IIPM

Project Time Management : CPM Networks

CPM Networks: Rules for Construction
1.A project net work may have only one Start node.
2. A project net work may have only one End node
3.A link/activity has duration ( except for dummy activity)
4.Nodes have no duration
5.Time moves from Left to Right
6.A net work may not contain Loops
7.A network may not contain dangles/hangings/hammocks

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Project Time Management : CPM Networks

CPM Networks: Critical Path Points to note
1. Any delay on the critical path will delay the
project.
2. There will always be one critical path through the
network joining the critical events/activities.
3. The critical path is the longest path through the
network,but the shortest time within which a
project could be completed..
4. Any reduction in critical path duration reduces the
duration of the project as well.

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Project Time Management : CPM Networks

CPM Networks: Critical Path Points to note
5. As we reduce activity times along the critical
path, we must continually check for any new
critical path.
6. Identify near-critical paths those whose lengths
are within, say , 80-90% of the duration of the
critical path or those with a total float of less
than say 10 % of the projects uncompleted
duration.

IIPM

Project Time Management : CPM Networks

CPM Networks: Float / Slack
Total Float = Earliest Start ~Latest Start
Total Float - is an indication of how long an
activitys start or completion may be delayed
without affecting the end date of the project.
Free Float = Earliest completion date for the
activity ~ the earliest start date of succeeding
activity.
Free Float is the time by which an activity may
be delayed w/o affecting any subsequent activity.
Events have Slack, activities posses Float

Project Time Management : CPM Networks

IIPM

PERT Networks:
- PERT stands for Program Evaluation and Review
Technique.
- Was developed for the Ballistic Missiles Program and is
said to have saved considerable time in the development of
Polaris Missile.
- It Takes care of the uncertainty in task duration
estimates,enables finding out probability of completing or
not completing a project in a given time or against a target
date.
- Developed to manage expensive, high-risk and state-of-art

Project Time Management : CPM Networks

PERT Networks:
Expected time,te =

a + 4m + b

Where a = Optimistic time estimate

m= Most likely time estimate
b = Pessimistic time estimate
( b > a , always)

IIPM

Project Time Management : CPM Networks

IIPM

PERT Networks:
- PERT stands for Program Evaluation and Review
Technique.
- Was developed for the Ballistic Missiles Program and is
said to have saved considerable time in the development of
Polaris Missile.
- It takes care of the uncertainty in task duration
estimates,enables finding out probability of completing or
not completing a project in a given time or against a target
date.
- Developed to manage expensive, high-risk and state-of-art
projects like R&D Projects, some IT projects,Space
projects.