Question

Schedule Failure

The scheduling techniques taught by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and that have learned all seem suitable in practice, yet we find that many, if not most, projects fall behind schedule and go over budget. Why?

Answer 1

The Project Management Institute scheduling techniques are of 4 types. They are:

1. The Milestone Chart

2. The Gantt Chart

3. Full Wall Scheduling

4. Precedence Networks: This is further divided into 2 types.

a. Critical Path Method (CPM)

b. Program Evaluation and Review Technique.

The projects fall behind the schedule and go over the budget which is due to lack of proper Preparation of the Project Master Schedule.

Project Master Schedule:

The Planning Stage is critical aspect of any project. The Project Master Schedule is one of the major Planning and Control tools available to the project manager. It is the graphic presentation of project related activities necessary to produce required output. It is the important output of the planning process. For the effective control of project, master schedule is necessary for monitoring progress and comparing the results.

Primary administrative responsiblity of project manager is to complete the project within the stipulated time and budget. Projects which crosses the time frame established in master schedule will exceed the planned costs.

There are seven steps for the development of any Master Schedule:

1. Defining Project objectives.

2. Division of the work to be accomplished by using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

3.Sequencing the work Activities .

4. Estimation of Project Time and Costs.

5. Reconciling The Master Schedule with Available Project Timing Constraints.

6. Reconciling the Master Schedule with Available Resources.

7. Review the Schedule.

These Steps must always be undertaken in proper sequence although the methods used to complete each step are dependent upon size, complexity, and duration.

After the preparation of Master Schedule provides the project manager a basis and for slection and development of the most appropriate techique for the project.