Question

Do research on the Web to learn the history of the PERT technique and identify some of the early projects that used this technique.

Answer 1

Q.- Do research on the Web to learn the history of the PERT technique and identify some of the early projects that used this technique.

Ans.-

P.E.R.T. which stands for Program Evaluation and Review Technique can be explained, in the words of famous management thinker Harold Kerzner, as "PERT is basically a management planning and control tool. It can be considered as a road map for a particular program or project in which all of the major elements (events) have been completely identified, together with their corresponding interrelations'’. In simple words, P.E.R.T. empowers a manager to sequentially arrange the activities involved in a project and gives insight to them which activity should be completed first before the completion of other activities. It also gives other information/insight to the mangers. It is also known as the network diagram. Initially, PERT was known as Program Evaluation Research Task but later it was renamed as Program Evaluation and Review Technique. It is very crucial in the completion of complex projects as it helps the managers in effectively organizing the complex activities by providing a graphic representation of the project.

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (P.E.R.T.) was developed by the USA Navy and its other allies in 1958 while working on the Polaris Missile Project. The scientists who developed this P.E.R.T. technique under the patronage of the USA navy were Booz, Allen, and Hamilton. It was the time period when the US Administration was very much concerned about the nuclear assets of the then Soviet Union and, hence, wanted to save the USA from any unfortunate incidents by completing the Polaris Missile Project. It is said by the experts that due to the application of P.E.R.T., USA Navy was able to effectively coordinate with the 30,000 personnel and completed the Polaris Missile Project before 2 years of the expected completion date. Due to this extraordinary success of P.E.R.T., the application of this technique in all government projects was made compulsory by the American administration.

The other early project which used the P.E.R.T. technique was during the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. During the1968 Winter Olympics, the P.E.R.T. technique was used for three years for the completion of all the projects which were necessary for the successful completion of the1968 Winter Olympics. This was the very first kind of sports event when a scientifically developed project completion tool i.e., P.E.R.T. was used. Due to the use of the PERT technique in the Winter Olympics 1968, a revival of scientific management happened during that period.

Hence, the Polar Submarine Project of the USA Navy and 1968 Winter Olympics were the early projects which used the P.E.R.T. technique in the completion of its projects and saved valuable resources, time and energy.