PERT and CPM | Project Management | Unit 2

Project Management

Project management can be understood as a systematic way of planning, scheduling, executing, monitoring, controlling the different aspects of the project, so as to attain the goal made at the time of project formulation. Several techniques and tools are used to facilitate these processes, among which PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method) are among the most notable.

What is PERT?

The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a project management tool used to plan and control complex projects. PERT is particularly useful in projects where the time required to complete each task is uncertain. It focuses on identifying the time needed to complete each task and the dependencies between tasks to estimate the overall project duration.

Implementation of PERT

1. Define the Project and Its Goals: Clearly outline the project’s objectives and deliverables.

2. Identify the Tasks: Break down the project into individual tasks or activities.

3. Determine Task Durations: Estimate the time required for each task. PERT uses three estimates for each task:

4. Optimistic Time (O): The minimum possible time to complete the task.

5. Pessimistic Time (P): The maximum possible time to complete the task.

6. Most Likely Time (M): The best estimate of the time required.

7. Construct the PERT Chart: Create a network diagram showing the tasks and their dependencies. Nodes represent tasks, and arrows represent the sequence of tasks.

8. Calculate the Expected Time: Use the PERT formula to calculate the expected time for each task:

   Expected Time (TE)= (O+4M+P)/6

9. Determine the Critical Path: Identify the longest path through the network, which determines the project’s minimum completion time.

What is CPM?

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project management technique used to identify the longest sequence of dependent tasks and ensure the project is completed as quickly as possible. Unlike PERT, which focuses on time estimation, CPM is used for projects where task durations are well-defined and known.

Implementation of CPM

1. Define the Project and Objectives: Clearly outline the scope and goals of the project.

2. List All Activities: Identify and list all activities required to complete the project.

3. Determine Dependencies: Establish the relationships between tasks, indicating which tasks must be completed before others can start.

4. Create a CPM Diagram: Develop a network diagram that displays tasks as nodes and dependencies as arrows.

5. Calculate Task Durations: Estimate the time required for each task.

6. Determine the Critical Path: Identify the longest path through the network, which dictates the shortest time to complete the project.

7. Update and Monitor: Continuously track project progress and adjust the CPM diagram as necessary to reflect any changes.