Idea Transcript
Project Planning & Scheduling "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." Warren Buffett.
Index Core papers: The Attributes of a Scheduler A Guide to Good Scheduling Practice Dynamic Scheduling
It's just one dam project after another! [ See our client list ]
Links, Lags & Ladders Schedule Float Schedule Levels Schedule Calculations
PMI-SP Exam Prep
The need for good scheduling practice
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Scheduling Training and Certifications Scheduling Consultancy Services
PMI-SP Certification
Visit the Mosaicproject's Blog for scheduling news and views
Schedule Risk Assessment Schedule Quality & Conformance Scoring
Assessing Schedule Delay and Disruption
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Published Papers Resources, Organisations, Books & Standards Scheduling Tools
Mosaic's Blogs
Magazine Articles Mosaic's comprehensive Project Management Knowledge Index
Project Controls
Project Time Management
Scheduling
Project Cost Management
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PMOs and Forensic Analysis
Core Papers & White Papers: The questions 'what makes a good schedule?' 'what makes a good planner?' and 'what should they do?' are addressed in these papers:
Core Papers
Latest White Papers
These are substantial papers focusing on core aspects of our profession.
These are relatively short papers on a specific subject.
A Guide to Scheduling Good Practice describes the work undertaken by a scheduler to create an effective 'dynamic schedule' and is consistent with the PMBOK Guide and the PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling. [Open the paper] Attributes of a Scheduler considers the personal skills and competencies needed by a person to be an effective scheduler and describes the various 'roles' a scheduler will have during the life cycle of a typical project including the difference between planning and scheduling and the scheduling value proposition. [Open the paper] Dynamic Scheduling describes the benefits derived from developing a 'good schedule' as defined in a 'A Guide to Scheduling Good Practice'. [Open the paper] Links, Lags & Ladders focuses on the issues, problems and challenges of overlapping tasks in a schedule using various link types (F-S, S-S, F-F-, S-F) with or without lead and lag durations, the more sophisticated 'ladder' concept, and the importance of actively managing the 'space' between tasks. [Open the paper] Schedule Float discusses the various calculations and definitions for float in both ADM and PDM networks. [Open the paper] Schedule Levels provides a guide the 5 levels of schedule typically used on major projects from the 'Master Schedule' to the 'Detailed Short Term Schedule', adapted from Bechtel & Fluor standards. [Open the paper] Schedule Calculations a guide the Time Analysis and Float calculations used in PDM schedules. [Open the paper]
For a complete annotated list of WPs and Blogs visit our Time Management Reference Page WP1039
Project_Planning
WP1043
Defining the Critical Path
WP1052
Duration Estimating
WP1059
Schedule Compression
WP1060
Rolling Wave
WP1064
Concurrent Delays
WP1088
DCMA assessment
WP1093
Project Controls
We are regularly adding new White Papers on a wide range of topics [Go to the PM Knowledge Index ] See below for a listing of our published conference papers
The need for good scheduling practice: The disastrous state of schedule practice in the construction industry is detailed in the report Managing the Risk of Delayed Completion in the 21st Century [or download the smaller executive summary]. Between December 2007 and January 2008, The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) conducted a survey of the construction industry’s knowledge and experience of different methods of project control, and time management, record keeping, monitoring and training. The findings suggest there is a lot of work needed to achieve general 'best practice', Based on the reports findings, the CIOB believes that it is essential to educate project planners and schedulers in time management best practice with an aim to reduce the incidence of delayed project completion. To achieve this, the CIOB have adopted a three-phase strategy to develop the required standards for the performance of effective time control. The CIOB’s Policy Statement defines their 3 phase approach to improving schedule management in the construction industry. Mosaic's Patrick Weaver is a member of the group of international planners and schedulers working on this project. The key person driving the report and the on-going work by CIOB to develop the 'Best Practice' standard and scheduling certification was Keith Pickavance, former CIOB President and Keynote speaker at PM Asia 2008. Read 'Time is NOT money', a conversation with Keith Pickavance' for some background on this initiative and Keith's assertion the 21st Century will be 'The Age of Time'. We are working to support the CIOB initiative to develop 'The Guide' and it's associated training/certification. We definitely expect to see the management of 'time risks' improved from this work and the comparable efforts being lead by Planning Planet and the PMI Scheduling Community of Practice. Publication of 'The Practice Standard for Scheduling' was only the beginning!
The Practice Standard for Scheduling 2nd Edition Price: $60.50 (Australia only) Effective project scheduling is critical to the success of a project. PMI's The Practice Standard for Scheduling is a systematic guide describing the hallmarks of an effective scheduling methodology, as well as providing quantifiable means for assessing the maturity of a schedule model. Chapters: 1 - Intro 2 - Schedule Model principles and concepts (methods and techniques) 3 - Good Practices Overview 4 - Scheduling Components
This standard is available from: Mosaic's book shop The PMI Bookshop: www.pmi.org Amazon: www.amazon.com
ie, a listing of items and their characteristics: name, required/optional, calculated/manual, data format, behaviour description, good practices, associated component, definition
5 - Conformance Index and Conformance Scoring in Appx D and E. See more on Schedule Conformance Scoring Plus a lengthy Glossary Buy On-Line or Request a quotation/invoice
Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects. Publisher: Wiley Blackwell & CIOB UK Price: $99.oo (Australia only) Without effective time management there can be no effective resource management, cost management or delay management. The primary purpose of this Guide is to set down the standards necessary to facilitate the effective and competent management of time in complex projects. It defines the standards by which project schedules will be prepared, quality controlled, updated, reviewed and revised in practice and describes the standards of performance which should reasonably be required of a project scheduler. The Guide has been developed as a scheduling reference document capable of wide application. It is a practical treatise on the processes to be followed and standards to be achieved in effective management of time. It can be used in any jurisdiction, under any form of contract, with any type of project and should be identified as the required standard for the preparation and updating of contract programs, progress reporting and time management. The concepts contained in The Guide are implemented by the CIOB Complex Projects Contract 2013 (CPC2013); see more on the contract. Read the background to the development of The Guide.
Preview a chapter and buy The Guide GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules - GAO-16-89G: Published: 22nd December 2015. Price: Free This schedule guide is a companion to the GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide. The Schedule Assessment Guide and Cost Guide, together offer a consistent methodology for developing, managing, and evaluating capital program cost estimates includes the concept of scheduling the necessary work to a timeline. Simply put, schedule variances are usually followed by cost variances. Because some program costs such as labor, supervision, rented equipment, and facilities cost more if the program takes longer, a reliable schedule can contribute to an understanding of the cost impact if the program does not finish on time. In addition, management tends to respond to schedule delays by adding more resources or authorizing overtime. Further, a schedule risk analysis allows for program management to account for the cost effects of schedule slippage when developing the life-cycle cost estimate. A cost estimate cannot be considered credible if it does not account for the cost effects of schedule slippage. Download the GAO Schedule Assessment Guide from: http://www.gao.gov/products/gao-16-89g Download the GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide from: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-3SP
Scheduling Training and Certifications PMI-SPsm Scheduling Professional Credential - PMI's credential for professional schedulers. For more information on the credential and Mosaic's PMI-SP exam prep course options, see:PMI-SP Exam Information & Courses Try 30 free PMI-SP style questions
We have built a new website for Scheduling Certifications - Click below to
See more on our One-on-One Mentored Email™ training for the PMI-SP available world-wide. See more on our 1 Day Workshop and Blended Course options. CIOB (UK) Project Time Management Qualifications - withdrawn by CIOB 'How To' Develop an Effective Schedule - These workshops are designed to build and maintain a positive stakeholder consensus using the power of pro-active 'dynamic scheduling' to build and foster a strong team commitment. Based on the PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling and the CIOB Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects, the workshops focuses on effective schedule planning and control techniques. These courses are designed for people who already know how to use a scheduling tool and wish to move their practice to a more advanced level focused on achieving positive outcomes. The workshops can also form the initial classroom phase for both the PMI-SP and CIOB PTMC Blended exam prep courses. See the dates and locations for our 1 Day public workshops Chose from our One day and Two day in-house course options: See more on our in-house Scheduling Training The Guild of Project Controls Scheduling Qualifications - The Guild of Project Controls have announced the development of a scheduling certification structure. For updates visit www.TheGuild.net AACE Planning and Scheduling Professional™ (PSP™) – An advanced credential focused on construction & engineering professionals with 4 to 8 years experience. See: http://www.aacei.org/cert/whatCertOffers.shtml AACE Certified Scheduling Technician (CST) – An credential to give less experienced professionals with 0 to 4 years experience the opportunity to advance their scheduling skills, knowledge, and professional development. See: http://www.aacei.org/cert/whatCertOffers.shtml The core attributes of a scheduler are defined in: Core Scheduling Paper # 2 Our thoughts on the value of scheduling credentials Should you certify your schedulers? presented at the Construction CPM Conference, Florida, 2012 - download the presentation
Scheduling Consultancy and Support Mosaic's consultants have a wide range of skills, honed over 30 years, designed to enhance the ability of business to harness the skills of their staff to, plan and track projects. [ See more ] Mosaic offers on-site software training and support focusing on the implementation of practices and procedures to optimise the way the project management software is used as a tool to assist in developing effective schedules to plan and control time, resources and costs. [ See more ] Forensic schedule analysis. Mosaic, our associates and consultants have extensive experience in the preparation, analysis and defending of contract claims. [ See more ]
Schedule Risk Assessment & Management Every estimate included is a schedule has a degree of risk (ie, uncertainty that matters) associated with the estimate. It is impossible to predict the future with complete certainty - recognising and managing this risk leads to far better project outcomes than attempting to avoid the risk through contracts or simply ignoring the issue. For more on managing risk, visit our PM Knowledge Index. Tools to help assess schedule risk include: Acumen Risk™ - an integrated cost/schedule risk analysis tool combining true cost and schedule risk analysis against a native project plan together with identified risk events from a project risk register. It is the first truly integrated and easy-to-use cost/schedule risk analysis and risk register software that helps you effectively account for and proactively reduce project risk exposure. Acumen Risk’s Uncertainty Factor is a simple-to-use sliding scale that project teams can relate to, to develop a truly integrated means of linking schedule risk to cost risk so that you can determine the impact of schedule delays on your project cost estimate. See: http://www.deltek.com/products/ppm/risk/acumen-risk Barbecana’s Full Monte is schedule risk analysis software that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Project 2007 through to 2016. Full Monte for Oracle Primavera P6 is a standalone application working directly against the P6 database, so requires no import or export. Full Monte utilizes the Monte Carlo simulation method, and is fast and easy-to-use. Some of the features include: Probability distributions for task durations, resource cost rates, and calendars. Correlations between durations, cost rates. Autocorrelation and seasonality in calendars. Full results for every task. Sophisticated sensitivity analysis. User-defined reports. See: http://barbecana.com/ SCRAM: The Schedule Compliance Risk Assessment Methodology (SCRAM) is an approach for identifying risks to compliance with the program schedule, it is the result of a collaborative effort between Adrian Pitman from the Australian Department of Defence, Angela Tuffley of RedBay Consulting in Australia, and Betsy Clark and Brad Clark of Software Metrics Inc. in the United States.
SCRAM focuses on schedule feasibility and root causes for slippage. It makes no judgment about whether or not a project is technically feasible. SCRAM can be used: By organisations to construct a schedule that maximizes the likelihood of schedule compliance. To ensure common risks are addressed before the project schedule is baselined at the commencement of a project. To monitor project status, performed either ad hoc or to support appropriate milestone reviews To evaluate challenged projects, to assess the likelihood of schedule compliance, root cause of schedule slippage and recommend remediation of project issues
For more information and free resources see: https://sites.google.com/site/scramsitenew/hom
Schedule Quality & Conformance Scoring One of the foundations for successful project management is to start with the right schedule. The devil is not in the detail.... it is in the schedule!! Always check the schedule. The subjective view of someone in the project team which in itself is open to inconsistency is often based on their personal assessment of what the ‘right’ schedule looks like and whether a particular schedule is good enough, there are better options: The PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling include a conformance scoring system that allows schedules to be rated for conformance with accepted good practice. This version of the Standards allows assessors to assess whether a schedule uses (ie contains) a component correctly, not the way it is utilised (ie, its usefulness). To purchase a copy of the PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling go to our [ books page ] The DCMA 14 Point schedule assessment: see WP1088 (required by the USA government). More comprehensive guidance on creating and maintaining a schedule is included in the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Schedule Assessment Guide which supports the scheduling concepts introduced in the Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide. Effective analytical tools are available to automate the checking process. These tools reverse engineer schedules created in a range of software tools and check for errors and inconsistencies. Some of the better options include: Acumen Fuse: A powerful analytical tool that integrates with most of the major scheduling tools: http://www.deltek.com/products/ppm/schedule/acumen-fuse Acumen is a comprehensive analysis and correction tool that includes: Schedule Quality Assurance: Set your own metrics and thresholds to use as a benchmark against future plans or status updates. Performance Evaluation & Schedule Acceleration: Identify potential problems while there is still time for recovery and automatically generate scenarios to get your project back on track, or even ahead of schedule! Schedule Comparison & Forensic Analysis: Fuse can compare an unlimited number of schedule updates and identify not only the differences, but the impact of those changes. Customization: Evaluate schedule, cost, risk, earned value and performance using a combination of Acumen-specific and industry-standard metrics, all customizable to meet your project’s specific needs. Project Reporting: Quickly generate reports on quality, performance, or status of the project from Fuse. Even use the API to automatically publish these reports to 3rd party applications, the web, or Microsoft Sharepoint. Acumen Cloud™: is a web-based schedule benchmarking utility built directly into Fuse that gives you the power to compare your Fuse diagnostics results to other similar projects in terms of size and/or nature. Acumen 360 gives you the ability to create schedule scenarios that accelerate time frames and recover delays. Acumen Schedule Index™ Calculator: is a free web-based utility that scores schedule quality and compares it with industry benchmarks for a more comprehensive level of project analysis.
The Acumen Fuse Cloud Schedule Analyzer: For Primavera P3 or P6, detailed analysis and expert recommendations with a wide range of capabilities and reports for schedule maintenance add the eForensic package for forensic analysis - http://scheduleanalyzer.com Schedule Inspector: Barbecana’s Schedule Inspector does 30 different tests on your schedule, including all 14 points in the Defense Contract Management Agency's (DCMA's) assessment guide for Microsoft Project 2007 or later schedules, plus many others including: redundant relationships, out-of-sequence progress, connectivity index (ratio of relationships to tasks), and resources or relationships on summary tasks - www.barbecana.com SCRAM - Schedule Compliance Risk Assessment Methodology: SCRAM is an approach for identifying risks to compliance with program schedule, i.e. SCRAM can be used for the assessment and improvement of schedule risk compliance. Unlike the options above, SCRAM uses an assessment team to review all aspects of the schedule's development (people and process as well as technical conformance) - http://www.scramsite.org
Assessing the 'usefulness' of a schedule is more complex, a good starting point is for managers to ask the right questions, our article: Testing Schedule Quality: Why do so many organisations and clients accept bad schedules? suggests five key questions to ask. The APM Planning SIG’s scheduling maturity model can also help to providing an objective, consistent method for firstly establishing what attributes the ‘right’ schedule should have and then for assessing an individual schedule against this standard. Available from: https://www.apm.org.uk/books
Assessing Schedule Delay and Disruption Mosaic's published papers focused on assessing delay and disruption to contracts: Assessing Delay and Disruption - an overview of the accepted methods of forensic schedule analysis [ view the abstract ] Prolongation, Disruption and Acceleration Costs - an overview of the options for calculating costs associated with approved delays and acceleration [ view the abstract ] The complexities around concurrent and parallel delays are discussed in a series of papers focused on Concurrent Delays in Contracts and Mosaic's White Paper WP1064 Concurrent and Parallel Delays To access the full set of papers visit our PM Knowledge Index Forensic schedule analysis; we have extensive experience in the preparation, analysis and defending of contract claims. [ See more ]
Planning & Scheduling Resources Mosaic's Published Papers 5-STEPS, Five Steps To Ensure Project Success - The ‘5 Steps To Ensure Project Success’ methodology is a proven process designed to focus the thinking of the key Stakeholders onto the parameters required to achieve a successful project outcome. [View Abstract] A Brief History of Scheduling - The first paper is a brief history of scheduling from the late 18th century to the present, including the first 60 years of 'Critical Path' Scheduling; and arguably the evolution of modern project management. The suggestion is that the growth of modern project management is a direct consequence of the need to make effective use of the data generated by the schedulers in an attempt to manage the 'project' and control the 'critical path'. The second paper, The Origins of Bar Charting looks at the emerging concepts that allowed bar charts to be developed in 1760. This paper starts with the Ancient Greeks and traces the underlying principles through to the 18th century. [View Abstract] Avoiding the 'Tipping Point to Failure' - A performing organisation can manage a level of complexity in its projects based on prior experience, maturity, supporting systems and the capability of the people managing the work. As long as this ‘complexity quotient’ is within the management capability of the organisation and the people it deploys, reasonably predictable outcomes can be expected and normal risk management practices are likely to be effective. Change any of these parameters to the point where the overall tipping point is reached and there is a sudden breakdown that causes a significant negative change in the likely project outcomes. Recovery is no longer a simple process of marginally increasing the resources deployed, what’s needed is a massive change in the capability of resources. Whilst it is impossible to predict where a tipping point may occur until after it has been reached, effective project control systems can provide early warnings. [View Abstract] Beyond Reporting - The Communication Strategy - Communication is a science and an art. Communicating effectively with the project’s important stakeholders, so that their expectations can be both managed and met, is central to achieving a successful outcome. Reports are not enough! Communication is a complex two way process within the overall relationship between the project and the stakeholder. This paper identifies the key processes involved in developing and implementing an effective communication strategy. [View Abstract] Calculating and Using Float - This paper argues that the lack of defined calculations for most of the float values in a PDM schedule must reduce the overall value of the schedule model compared to more rigorous approaches but also recognises that if scheduling is a modelling process designed to affect the future behaviours of people working on the project other factors may be more important. [View Abstract] CIOB’s Contribution to the Effective Management of Time in Construction Projects - This paper outlines the major advances in the practice of project planning and scheduling introduced by the Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects (see more on The Guide) and gives an up-to-date report on current developments in the effective management of time being led by CIOB. [View Abstract] Communication in organisations: making the schedule effective - There is no point working hard to develop a schedule that is not used! Once the schedule has been created or updated, it is its role as a communication medium that can have the most powerful influence on the successful delivery of a project and the skills outlined in this presentation become critical to realising the value embedded in the scheduling tool. [View Abstract] (The) Cost of Time - or who's duration is it anyway? - Probably the most common action undertaken by schedulers everywhere is assigning a duration to a task. This paper outlines the factors influencing the choice of an optimum duration. Considers the factors that can cause the duration to be modified during the planning phase and then outlines some of the likely costs associated with accelerating the project. [View Abstract] (The) Effective Management of Time in the 21st century - This paper overviews a range of ideas to assist in the effective management of time including: * The need for effective planning ahead of scheduling and the different objective of these two processes. * The concept of ‘schedule density’ and the need to schedule at an appropriate level of detail based on the contemporary knowledge available to the project team. * The need for on-going dynamic scheduling to manage time. * The need to contemporaneously assess the impact of delaying events in real time based on accurate and current schedules to allow effective mitigation. * The need for effective training and credentialling of planners and schedulers. [View Abstract] (The) Effective Management of Time in Complex Projects - an ICT perspective - The IT industry’s inability to effectively manage time has been widely documented, other industries fare no better! In response to this challenge, the CIOB assembled an international team of project planning and scheduling experts to develop a Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects (the Guide). This paper will identify the key elements within the Guide that proactively contribute to the successful delivery of complex projects and offer a way forward to improve time management. [View Abstract] (The) Effective Management of Time on Mega Projects - Why there are so many problems and how to solve them? - The construction industry’s ability to effectively manage time is getting worse. In response to this challenge, the CIOB assembled an international team of project planning and scheduling experts to develop a Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects (the Guide). This paper will identify the key elements within the Guide that proactively contribute to the successful delivery of mega projects, relate these ideas to practical examples of their use on mega-projects and offer a way forward to improve time management. [View Abstract] Establish the project schedule - The steps needed to develop and validate an effective project schedule.. [Download the presentation] Estimating Fallacies - excessive detail does not help - Estimating costs and durations can be done in great detail, however, detailed is not synonymous with accurate! This paper sets out a pragmatic framework for estimating that offers realistic levels of accuracy to generate sensible expectations for a reasonable investment of estimating effort. [View Abstract] Float - Is It Real? - The existence of a ‘critical path’ and non-critical activities (with their associated ‘float’) grew out of the science of ‘scheduling’ as defined by Critical Path Analysis (CPA) and are barely 50 years old! This paper analyses the factors creating the ‘critical path’ and ‘float’ within a schedule and then look at ways of resolving the conflicting views of float encountered in the literature. Potential solutions include the UK ‘Delay and Disruption Protocol’, client led integrated teams and the use of alternative planning methods such as location based scheduling, trend analysis and earned schedule. [View Abstract] Henry L. Gantt - A Retrospective view of his work - This paper describes the important contributions made by Henry Gantt to modern management and defines what a 'Gantt Chart' really is. What the modern worked calls a 'Gantt Charts' pre-dates Gantt by more than a century. A second paper looks at the potential source of the misuse of term Gantt Chart. [View Abstract]. Improving Schedule Management - This paper describes the changing role of scheduling within the complex dynamic environment of modern projects and programs. PMI’s contributions including the SEI, standards and credentials are identified. The attributes needed for an effective schedule and the skills needed by an effective scheduler are described and linked to the emerging paradigms of complexity theory. [View Abstract] Managing for Success - The power of regular updates - Critical path scheduling techniques, supported by efficient scheduling software have long been recognised as a standard component in the overall project management process. This paper looks at the interaction between the analytical and psychological processes involved in schedule development and control systems to identify ways to deliver major enhancements in the planning / scheduling process. [View Abstract] Practical project controls – the art of getting to ‘Done’! - Getting to ‘done’ is the objective of any project, done on time, done on budget and done to the satisfaction of stakeholders. Most projects fail to achieve this. This presentation looks at the reasons for this failure and suggest a practical framework for successfully getting your projects to ‘done’. [View Abstract] Project Controls in the C21 – What works / What’s fiction - This paper takes a controversial look at the relevance of project control systems and suggests the changes in skills, attitudes and practices needed to keep scheduling, cost control and EV relevant in the coming years. Updated to include a presentation to the AIPM PC-SIG on Trends in Project Controls [View Abstract] Project management vs Project scheduling - This presentation focuses on the differences between successful schedulers and successful project managers and how together they can create successful project outcomes. [View Abstract] Resource optimisation - a new paradigm for project scheduling - A resource optimisation approach would involve changing the underlying philosophical approach embedded in CPM from a belief that the pre-determined duration and sequencing of activities takes precedence, to one that recognises the real objective of scheduling is to keep the resources working effectively. This paper looks at two alternative approaches to achieving this objective. [View Abstract] Scheduling in a Defence Environment - The primary purpose of any schedule should be to help the project manager and project team optimise the overall strategy for the delivery of the project, coordinate work flows and assist in the decision making processes needed to resolve dilemmas and issues on a day-to-day basis. This paper identifies some of the symptoms of scheduling failure and then addresses three topics; a discussion of the real purpose and usefulness of scheduling. the current ‘state of play’ in the development of scheduling and some emerging trends that may re-focus scheduling. [View Abstract] Scheduling Complexity - This paper précis the work of the CIOB focused on the management of complex projects and offer practical suggestions for the improvement of time management within the Australian context, including the professionalisation of the scheduling discipline. [View Abstract] Scheduling in the Age of Complexity - This paper suggests that a radically different approach is needed to make scheduling relevant and useful in the 21st Century. Starting with the ideas derived from Complexity Theory, Complex Responsive Processes of Relating (CRPR) and the concept of the project team as a ‘Temporary Knowledge Organization (TKO) one can see the delivery of the project being crafted by thousands of individual decisions and actions taken by people who are ‘actors’ within the social network of the project team and its immediate surrounds. The role of ‘project management’ is to motivate, coordinate and lead the team towards the common objective of a successful project outcome. The project scheduler has a key role in this complex environment provided the right attitudes, skills and scheduling techniques are used in the optimum way. [View Abstract] Seeing the Road Ahead - the challenge of communicating schedule data - The successful delivery of projects requires a broad understanding of what is required to be achieved, by whom and when. However, one of the key challenges facing schedulers has been to convert the rich data contained in their schedules into useful information that the project team can actually use. This paper outlines the evolution of the graphical presentation of time related data from 1765 through to the current time. [View Abstract] Should your schedulers be certified? - This paper focuses on initiatives to revitalise our industry by creating a career path for planners and schedulers as well as clearly identifying the benefits of certification for organisations that employ planners and schedulers. New initiatives by the CIOB and Planning Planet are designed to deliver a career framework for professional ‘Time Managers’, taking people from novice, to a practitioner skilled in the art of planning and scheduling. [View Abstract]. See also: The problem with CPM. Standardising Quality in Project Scheduling - The publication by PMI of its Practice Standard for Scheduling in May 2007 followed by the CIOB Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects go a long way towards defining ‘good scheduling practice’and providing tools that for the first time allows the unambiguous assessment of the technical competence of any schedule. The definition of planning and scheduling and the certification of schedulers has also been the subject of much attention. This paper provides an overview of the Practice Standard, The Guide and the emerging credential framework for schedulers. [View Abstract] Time IS NOT Money - “Time is not money; with money you can put it on the table and you can see it, and if you leave it, it may even accumulate - whereas with time, you can’t see it or touch it. It expires at a regular and consistent rate whether you use it or not.” - Read the interview 'Time is NOT money', a conversation with Keith Pickavance' for some background on Keith's assertion the 21st Century will be 'The Age of Time'. [View PDF] Time management -v- Contract administration - This paper defines the standards by which project schedules should be prepared, quality controlled, updated, reviewed and revised in practice to effectively manage time. And then describes the standards of performance which should reasonably be required of a project scheduler. [View Abstract] Why Critical Path Scheduling (CPM) is Wildly Optimistic - CPM tends towards an optimistic representation of the project’s completion date. Used appropriately, this can be a performance motivator. However, prudent management also requires an accurate prediction of the completion date. This paper will describe how both processes can be used in combination for the effective management of time. [View Abstract]
Scheduling Resources Mosaic's Scheduling Blogs - Visit blog Scheduling White Papers - PM Knowledge Materials Planning & Scheduling Articles - View the series Mosaic's History of Project Controls - Visit the Page Scheduling Organisations and Useful Links Planning Planet - www.planningplanet.com Project Management College of Scheduling (PM-COS) - www.pmcos.org The Guild of Project Controls - www.TheGuild.net International Center for Scheduling Inc. (ICS or ICS-Global) - www.ics-global.com Scheduling Books and Standards Preview and buy CIOB's Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects - The Guide defines the standards by which project schedules will be prepared, quality controlled, updated, reviewed and revised in practice and describes the standards of performance which should reasonably be required of a project scheduler. For more information, see: Mosaic's Book Shop Guild of Project Controls Compendium and Reference (GPCCAR) is a suite of process-based documents which document what 1000's of contributors believe constitutes Project Controls. It is an ever evolving global statement as to what we, the practitioners, believe constitutes our role as 'project controllers'. Anyone with an opinion (and justification) is free to propose amendments and additional references. Sign up for free access at: http://www.planningplanet.com/guild/GPCCAR/ Preview and buy PMI's Practice Standard for Scheduling 2nd Edition - a systematic guide describing the hallmarks of an effective schedule methodology and providing a quantifiable means for assessing the maturity of a schedule model. For more information, see: Mosaic's Book Shop Preview and buy Murray Woolf's 'Faster Construction Projects with CPM Scheduling' - Written by a 30 year scheduling veteran, this book is packed with hundreds of 'tricks of the trade'. For more information see: Mosaic's Book Shop Other useful books and references: Murray Woolf's 'CPM Mechanics ' - a comprehensive, coherent, and practical guide to the raw, underlying mechanics of the Critical Path Method (CPM): http://www.cpmmechanics.com/ U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) - Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Capital Program Schedules (GAO-12-120G): http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-3SP Scheduling Software, Tools and Techniques Tools we know and/or use: ACOS PLUS.1 is a sophisticated MIS and offers a range of progressive features such as Milestone Trend or Cost Trend Analysis. Sophisticated layout options allow compressed bar chart outputs and combined reports. [See more] Deltek Open Plan - Powerful Project Management software for project planners and schedulers. [See more] Micro Planner X-Pert and Manager - Micro Planner has the best network diagram of any tool we know. [See more] Microsoft Project - The ubiquitous project management tool found in every office. [See more] Primavera provides a range of software for every aspect of project management including project planning and scheduling, risk analysis, contract administration. [See more] - Primavera Risk (formally Pertmaster) project risk analyses your project risk in time and/or money. [See more] - Synchro 4D Modelling links to Primavera and other scheduling tools: http://www.synchroltd.com Scheduling Methodologies 5-STEPS, the ‘5 Steps To Ensure Project Success’ methodology is a proven process designed to focus the thinking of key Stakeholders onto the parameters required to achieve a successful project outcome. 5-STEPS uses the development of the schedule as a central plank in its approach to developing an effective project team and fostering positive stakeholder involvement. [See more] Beeline Diagramming Method (BDM) Beeline represents the overlapping relationship between two consecutive tasks by the shortest straight line (the beeline). BDM connects any point in the predecessor to any point in the successor - www.mosaicprojects.com.au/PDF/Beeline_Diagramming.pdf Chronographic Model uses the concept of internal divisions and internal measurement as a function of production - www.mosaicprojects.com.au/PDF/Chronographic_diagramming_method.pdf Critical Chain is a method of planning and managing projects that puts the main emphasis on the resources required to execute project tasks - WP1050 Critical Chain Earned Durations (ED) / Count the Squares (CTS) is a method of assessing schedule performance based on the comparing the duration of activities 'as-planned' and accomplished. In the 1970s CTS was used where each day of an activities duration was counted as ‘1’ and the cumulative planned days was compared to the cumulative actual days work accomplished. ED modifies this basic process by adjusting the 'earned duration' for each activity based on the current expected duration. The fundamental weakness in this approach is its assumption that one days work on one activity in a barchart is equivalent to any other day's work on any other activity, whereas the the resources assigned to one activity in a may be 1 person per day and another 15 people per day. Earned Schedule (ES) adapts traditional Earned Value data to provide a reliable prediction of a project's expected completion date. ES overcomes the limitations in ED/CTS by using the value of the work accomplished as a reasonable proxy for the resources being used to accomplish the work. See: http://www.earnedschedule.com/ Line of Balance (LOB) is a method of showing the repetitive work that may exist in a project as a single line on a graph - WP1021 Line of Balance Momentology focuses on measuring the momentum of work on the project. Each section of a project has its momentum as does the overall project - WP1036 Momentology Multiple Activity Charts (or Multi-Activity Charts) are a very useful tool for understanding the flow of work in a cyclical process and as a consequence understanding which resource is controlling the overall progress - WP1025 Multiple Activity Charts RD CPM™, The Relationship Diagramming variation of the Critical Path Method of schedule analysis developed by Fredric L. Plotnick - WP1035 Relationship Driven CPM. Rolling Wave Planning is the process of increasing the detail in a schedule as more information becomes available - WP1060 Rolling Wave Planning Schedule Density, similar to rolling wave planning but designed for modern software - WP1061 Schedule Density Timeboxing, is used to attempt to complete the defined amount of work in a fixed period - WP1020 Timeboxing Other interesting scheduling tools: Acumen Fuse metrics analysis & visualization software assessing quality of schedules, cost forecasts and risk - http://www.projectacumen.com AMS Realtime solution-set with powerful scheduling, earned value management and other functionality including an excellent report writing module and multi resource management to effectively plan and control work, time and resources in real time at project, program and portfolio level. Distributors for AMS Realtime in the Asia - Pacific Project Plus Ltd. Or see http://www.amsrealtime.com Aurora intelligent scheduling and Critical Chain software: Aurora-CCPM is a combination of Aurora™, Stottler Henke’s intelligent planning and scheduling system, with the added power and flexibility of Multi-project Critical Chain Project Management: http://www.stottlerhenke.com/product/products/aurora-ccpm Stottler Henke delivers software systems to help their customers solve problems that defy traditional approaches, specializing in artificial intelligence products http://www.stottlerhenke.com/product/products/aurora_home Asta's Project Management Software: Asta Powerproject, professional scheduling software for construction/engineering: http://www.astadev.com/products/ Asta Powerproject Enterprise, multi-user system for larger projects: http://www.astadev.com/products/ Plus Asta Easyplan (for small projects) and TILOS (time location project management software for managing linear projects such as road and rail): http://www.astadev.com Asta Teamplan for organisations that manage people working across multiple projects (eg, IT departments): http://www.teamplan.co.uk BASIS a knowledge driven systm designed to facilitate expert inpput to help organisations build better plans in less time. Team Expertise + Knowledge Library = Collective Intelligence: https://www.basispm.com/ - IRIS BASIS' artificially intelligent planning assistant CASCAD-e a new time-scaled precedence diagramming (TSPD) planning tool from CASCAD-e Systems. Dr. J. Gordon Davis says "Showing project status on a time-scaled precedence diagram (TSPD) is a very unforgiving process. Behind-schedule activities and out-of-sequence work stand out like a sore thumb. But the recovery opportunities are also apparent." CASCAD-e imports data from most standard scheduling applications. For more information see http://www.cascad-e.net Critical Tools: The tools can be used by themselves or as an add-on to Microsoft Project. For more information see http://www.criticaltools.com WBS Chart Pro - plan and display your projects using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Chart. PERT Chart Expert, plan and display your projects using a Precedence Diagram FreeCPM: a fully functional and robust CPM scheduling application for the Construction Industry - http://freecpm.com/ Full Monte: Full Monte is a cost and schedule risk analysis tool supplied as an add-in for Microsoft Project 2007 or 2010 - www.barbecana.com
Gantter.com: Is a free simple web based tool for drawing bar charts - http://www.gantter.com/ GanttProject: Is a free tool for drawing bar charts, flexible open source application - http://www.ganttproject.biz/ Grapple: Assign and monitor project and task progress in one easy-to-use application - http://www.grapple.co/ jxProject: a free scheduling tool with resource optimisation and durations down to minutes - http://www.jxproject.com/ LBMS: Location-based management Solutions (see also Vico below). Location based construction scheduling (LoB) for construction projects - http://www.lbms.com.au/ LinearPlus: Entry-level time chainage diagrams for linear projects (eg railways & pipelines) - http://www.pcfltd.co.uk/ Merlin 2: Project management software for Mac OS X. - http://www.projectwizards.net/en/merlin/ NetPoint™ PMA’s intuitive Graphical Planning Method™ (GPM) application that provides an activity network-based process for simplified and collaborative planning and scheduling to give clarity to all stakeholders by creating an effective communication tool: http://pmatechnologies.com/ OnePMO Project planning and scheduling software for Mac & Windows OS. The focus is on multi-project resource levelling for PMOs in small/medium sized organisations and programs. See
http://www.onepmo.com OpenProj™ is a free, open source desktop alternative to Microsoft Project - new name is ProjectLibre (see below). See http://www.projectlibre.org/ Open Workbench: An open source scheduling tool similar to OpenProj - download
OnePager Pro & Express Build PowerPoint-ready project presentations from Microsoft Project or Excel. See: https://www.onepager.com/ Phoenix Project Manager, Simple and feature rich critical path method (CPM) scheduling system with high quality graphics and network diagrams - http://www.phoenixcpm.com PlanningForce, Free resource planning software and management tool - http://www.planningforce-express.com/ pmBLOX: Resource and project optimisation. The underlying engine is based on the system dynamics simulation methodology: http://www.pmblox.com Project Commander - easy to use, low cost, intuitive product with it's extensive use of the mouse and WYSIWYG screens. See www.pmscsolutions.co.uk PROJECT in a box - y free and professional project planning tool anyone can use. See www.projectinabox.org.uk/planner/ ProjectLibre - the open source replacement of Microsoft Project. New and updated version of OpenProj with hundreds of updates/bug fixes. See http://www.projectlibre.org/ Project Plan - easy to use, low cost scheduling tool focused on tasks, resources and links. See http://www.projectplan.com RPM - Relationship Driven Critical Path Method of planning and schedule analysis (based on a melding of ADM and PDM ideas) - http://www.fplotnick.com/RDCPM.htm Safran Project - Scheduling, risk analysis, cost management and a separate reporting system in a single desktop client - www.safran.com Spider - Integrated schedule, cost and resource management - http://www.spiderproject.ru Synchro 4D Modelling: 4D modelling, integrates with Primavera, MSP and other scheduling tools (or stand alone) - http://www.synchroltd.com Turbo Chart: Generates Time location charts using your existing schedule by simply adding location and display coding to your Oracle Primavera P6 database - http://www.turbo-chart.com/ Vico Software: An integrated Line-of-Balance, or Flowline-based system designed for construction projects - http://www.vicosoftware.com/ More tools to be added........
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