Learn Scheduling Techniques (PMP) with Interactive Flashcards

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Resource Levelling

Resource levelling is a technique used in project management to balance the allocation of available resources – such as personnel, equipment, and finances – ensuring that there are no over-allocations or under-allocations throughout the project timeline. This technique helps to optimize resource utilization and evenly distribute workloads among team members, without compromising the project's overall schedule. It often involves reassigning resources, rescheduling tasks, or making adjustments to task dependencies to achieve a smooth allocation of resources. While doing so, the overall project duration may increase, but it ensures that resources are efficiently distributed across the project life cycle.

Agile Project Scheduling

Agile Project Scheduling is a flexible, iterative approach to project management that prioritizes working solutions and stakeholder feedback. Agile methodologies often use short work iterations, called Sprints or Iterations, which typically last 2-4 weeks. During each iteration, a project team plans, designs, builds, and tests a working solution or product increment. Agile scheduling focuses on delivering value in small increments and emphasizes adaptability, communication, and feedback, which helps prioritize tasks and allocate resources efficiently. Some popular Agile frameworks include Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming (XP). Agile scheduling techniques are widely used in the software development industry and have been proven useful in other fields as well.

Resource-Constrained Scheduling

Resource-Constrained Scheduling is a project management technique that focuses on the optimal allocation of scarce resources (such as human resources, equipment, or finances) to complete a project within a given timeframe. This method considers the availability, capacity, and skill set of resources while producing a project schedule. Resource-constrained scheduling involves assigning tasks to resources based on their availability, priority, and dependencies. It involves adjusting the start and end dates of tasks and other project activities to accommodate the limitations of available resources. Methods such as Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) can be used to manage resource-constrained scheduling effectively. This technique helps project managers deliver projects on-time and within budget, while minimizing resource overallocation and conflicts.

Precedence Diagramming Method

The Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) is a scheduling technique that visually represents the relationships between project activities using nodes and arrows in a network diagram. Activities are represented as nodes, while arrows indicate dependencies and the direction of logical flow between activities. PDM allows for four types of dependencies: finish-to-start, finish-to-finish, start-to-start, and start-to-finish. By defining these relationships, project managers can identify the sequence of activities, determine the critical path, and establish realistic project schedules. PDM also helps identify concurrent activities, opportunities for fast-tracking or schedule compression, and potential impacts to the project duration when changes to activity sequences or durations occur.

Critical Chain Project Management

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a scheduling technique based on the Theory of Constraints. It focuses on the availability of resources and their impacts on project scheduling. The critical chain is defined as the longest sequence of dependent activities and resource constraints that can potentially delay the project's completion. CCPM involves identifying and preempting potential bottlenecks created by resource constraints by strategically placing buffers at the end of critical chain activities or feeding paths. These buffers help absorb uncertainties and delays, ensuring a smoother project execution. CCPM emphasizes the need for efficient use of available resources and effective prioritization of tasks, leading to reduced project duration and increased delivery success rates.

Gantt Charts

Gantt Charts are a visual scheduling technique that displays project activities along a horizontal timeline. It illustrates the start and finish dates, durations, and dependencies for tasks in a project. This representation helps stakeholders see the project's critical path, anticipated completion time, and progress. Gantt Charts can be developed manually, but modern project management software packages often include Gantt Chart capabilities, enabling automatic updates as project activities are completed or revised. Since Gantt Charts are easy to understand, they are valuable for communicating progress and status to team members and stakeholders throughout the project.

Rolling Wave Planning

Rolling Wave Planning is an incremental and iterative planning approach used in project management, which involves planning in detail only for the activities that are in the near future. As the project progresses, additional activities are added to the schedule and planned in more detail. This method accounts for the uncertainties and potential changes in project scope and requirements by allowing project managers to adapt to changing needs and prioritize tasks accordingly. Rolling Wave Planning emphasizes schedule flexibility and continuous planning, which is particularly valuable in situations where project requirements are continuously evolving, such as software development and research and development projects.

What-if Scenario Analysis

What-if Scenario Analysis is a technique used in project management to assess the impact of potential changes, risks, or uncertainties on the project schedule. This method involves creating multiple hypothetical scenarios based on various assumptions, constraints, and risks, and then analyzing how these scenarios affect the project's timeline, resources, and costs. By evaluating these different scenarios, project managers can identify potential issues or bottlenecks, develop contingency plans, and make informed decisions on resource allocation and scheduling adjustments. What-if Scenario Analysis provides valuable insights into the resilience of the project schedule and helps project managers proactively mitigate risks and uncertainties that may arise during the project lifecycle, ultimately improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project.

Scheduling Software

Scheduling Software is a type of project management tool that helps plan, manage, automate, and report project schedules. It simplifies the task of creating and visualizing the project schedule, identifying dependencies and conflicts, allocating resources, and tracking progress. It offers features like Gantt charts, task sequencing, resource allocation, time tracking, and reporting. Examples include Microsoft Project, Primavera, and more. The tool reduces manual efforts, improves accuracy, facilitates real-time collaboration, and provides insight into project performance.

Time-Boxed Scheduling

Time-Boxed Scheduling is a technique widely used in Agile project management, where the schedule is divided into fixed length time-frames called 'time-boxes' or 'sprints.' Each time-box has a defined start and end date and a list of tasks to be completed within it. Time-boxing encourages productivity, focus, and allows for regular inspection and adjustments. It helps manage scope, as each time-box has a limited amount of work, and new tasks can not be added once it has started. Time-boxing provides a rhythm to the project and enables rapid feedback and iterative progress.

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