Project Management

THE MANAGERIAL PROCESS

Clifford F. Gray
Eric W. Larson

Third Edition

Lecture 4

Developing a Project Plan

Activity on Node (AON)

Copyright 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies. All rights reserved.

PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook

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Learning Objectives
At the end of this topic you will be able to:
Draw the Activity on Node (AON) network
Analyze the Activity on Node (AON) network

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Comparison of AON and AOA

Methods

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Introduction of AON
Node of AON
No free float

Earliest Start

Latest Start

Label, Description, Resources

Duration

Total Float

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Formula of AON Analysis

EFT = EST + Duration

LST = LFT Duration
LFT = LST + Duration
Total Float = Latest Start Time Earliest Start Time

Earliest Start Time

Latest Start Time

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Activity-on-Node Fundamentals

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Activity-on-Node Fundamentals (contd)

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Network Information

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Koll Business CenterComplete Network

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Network Computation Process

Forward PassEarliest Times
How soon can the activity start? (early start-EST)

How soon can the project finish? (expected time-EFT)

Backward PassLatest Times

How late can the activity start? (late start-LST)
How late can the activity finish? (late finish-LFT)

Which activities represent the critical path?

How long can it be delayed? (total float-TF)

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Network Information

TABLE 6.2
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Activity-on-Node Network

Staff report

Construction plans

15

15

Occupancy

35
Application approval

Traffic study

10

Commission approval

10

Wait for construction

170

Service check

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Activity-on-Node Network Forward Pass

20

Staff report

Construction plans

15

15

200
Occupancy

0
Application approval

5
Traffic study

10

20
Commission approval

10

30

35

Wait for construction

170

5
Service check

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Activity-on-Node Network Backward Pass

185

5
Staff report

Construction plans

15

15

200
Occupancy

0
Application approval

10
Traffic study

Commission approval

10

30

20

10

35

Wait for construction

170

15
Service check

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Determining Slack (or Float)

Slack (or Float)
The amount of time an activity can be delayed after
the start of a longer parallel activity or activities.

Total slack
The amount of time an activity can be delayed without
delaying the entire project.

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Activity-on-Node Network with Total Float

20

Staff report

Construction plans

15

185

15

165

200

200

Occupancy

Application approval

10

Traffic study

10

20

20

Commission approval

10

30

30

35

Wait for construction

170

15

Service check

10

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Summary Table
No.

Activity Description

Duration
(weeks)

Earliest
Start Time
(EST)

Latest
Start Time
(LST)

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Earliest
Finish
Time
(EFT)

Latest
Finish
Time (LFT)

Total Float

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the critical path?
2. How long does it take to finish the project?
3. What are the total float for the non-critical
activities?

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Two Errors in Logic

1. Looping
2. Dangling

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Illogical Loop

FIGURE 6.9
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Dangling

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Extended Network Techniques

to Come Close to Reality
Laddering
Activities are broken into segments so the following
activity can begin sooner and not delay the work.

Lags
The minimum amount of time a dependent activity
must be delayed to begin or end.
Lengthy activities are broken down to reduce the delay in the
start of successor activities.
Lags can be used to constrain finish-to-start, start-to-start,
finish-to-finish, start-to-finish, or combination relationships.

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ANY QUESTIONS?

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