Scheduling Methods in IT - Research Paper Example

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Analysing the uses of scheduling methods in IT project management Table of Content .............................................................................................................................3 Introduction........................................................................................................................4 Methods...............................................................................................................................4 Results..................................................................................................................................9 Discussion............................................................................................................................10 Conclusion............................................................................................................................12 References.............................................................................................................................13 Analysing the uses of scheduling methods in IT project management Abstract Information technology is a key element in every information technology project. I conducted a research on how the scheduling methods play a key role in the management of information technology. It involve in considering various theoretical and practical methodologies for a better result. Some of the scheduling methods are mathematical in nature and hence there is possibility of deriving an accurate strategy from them. I will emphasize on the various scheduling methods, and their relevance in management of projects related with Information Technology. Introduction Scheduling is the method by which processes, threads or information flows access system resources, for example, time processor or communication bandwidth. The relevance is load balance a system with efficiency or achieves a set goal in terms of quality services. This comes from the requirements in the current systems to be able to multitask and multiplex. Multitasking helps in executing many process at a time, and multiplexing which helps in transmitting multiple flows simultaneously. Project managers should ensure that they have a strong team, and there is a guideline to keep things on track. Efficient project management entails people with working knowledge of various technologies. The user objectives and needs determine the preference goals. Project schedule creation enhances a breakdown of the work structure, an estimate of each task, and a list of resource availability. In information technology, the project schedule itself is the elimination, each date in the schedule to enhance cooperativeness. Maintenance of the project schedule is a full time scheduler responsibility depending on the size of the project. Promotion and standardization of scheduling best practices should be practised to ensure there is consistence in the information technology. Methods I identified various scheduling methods which are necessary in this management, Project scheduling concerns with the various techniques employed in management of the activities that are undertaken during the project development. Scheduling process involve in identifying the tasks to be carried out, estimating how long they take, allocation of resources, and also in scheduling when the tasks occur. Once a project is in the process, control needs to be exerted to ensure that the plan is still in accordance with the best prediction to occur in the future. This lies on the basis of what will occur during the development, and revision of the project. An effective project planning ensures that the systems are within the cost, within the time constraint, and to a standard of quality. Operating systems feature in three different types that are admission scheduler, also known as high lever scheduler, and the second one is the middle term scheduler and, finally a short term scheduler. Their names come according to the relative frequency and the functions accrued to them. The scheduler being an operating system has the role of selecting the next jobs to be admitted into the various systems and processes to be ran by them. Admission scheduler involves long term scheduling and deals with deciding the jobs or processes to be to the main memory. Whenever there is an attempt to employ a program whose admission is a set of currently running processes on whether granted or denied. This scheduler dictates the processes to be ran in a program, and any degree of concurrency in running the programs. It is also relevant in large scale systems such as super computers and batch processing. However, this has led to development of a remarkable scheduler known as job scheduler software, which its role include assisting these functions and solving any underlying admission scheduling support in the operating systems (Janson, 2002). A medium term scheduler temporarily in eliminating processes from the main memory and secondary memory, which include, disk drive. This process referred to as swapping out. It therefore involves swapping out inactive tasks for some time or low prioritized jobs. This includes elimination of processes taking up a large amount of memory in free up memory for other processes. Medium term schedulers also can perform the role of long term schedulers though it requires be regarding and treating as binaries. Short term schedulers also known as the CPU scheduler involves in deciding the ready in memory processes to be executed. It involves making scheduling decisions more frequent as compared to the long term or the middle term schedulers. In the short term scheduling, a decision involving scheduling will at a minimum have to be made on a time scale which are extremely short. The scheduler should be capable of eliminating processes from CPU in cases of allocating the CPU to other processes. Critical path analysis closely relates with Gantt Charts in planning all the activities as part of a project. The critical path analysis and critical path methods are the basis in preparation of a schedule, and also in resource planning. In the process of managing a project, they help a manager in monitoring the achievement of the project objectives. They also help a manager to see the alternative actions to be undertaken, if the existing actions are not effective. The advantage of using critical path analysis in planning of a project is to assist in developing and testing a plan to enhance its effectiveness. The critical path analysis involves the plans that should be accomplished within the time, the delayed plans, and hence the determination of the total time required to turn a project into a success. However, the critical path analysis becomes difficult in cases of mismanagement and miscommunication of the project plans. This is especially in relation to time. In Gantt Charts time, relation is obvious. Therefore, critical path method predicts the total project duration. This is in determining the earliest completion date for the project. If any activity, on the critical path slips, the whole project slips unless the project manager takes corrective action. Network activity involves the process of dividing a project into a number of individual tasks considered before completion of any project. This depends on the project environmental factors and the process assets used, the project scope statement, work breakdown structure, and the project plan management. The project management plan involves the scope management plans and the schedule management plans. It is through the practice of the named inputs that there is the accomplishment of all the project activities. It also gives a room for completion of the project objectives. It is through sequencing of the activity that the manager identifies the dependencies between activities. Estimating activity resource aims in determining the quantity and resources assigned to each activity. Another scheduling method in project management is the use of the Gap Analysis, which involves identifying what the project should entail. It helps a manager to identify the gap between his current situation, and his future state in order to close the gap. Gap analysis entails identification of the future state, analysis of the current situation, and identification of how the manager will bridge the gap. In the Gap analysis, it is advisable for a project manager to provide appropriate information. Use of metrics where information is quantifiable will also help in the analysis of the future state (Caballero, 2009). Other project scheduling techniques includes the milestone chart and the activity network. Milestone charts mark crucial events in a project’s life, usually on the critical activities which must be achieved on time. This is to avoid cases of delay in the project accomplishment. Milestone is relevant in terms of meeting the deadlines. It incorporates activities such as equipment installation, phase’s completion, file conversion and new system cutovers. It recommends the use of Gantt charts. A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar which has the following features. The Gantt charts include the graphical, easy to read, and easy to update. However, there are no enhanced acceptable standards for Gantt charts. Gantt Charts aims in helping a project manager to plan and schedule the complex activities in his project. The Gantt Charts help in planning the tasks taking place, a basis of scheduling when carrying out these activities. They also assist a manager in the allocation of resources required for total completion of the project. Gantt charts closely relates with the critical path in identification of crucial date in the running of the project. In the running of a project, Gantt charts help in monitoring whether the project is on schedule, and the necessary action to put it back on schedule. In the evaluation of this chart, a manager should check on the level of dependence of the various tasks in his project. When developing a Gantt chart, a project manager starts with listing all activities in his plan. In each activity, he should show the start time, period his project will take, and whether the project is parallel or sequential. The other steps include the setting up Gantt chart and plotting the various activities in the graph paper. Lastly, there is the presentation of the analysis of data. A technique can help a project manager make schedule trade-offs in determining the free slack and total slack for each project activity. Free slack is the amount of time an activity can be delayed with no delays on the early start date of the following activities. The early start date if any activity is the earliest possible time an activity can commence on the basis of project network logic. Total slack is the amount of time an activity delays from its early start date with no delay on the planned project finish date. Project managers calculate free slack and total slack by doing a forward and backward pass through a network diagram. In shortening of the project schedules, a manager should incorporate the use of crashing tracking, and fast tracking. This helps the manager to avoiding unreasonable schedules, which is a rampant problem in information technology projects (Caballero, 2009). For the success of a project, the manager incorporate schedule inputs such as personal calendar, project scope description, project risks, and listing of activities and resource requirements. The personal calendars help a manager understand the working days, shifts, and availability of resource for completion of a project. There is also description of the project scope, which assist a manager in determining the key start dates, and constraints to face. Regarding project risks, a manager need to understand all the risks accruing to the project. Use of Program Evaluation and Review Technique will help in the estimation of the project duration. This is especially when there is a high degree of uncertainty about the individual activity duration (Janson, 2002). Results I noted that scheduling has a substantial impact on the growth of any information technology process. This is because scheduling involves incorporating the various methods needed for efficient realization of project goals and objectives. It involves analysing the various methods and also in identification of the most efficient method among all the methods involved. An information technology plan will incorporate the ideas that need to be fully covered. The results I got from the scheduling methods also play a crucial factor in the determination of process efficiency. The scheduling processes to go in line with the project proposal. This will also be determined by the duration involved for the project accomplishment (Johnson, 2004). The scheduling methods will all have different results to the management results. The manager of the information technology project will have the obligation of choosing the most appropriate method in line with what he expects from the project. This depend with the period of the project that is whether the project he is running is a long time, middle term or short term. I identified this depends on resource availability, the availability of skilled man power, and stability of his location. If I have ample resources, as a project manager I will initiate more scheduling methods, even those that need a massive capital base. This is more efficient in that a better analysis of all the methods put into consideration. The manager will have a chance to choose the best method after analysis of all other methods. A better analysis of the scheduling methods will be better chosen if there is a back up of a skilled man power. I also discovered that most of the scheduling methods are mathematical in nature and hence will require some level of skill. This is to reduce losses associated with inappropriate method used in the process of scheduling. Since some companies analyse their data and write their proposal after a longer time, inefficient scheduling method can cause serious losses to their businesses at large. In the selection of the data method to be used in managing an information technology system, the experts involved should also put into consideration the political and economic stability of their host countries. This is because unpredictable economic times can make management of a project turn ineffective (Johnson, 2004). Discussion Project management is the rigorous framework for discipline of planning, organizing, securing and management of resources to achieve goals. It entails many functions and areas that need to be mashed and be brought together for successful projects. It is recommendable to have an integrated approach and blend the various areas to have one coordinated project. All these will require the work of a project manager coordinating all the functions. Scheduling and planning is the first issue for the project. There need to be a plan on the tasks and the finances spent in the project. Another relevant aspect that requires equal attention in project management is that of finances. There is therefore a need to set aside some funds that will cater for the project so that the project will not stall in the middle. The main challenge in the project management is to achieving all the project objectives and knowing the constraints. The challenge involves constraints such as scope, time, budget; this mostly applies in optimization and allocation of the necessary inputs and integrating the resources so as to meet the objectives. Project management should be enhanced so as to meet the system constraint for the entire project, as well as the resources. The importance of project management ensures that the resources are ready as well as in the subordination of the available resources (Johnson, 2004). The process of project management involves initiating, planning, production, monitoring, and closing. The initiating process involves determining the nature and scope of the project. However, if this process is not well performed the project might be unsuccessful. It should incorporate all the necessary conditions into the project. Planning of the project will incorporate the process of planning time, cost and resources efficiently so as to estimate the work required for better risk management. Executing will involve the process used to complete the work to be accomplished. It will involve people and resources coordination, as well as integrating the performance of the project in accordance with project management plan. Monitoring forms the basis for observation of the project. It also will involve determining the problems in a timely manner and ensure a recommendable action takes place (Caballero, 2009). Scheduling process incorporates with some scheduling disciplines so as to enhance its efficiency in the process of data production. Scheduling helps in providing a basis for monitoring and controlling project activities. It also involve in efficient allocation of resources in realization of the project goal. Scheduling also help in assessing of time delays as this also have a great impact in the performance of the project. Lastly, scheduling helps in provision of the basis for determining the track project progress (Hoel, 2009). Conclusion Project management software can help in project scheduling if used efficiently. Through the help of management software, a manager avoids performing cumbersome calculations manually. A manager is also able to make accurate estimates. Project managers should avoid over relying on sample files or templates in the creation of unique project schedules (Johnson, 2004). I realized that scheduling problems comes hand in hand with the scheduling methods. Some of these problems include poor scheduling techniques which do not put into considerations relevant factors such as duration and time. Another problem associated with this is complexity in the technological constructions. This brings about problems when one is analysing the data especially in diagrams and charts for easier understanding. Inexperience in handling schedulers is also another significant problem. This is rampant in cases where the project proposal involves many people. Although the involvement of different people may increase efficiency in the work force, it can also lead to unnecessary confusion in the when the issues regarding the project addressed as different people have different views. Therefore, it is necessary for the schedules to be modified and reviewed by experienced project managers before implementation. This manual review enhances the incorporation of global constraints caused by inexperienced workers. This project revision is also to accommodate constraints related to the limited resources. The outcome of the project in complicated situations can also be brought by inappropriate mathematical algorithms. So in order to produce an efficient proposal in the information technology, the schedules involved should be tested effectively and with all considerations. References Fazar, W. 2006. Applications of a Technique for operational research. NewYork: John Wiley & Sons. Sasieni, M. 2003. Management Science. New York: T. K. Littlefield and P.H. Randolph. Johnson, L. 2004. Management Science. NewYork: John Wiley & Sons. Hoel, L. 2009. Fundamentals of Systems Engineering - Probabilistic Models. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishers. Johnson, N, and Katz, S. 2004. Distributions in Statistics: Continuous Multivariate Distributions. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Bratley, P. and Foxd, L. 2003. A Guide to Simulation. New York: Springler Verlag. Hendrickson, C. and Janson, G. 2002. Civil Engineering Systems. New York: Springer Verlag. Caballero, A. 2009. Computer and Information Security Handbook. New York: Morgan Kaufmann Publications. Read More