxes, the chart is created. Network diagram maps the
work schedule and sequence of any project and it helps in tracking the status of every stage
(Harrison & Lock, 2017). Network diagram allows the project manager in tracking the aspects of
the project and share the report with the other team members. The diagram can improve the
productivity and employee’s performance and helps in reducing the stress of the employees who
are working on a project.
Question 2
Activity-On-Node is the term of project management, which describes the way to
creating the diagramming process that utilizes the boxes for denoting the project activities
(Susanto, Ahmadi & Suharyo, 2018). This can be used for providing the network logic’s visual
representation in a project schedule.
In the Activity-On-Arrow network, a single line or arrow between two circles represents
the activity. The end and start of every node is connected with the arrow.
Question 3
In project schedule, the dates of early start and late start, early finish and late finish are
the main dates, which are calculated in the project schedule. The dates for early start in the
project schedule are earliest schedule in which the activities are scheduled for starting the
constraints and logic of the schedule of the project (Nunes et al., 2017). The early finish is the
activity that can be schedule for finishing the project early in the given project schedule’s

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constraints and logic. The activity that is late start is scheduled for starting the project late
without rescheduling the project for early finish. Late finish of the project is the activity, which
can be finished late or without rescheduling the project’s late finish.
Question 4
The technique for moving forward by the diagram of network for determining the
project’s Free Float or critical path and duration of the project is considered as forward
pass(Nafkha & Wiliński, 2016). Backward pass represents the movement in backwards to end
outcomes for calculating the late start to the findings when there is any float or slack found in the
activity of the project schedule.
Float or slack is the time in which the activity of the project may be delayed without
being delay the project.
While completing the project by using the critical path, this will be longest path in
comparison with the other paths. If any of the project activities is late in their critical path, then
this delays the project.
Late Start is equal to (Late Finish – Duration)
Early Finish is equal to (Early Start + Duration)
Slack or Float time is equal to (Late Start – Early Start)
Question 5
The largest sequence of any activity of project schedule is critical path on the project plan
which must be finished in time for the ongoing project to be completed within due date. Until the

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predecessor activity is finished, the project activity on critical will not start (Nafkha & Wiliński,
2016). If the activity delays for one day, the project will delay for one day unless the project
activity follows the delay activity, which can be finished one day earlier.

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References
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Nafkha, R., & Wiliński, A. (2016). The critical path method in estimating project
duration. Information Systems in Management, 5(1), 78-87.
Nunes, E., Manner, M., Mitiche, H., & Gini, M. (2017). A taxonomy for task allocation
problems with temporal and ordering constraints. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 90,
55-70.
Susanto, A. D., Ahmadi, A., & Suharyo, O. S. (2018). The Optimization of Multipurpose
Building Development on Project Scheduling Using Precedence Diagram Method
(PDM). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASRO-STTAL, 9(1), 1-7.