Schedule Compression Techniques
Schedule Compression Techniques are methodologies used to shorten the project schedule duration without changing the project scope, in order to meet tight deadlines, recover from delays, or address schedule constraints imposed by stakeholders. The primary techniques include Crashing and Fast Tracking, both of which aim to reduce the overall project timeline while balancing cost and risk considerations. Crashing involves adding additional resources to critical path activities to accelerate their completion. This could mean increasing the workforce, working overtime, or expediting the delivery of materials. While crashing can effectively reduce activity durations, it typically results in increased project costs due to the additional resources required. It is crucial to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the costs of crashing do not outweigh the benefits of an earlier project completion. Fast Tracking entails rearranging the project schedule by performing activities in parallel that were originally planned to be sequential. For example, initiating the construction phase before the finalization of all design details. Fast Tracking can significantly shorten the schedule but introduces additional risks and the potential for rework due to overlapping tasks. Communication and coordination become more complex, and any issues in earlier activities can have a cascading effect on subsequent tasks. Both techniques require careful consideration and analysis. Project managers must evaluate the critical path, assess the impact on resources, costs, and risks, and obtain stakeholder approval before implementing schedule compression. Effectively applying these techniques can help meet project deadlines and improve stakeholder satisfaction, but they should be used judiciously to avoid compromising project quality and increasing risks beyond acceptable levels.
Schedule Compression Techniques in Project Management
Why Schedule Compression Techniques Are Important
Schedule compression techniques are vital project management tools that help teams meet deadlines when the original project timeline is at risk. These techniques allow project managers to shorten the project schedule while still delivering the required scope. They are essential in several scenarios:
- When projects face unexpected delays
- When stakeholders request earlier completion dates
- When contractual deadlines must be met to avoid penalties
- When market conditions demand faster delivery
- When resource constraints change during project execution
What Are Schedule Compression Techniques?
Schedule compression techniques are methodologies used to shorten the project schedule duration without reducing the project scope. The two primary techniques in the PMI framework are:
1. Crashing: Adding more resources to critical path activities to complete them faster. This typically increases costs but reduces duration.
2. Fast Tracking: Performing activities in parallel that would normally be done in sequence. This method does not typically increase direct costs but raises project risk.
How Schedule Compression Works
Crashing:
- Identify critical path activities that can be accelerated with additional resources
- Calculate cost-duration tradeoffs for each activity
- Apply resources to activities with the best cost-to-time-saved ratio
- Continue until desired schedule reduction is achieved or no further crashing is feasible
- Example: Adding a second programming team to complete software development faster
Fast Tracking:
- Identify activities that can overlap rather than follow a strict sequence
- Assess risks of parallel execution
- Implement overlaps starting with lowest-risk activities
- Monitor closely for quality issues and coordination challenges
- Example: Starting foundation work while finalizing architectural details
Other Compression Techniques:
- Schedule Optimization: Refining activity durations and relationships
- Resource Optimization: Reallocating resources to improve efficiency
- Scope Reduction: A last resort that changes the project scope baseline
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Schedule Compression Techniques
1. Understand the key differences:
- Crashing: Adds resources, increases cost, reduces risk
- Fast Tracking: Overlaps activities, maintains cost, increases risk
2. Remember the critical path focus:
- Only compressing activities on the critical path will reduce project duration
- Compressing non-critical activities will only increase their float
3. Know cost implications:
- Crashing always increases direct costs
- Fast tracking may increase costs indirectly through rework
- Calculate crash cost per time unit = (crash cost - normal cost) / (normal duration - crash duration)
4. Recognize situational application:
- Scenario questions often describe a situation requiring schedule compression
- Look for clues about budget constraints (suggests fast tracking)
- Look for clues about tight deadlines with available budget (suggests crashing)
5. Watch for common exam traps:
- Questions may test if you know that adding resources to non-critical paths doesn't reduce overall duration
- Exam may test understanding that fast tracking increases risks
- Questions may include other schedule management techniques (resource leveling, leads/lags) as distractors
6. Practice calculations:
- Be prepared to calculate the most cost-effective crashing sequence
- Understanding cost slopes for different activities
- Determining optimal compression points
7. Remember the process context:
- Schedule compression is part of the Develop Schedule process
- It's a tool within the Control Schedule process for recovery
By thoroughly understanding these concepts and practicing with sample questions, you'll be well-prepared to answer exam questions on schedule compression techniques on the PMI-SP exam.
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