Notes are available on: www.enggprog.

com/forum Understanding Projects

Understanding Projects (Lecture-3 CE-408L, CED, NWFP UET

Peshawar)
Consider two scenarios. One needs a training program while the other is
Construction of building. Assume that we have realuized and defined the
problem into statement and now we are at the third stage i.e., designing a
project. Steps are as follows:

1. Analyzing Project activities

A project includes a series of activities. In this step we make a

comprehensive sequential list of the major activities that the project requires.
Project activities are divided into pieces known as work packages( the lower-
level activities that are required to complete the activity). We also create the
estimates for the work packages and roll up the costs into subactivities and
activities.

Activities can be divided into subactivites and work packages. This process is
called work break down structure (WBS). There are levels of activities and
work packages which are made by indent button.

For Training project, activities are as follows:

1. Prepare course materials

1.1Modify course materials

1.1.1 Identify current materials

1.1.2 Compare current materials to XYZ skill list

1.1.3 Pprepare list of modifications

1.1.4 Edit materials

1.2Publish materials

1.3Print materials

1.3.1 Duplicate materials

1.4Ship materials to sites

1.4.1 Package materials

1.4.2 Address packages

1.4.3 Schedule delivery

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For Construction project, task will be as follows:

1. Wining a Project Bid

2. Acquisition of Site and itsd Site Preparation

3. Demolish of Existing building

4. Working on Layout

5. Excavation

6. Sub-structure

7. Super-structure

8. Appearance of building

2. Identify Taks and Times

In this stage we identify task and its duraton. Task is also written in Gantt
Chart view under the task list. Task is a simple job whichcan be understood
and completed when assigned to the given person. The duration is well
estimated either by experience or the person who is assigned for the task.

Tasks are entered directly or double clicking task name cell.

3. Estimating Project Costs

Costs are calculated indirectly. Costs are assigned to resources. Resource

can be a material or work ( time dependent). Resources from resource
pool is assigned to tasks. The cost of a task is the cost of the resource
multiplied by the amount of the resource used to complete tge task.

4. Developing the project Schedule

A project schedule includes a sequence of activities, the relationship

between the activities, and the timing of each activities. There are two
major tools for schedule of project: Gantt Charts and networks, including
PERT and CPM. Gantt chart contains a list of tasks on time line. Henry
Gantt invented this method. Pert ( Program Evaluation and Review
Technique) was created by th U.S. Navy to anage an ambitious project:
building the first nuclear submarine. CPM ( Critical Path Method) was
developed by Remington Rand Corporations J.E. Kelly and M.R. Walker of
Notes are available on: www.enggprog.com/forum Understanding Projects

DuPont Corporation to manage maintenance projects in chemical-

manufacturing facilities.

Both methods are modified and now quite similar. Both uses network
diagrams ( also called precedence diagrams). Simle projects are easily
managed by Gantt chart whilecomplex project, involving a great number
of unknowns is managed by PERT. Pertis useful to manage project
uncertinity, to do something innovative or risky.

Tasks are of two kinds: Related ( involve Predecessors and Successors)

and Parallel (unrelated tasks). Related tasks are of four kind:

Start to Finish

Finish to Start

Finish to Finish

Start to Start as explained in class lectures

5. Determining Proformance Standards

Performance has more specific meaning: the quality of te activities

performed. Examples of quality include the following:

5.1Measurements of the customers perception of quality

5.2Manufacturing: rejected parts as a percentage of all parts produced

5.3Machining: machine hours withing prescribed limits as a percentage of

all machine hours ( statistical process control)

5.4Education: percentage of graduates who pass a standardized

competency test

5.5Medicine: percentage of patients who respond positively to a course of

treatment

5.6Software engineering: lines of error-free code as a percentage og all

lines of code

4. Communicating Project Information:

Project managers are responsible for communication between all members of

the project team, including vendors, customers, and stakeholders. In project
Server, workgruop email feature make this job easy. Other technique is to use
conventional way.
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6. Managing Project security

The Manhattan Project ( the project that built the first atomic bomb) is at
one end of the security spectrum while the project to plan the company
poicnic is on the other end. Somewhere ion between are projects to
determine the feasibility of acquiring another firm. You probably wont
need to purchaseretina scanning equipment to secure the access to the
company picnic project files

You may want to have project staff members sign a non-disclosure

agreement, indicating that they have read the security statement and
understand it.