Project Management The Critical Path Method Developed by

Project Management: The Critical Path Method Developed by: Dr. Jeff Landry and Ms. Rosalind Mc. Cullough Edited/Updated by: Mr. David Ratisher Presented by: XXXXXXXX School of Computing

A few words about the USA School of Computing The University of South Alabama - School of Computing (So. C): A college within the University specifically dedicated to the field of Computing • 2 departments: • • Department of Information Systems and Technology (IST) Department of Computer Science (CS) • Degree programs offered at multiple levels: • BS (Bachelor of Science) • MS (Master of Science) • Ph. D. (Doctorate) Come join us here at South and prepare for a career in Computing! 3 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Agenda • Discussion: The nature of Projects • Hands-on Activity: Formation of Project Teams • Hands-on Activity: Planning a project by developing the Critical Path 4 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

What is a Project? We see, or participate in, projects all the time. What are some examples? 5 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

What defines a Project? 6 • Temporary: A project has a beginning and an end • Unique: A project is outside of routine work, and has a specific purpose • Sponsored: A project has a sponsor who provides resources for the work October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Why is Project Management important? e) e On T im im (T O n Bu TRIPLE CONSTRAIN T dg et ( Co s Delivering what was promised (Scope) 7 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method t)

Project success and failure 2015 CHAOS Study Results The Standish Group On e m Ti i (T m e) On Bu TRIPLE CONSTRAINT dg et Failed 19% (C os t) Delivering what was promised (Scope) 8 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Successful 29% Challenged 52%

Team Formation Test • A test designed to discover how a person sees things and makes decisions • We will use this test to form teams whose members have a mix of personality profiles • • There are no “right” or “wrong” answers We are all different…this is a GOOD thing, and it’s an IMPORTANT thing • Click on the TFT link on your desktop 9 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Team Formation Test - Results • Find your psychological profile • Teams that have a variety of personality types tend to perform better, because: • • 10 Different personality types tend to see problems differently One personality type may be better at a task than another October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Critical Path Activity Your project objective: 11 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Critical Path Activity: Part 1 • Lay the cards out end-to-end, in a single line from left-to-right, in the correct order to make your sandwich Card 1 Card 2 12 Card 3 Card 4 Card 5 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Card 6 Card 7 Card 8

How long does it take to make the sandwich? • 21 minutes • How can you shorten the time? • Remove/change the requirements • Add resources • Shorten the duration to complete a task • Do things in parallel (at the same time) 13 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

The Critical Path Method • We use the Critical Path to ensure that all the activities (tasks) in a project are completed by the due date/time • Here’s an example of a project Network Diagram, with task durations measured in weeks: Start 14 Task A 1 week Task B 4 weeks Task E 3 weeks Task C 2 weeks Task F 1 week Task D 2 weeks Task G 2 weeks October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Task H 1 week End

What’s the Critical Path? • The Critical Path is the longest-duration path through the diagram • It’s the shortest possible time in which a project can complete 9 Weeks Start 15 Task A 1 week Task B 4 weeks Task E 3 weeks Task C 2 weeks Task F 1 week Task D 2 weeks Task G 2 weeks October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Task H 1 week End

Critical Path Activity: Part 2 • Plan your sandwich project again, but this time arrange the cards in an order that will shorten the time it will take to make your sandwich Keep in mind: It’s still only one person preparing the sandwich • Example: Card 2 Card 6 Card 1 Card 7 Card 3 16 Card 4 Card 5 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Card 8

Hints • The activities Cut Tomato, Slice Cheese, Wash Lettuce, and Butter Bread cannot be done at the same time • Butter Bread must wait for Toast Bread to complete • Cook Bacon and Toast Bread can occur at the same time • Other things can happen while Cook Bacon and Toast Bread are taking place 17 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Solution: Sandwich Network Diagram Cook Bacon Gather Ingredients Start Toast Bread Wash Lettuce 18 Butter Bread Cut Tomato Slice Cheese October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Assemble Sandwich End

Critical Path Activity: Part 3 Cook Bacon 8 min Gather Ingredients 2 min Start Toast Bread 4 min Wash Lettuce 2 min 19 • How many paths are there? • How long will each path take? • Which is the longest path? Butter Bread 1 min Cut Tomato 1 min Slice Cheese 1 min October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Assemble Sandwich 2 min End • How long will it take to make the sandwich?

Solution: Sandwich Critical Path Cook Bacon 8 min Gather Ingredients 2 min Start Toast Bread 4 min Wash Lettuce 2 min 20 12 Minutes Butter Bread 1 min Cut Tomato 1 min Slice Cheese 1 min October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method Assemble Sandwich 2 min End The shortest possible time to complete preparation of the sandwich

Final Activity: Team Quiz! • Our quiz is called a RAT: Readiness Assurance Test • We use them here at South in our Team-Based Learning courses • Work together on these items; use the scratch-off card and quiz • Use a coin to scratch your team’s first choice for each question • A under the scratch-off means correct • Try again if you miss • 1 try = 4 pts ~ 2 tries = 2 pts ~ 3 tries = 1 pt • Finish and then tally up your points, and write it on the card 21 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Conclusion On e T im im e) (T On Bu d TRIPLE CONSTRAINT ge t( Co st ) Delivering what was promised (Scope) 22 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method

Thank You! 23 October 15, 2021 Project Management: The Critical Path Method