Program Management Services - Essay Example

Project Management Introduction: Project Management is defined as a formulated system by which complex tasks could be broken down into smaller, moreconvenient manageable units, in order to meet time and cost deadlines. “Project management is a carefully planned and organized effort to accomplish a specific (and usually) one-time objective, for example, construct a building or implement a major new computer system. Project management includes developing a project plan, which includes defining and confirming the project goals and objectives, identifying tasks and how goals will be achieved, quantifying the resources needed, and determining budgets and timelines for completion.” (Project management, n.d.). Critical and Time/Cost Bound Projects: Simple tasks like tying one’s shoe laces or wearing shoes does not require Project Management skills. But large projects like building a house, constructing a bridge or undertaking a major military operation are intricate, complex arrangements which require key critical project management skills and expertise. As a matter of fact, a covert military operation would need a series of divisive project management processes needed to be carried out simultaneously or in concerted independent endeavors. ”Project & Program Management Services controls the scope, costs and schedule of programs and projects, handles program planning and prepares scope documents, such as terms of reference and statements of requirement.” (Project & Program Management Services: helping to deliver results, 2010). It is now necessary to consider the use of Critical Path Methods (CPM), Program Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT) and Gantt chart in the task involved in changing car tyre. Critical Path Method (CPM): Critical Path Method models the activities and events of a project as a network of activities depicted as nodes on the said network. Also, it shows lines which form the beginning and end of activities. The longest path in the network is shown as the critical path. Perhaps one of the characteristics of CPM is the activities of a routine nature with “minimal uncertainty in the project completion times.” (Operations: Critical path method, 2010). Before working out a CPM network Chart, it is first of all necessary to list out the chronological series of events that are involved in the changing of wheels and has been listed as follows: 1. Apply handbrake to stop movement of car 2. Loosen nuts and jack the car to sufficient height for fitting spare tyre 3. Remove the loosened nuts from the wheel base 4. Place new wheel and tighten the bottom nut first 5. Bring wheel close to hub 6. Place left leg on left side and put wrench on right side 7. Using the wrench as a lever, apply pressure to lift new air filled tyre and move it in small steps 8. “When the tyre is close it can be levered using the wrench.” (Changing a car tyre, 2010). Diagram 1.1. Critical path method for Car tyre changing program Program Evaluation Review Technique: “PERT is a method to analyze the involved tasks in completing a given project. Especially the time needed to complete each task and identifying the minimum time needed to complete the total project.” (Dr. Khatri n.d., slide 43) It is next necessary to consider Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) for this activity. Basically, PERT deals different discrete and interdependent parts of a project. It also allows for randomness in activity completion time. Various sub constituents of PERT could be seen as follows: 1. Identify the particular activities and “milestones.” Identify and find out the privileged sequence of activities. 2. In a network diagram it is possible to place the sequential flow and time frame of each constituent of activity 3. Next, the critical path is determined. (Operations: PERT, 2010). It is now necessary to consider the purposes that PERT may serve. It could be as follows: 1. It could pre-determine the expected completion time of projects, especially large ones 2. It could render time efficiencies wherever possible 3. It is possible to determine critical path wherever possible 4. It is possible to determined slack time and that could lend resources to critical path endeavors 5. The beginning date and ending date are predetermined with a reasonable degree of accuracy, notwithstanding unforeseen circumstances and acts of God. 6. “The major objectives of PERT are to give management improved ability to develop a project plan and to properly allocate resources within overall program time and cost limitations, to control the time and cost performance of the project, and to replant when significant departures from budget occur.” (PERT, 2010). 7. All parts of the proposed project could be identified, allocated and delineated by allowing measurement of time. Thus, the final outcome of project with its time allocation could be predicted, despite its constraints. “Traditionally, project development includes a number of elements. Regardless of the methodology used, the project development process will have the same major stages: initiation, planning or development, production or execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing.” (Dr. Khatri n.d.). In this context, PERT is not complicated and is a fairly simple activity like changing wheel. The PERT Diagram would be as follows: Diagram 2.1 Critical Path Method for Car Wheel Changing Program A. Apply handbrake to stop the movement of a car ( 4 minutes) B. Loosen nuts and jack the car to sufficient height for fitting spare tyre (5 minutes) C. Remove the loosened nuts from the wheel base ( 6 minutes) D. Place new wheel and tighten the bottom nut first ( 7 minutes) E. Bring wheel close to the hub and fit it ( 10 minutes) F. Place left leg on left side and put wrench on the right side (3 minutes) G. Using the wrench as a lever, apply pressure to lift new air filled wheel and move it in small steps to the wheel base.( 5 minutes) H. When the tyre is closed it can be levered using the wrench (5 minutes) From the above steps, it is evident that 45 minutes and the event of any undetermined delay of about 60 minutes (1 hour) depends upon the kind of wheel, the tools and implements that are available. Next we consider the final stage of this study; that is with regard to Gantt chart. Gantt chart: “A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. A Gantt chart is a useful tool for planning and scheduling projects. A Gantt chart is helpful when monitoring a projects progress.” (Gantt n.d.). In other words, a Gantt chart is a graphical representation of various task segments involved in a project within a time schedule. The main purposes of a Gantt chart is to help project managers in planning and project development or resource allocation and allotment, within fixed time and resource budgets. Besides, a graphical diagram would be more comprehensible and clear cut than a report format. Perhaps one of the main advantages of Gantt chart is that constant comparison between the projected or budgeted elements and the actual performance. Constant referrals to Gantt chart could help to put the project on course and smoothen out any wrinkles or delays during the course of its completion. “When a project is under way, Gantt Charts help you to monitor whether the project is on schedule. If it is not, it allows you to pinpoint the remedial action necessary to put it back on schedule.” (Gantt charts, 2010). For the wheel changing activity, the following sub activities that are envisaged are as follows: A. Apply handbrake to stop movement of the car ( 4 minutes) B. Loosen nuts and jack of the car to sufficient height for fitting spare wheel (5 minutes) C. Remove the loosened nuts from the wheel base ( 6 minutes) D. Place new wheel and tighten the bottom nut first ( 7 minutes) E. Bring wheel close to the hub and fit it ( 10 minutes) F. Place left leg on the left side and put wrench on the right side (3 minutes) G. Using the wrench as a lever, apply pressure to lift new air filled wheel and move it in small steps to the wheel base.( 5 minutes) H. When the wheel is closed, it can be levered using the wrench (5 minutes) Gantt diagram showing time plan of research Activity Time First 4 min. Next 5 min. Next 6 min. Next 7 min. Next 10 min. Next 3 min. Next 5 min. Next 5 min. Apply handbrake 0900 hrs XXXX Loosen nuts and jack the car 0904 hrs XXXX Remove loosened nuts 0909 hrs XXXX Place new wheel – tighten bottom 0915 hrs XXXX Bring wheel close to hub- fit it 0925 hrs XXXX Place left leg - left side - put wrench on right side 0928 hrs XXXX Using wrench as a lever - pressure to lift new air filled wheel 0933 hrs XXXX tyre is closed it can be levered 0938 hrs XXXX The above Gantt chart shows the time-wise structure of the wheel changing program. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of any job; small or big, simple or complex, involve a large investments (building construction) or low investments. Changing a wheel need to be well programmed, planned and well executed. Perhaps the chief strength of the Gantt chart is to “is its ability to display the status of each activity at a glance.” (Operations: Gantt chart, 2010). Conclusions: To a very large extent, the characteristics of the project determine the kind of tool that should be used effectively. For instance, complicated scheduling tasks require budgetary conformance and time constraints. It is best to use PERT and CPM, for its sequencing and critical path method. “Iterative design assumes that complete project requirements are not available at the start of the project or the requirements will change.” (Characteristics, risk, and project phases, n.d.). Reference List Changing a car tyre, 2010. [Online] Ozcarguide. Available at: http://www.ozcarguide.com/news-reviews/hints-tips/359-changing-a-car-tyre [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Characteristics, risk, and project phases, n.d. [Online] Management Guide. Available at: http://www.comptechdoc.org/man/begin/manprojrisk.html [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Dr. Khatri, Y., n.d. Project management. [Provided by customer]. Gantt charts, 2010. [Online] Project Management Ideas. Available at: http://www.projectmanagementideas.com/2010/01/20/gantt-charts/ [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Gantt, H. L., n.d. Gantt charts. [Online] KIDASA. Available at: http://www.ganttchart.com/ [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Operations: Critical path method, 2010. [Online] Net MBA. Available at: http://www.netmba.com/operations/project/cpm/ [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Operations: Gantt chart, 2010. [Online] Net MBA. Available at: http://www.netmba.com/operations/project/gantt/ [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Operations: PERT, 2010. [Online] Net MBA. Available at: http://www.netmba.com/operations/project/cpm/ [Accessed 27 June 2010]. PERT, 2010. [Online] The Free Dictionary. Available at: http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/PERT [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Project management, n.d. [Online] Free Management Library. Available at: http://managementhelp.org/trplan_dec/project/project.htm [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Project & Program Management Services: helping to deliver results, 2010. [Online] Defence Construction Canada. Available at: http://www.dcc-cdc.gc.ca/english/sl_project.html [Accessed 27 June 2010]. Read More