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What is the primary purpose of project planning?
What is the primary purpose of project planning?
Which type of planning focuses specifically on the objectives and strategies of a particular department?
Which type of planning focuses specifically on the objectives and strategies of a particular department?
What is Long range planning generally characterized by?
What is Long range planning generally characterized by?
What is the ideal time frame for Short range planning?
What is the ideal time frame for Short range planning?
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Which type of planning is primarily concerned with ensuring efficient resource use and developing control mechanisms?
Which type of planning is primarily concerned with ensuring efficient resource use and developing control mechanisms?
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Which of the following is a reason for the necessity of planning?
Which of the following is a reason for the necessity of planning?
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What kind of planning is directly concerned with the short-term moves and responses to environmental changes?
What kind of planning is directly concerned with the short-term moves and responses to environmental changes?
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Why is project planning considered critical for monitoring performance?
Why is project planning considered critical for monitoring performance?
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What does the Design Structure Matrix primarily illustrate?
What does the Design Structure Matrix primarily illustrate?
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Which of the following is an advantage of a Gantt Chart?
Which of the following is an advantage of a Gantt Chart?
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What is a key limitation of a Milestone Chart compared to a Gantt Chart?
What is a key limitation of a Milestone Chart compared to a Gantt Chart?
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Which method is particularly advantageous for managing complex projects with interrelated tasks?
Which method is particularly advantageous for managing complex projects with interrelated tasks?
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In the context of PERT, what is the 'Most Likely' time estimate?
In the context of PERT, what is the 'Most Likely' time estimate?
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What characterizes an activity in the Critical Path Method?
What characterizes an activity in the Critical Path Method?
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Which of the following best describes the concept of the critical path?
Which of the following best describes the concept of the critical path?
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What is a major disadvantage of the PERT chart?
What is a major disadvantage of the PERT chart?
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What does an activity represent in a project network?
What does an activity represent in a project network?
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Which of the following best describes an event in project management?
Which of the following best describes an event in project management?
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What is the correct formula for calculating the Earliest Finish time (EF)?
What is the correct formula for calculating the Earliest Finish time (EF)?
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What is indicated if the Total Float (TF) is zero on a Critical Path?
What is indicated if the Total Float (TF) is zero on a Critical Path?
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What do AOA and AON stand for in project management terminology?
What do AOA and AON stand for in project management terminology?
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What is the first step in planning a project?
What is the first step in planning a project?
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Which of the following is NOT a component of establishing key project dates?
Which of the following is NOT a component of establishing key project dates?
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During which stage is the pre-start meeting scheduled?
During which stage is the pre-start meeting scheduled?
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What does 'establishing the sequence' refer to in project planning?
What does 'establishing the sequence' refer to in project planning?
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What is the primary focus of deciding which programming technique to use in project planning?
What is the primary focus of deciding which programming technique to use in project planning?
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Which activity would be included in the checklist during the tender stage?
Which activity would be included in the checklist during the tender stage?
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What is involved in assessing how long activities will take during project planning?
What is involved in assessing how long activities will take during project planning?
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Which of the following is a step in getting a feel for the project?
Which of the following is a step in getting a feel for the project?
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What should be established to ensure a project is on schedule?
What should be established to ensure a project is on schedule?
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Which programming technique is generally used to minimize project completion time?
Which programming technique is generally used to minimize project completion time?
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What is a primary objective of project scheduling?
What is a primary objective of project scheduling?
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Which of the following is NOT a step in the planning process?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the planning process?
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What is the purpose of developing a task sequence in project planning?
What is the purpose of developing a task sequence in project planning?
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What type of tasks are described as 'uncoupled' in the planning process?
What type of tasks are described as 'uncoupled' in the planning process?
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Which method is often used to develop a scheduling chart?
Which method is often used to develop a scheduling chart?
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Estimating the personnel, time, and resources needed for a project is often based on which factor?
Estimating the personnel, time, and resources needed for a project is often based on which factor?
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What outcome is directly investigated when assessing potential delays in a project?
What outcome is directly investigated when assessing potential delays in a project?
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Which of the following best describes 'progress control' in project scheduling?
Which of the following best describes 'progress control' in project scheduling?
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Study Notes
Introduction
- Planning is a crucial part of project management,
- It ensures successful completion of projects and effective control of time, money, and resources.
- Planning helps address construction risks and devise safe working methods.
Reasons for Planning
- Setting a realistic time frame for the project.
- Establishing realistic standards to avoid "wishful thinking".
- Aiding control during the project.
- Monitoring performance in terms of output, time, and money.
- Reviewing progress and taking corrective action when needed.
Kinds of Planning
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Organizational level outlines the type of planning and its time frame.
- Corporate range: Strategic, long-term planning.
- Divisional: Operational, medium-range planning.
- Functional: Tactical, short-range planning
Organizational Planning
- Corporate planning defines the objectives, policies, and strategies of the entire organization. Usually for a longer period.
- Divisional planning targets a specific department or division, outlining its own objectives, policies, and strategies.
- Sectional planning focuses on detailed plans for daily guidance and activities.
Focused Planning
- Strategic planning defines objectives and determines resources to achieve them. Done by top management.
- Operational planning ensures efficient resource utilization and develops control mechanisms for maximum efficiency.
- Tactical planning addresses short-term changes and maneuvers required to respond to unforeseen situations.
Time Period Planning
- Long-range planning covers at least five years and involves capital budgeting, product planning, and project planning. Deals with significant uncertainty.
- Medium-range planning spans one to five years and focuses on developing new products and markets. Supports long-range plans.
- Short-range planning extends up to a year and aims to achieve short-term goals. Focused on the internal business environment.
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
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Getting a feel for the project:
- Examine drawings and project documentation.
- Visit the site for a firsthand assessment.
- Evaluate the project's scale and scope.
- Estimate the project's approximate value.
- Consider the expenditure rate.
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Getting a feel for the project:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Establishing key project dates:
- Project start and completion dates.
- Sectional or phased completion dates.
- Holiday periods.
- Commissioning or handover deadlines.
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Establishing key project dates:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Establishing key activities or events:
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Design stage:
- Brief the design team.
- Make professional appointments.
- Apply for building regulation approval.
- Pre-qualify contractors.
- Appoint contractors.
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Tender stage:
- Prepare tender documents.
- Complete pre-construction health and safety information.
- Establish a period for tendering.
- Evaluate tenders.
- Compile contract documentation.
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Design stage:
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Establishing key activities or events:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Establishing key activities or events:
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Pre-contract stage:
- Appoint project staff.
- Develop construction phase health and safety plan.
- Prepare requirement schedules.
- Conduct a pre-start meeting.
- Permit the start of construction work.
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Pre-contract stage:
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Establishing key activities or events:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Establishing key activities or events:
-
Construction stage:
- Set up site establishment.
- Groundworks or substructure.
- Frame/external envelope.
- Floors.
- Roof structure and cladding.
- Building Watertight.
- MEPF (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire).
- Finishes.
- External works and drainage.
- Practical or substantial completion.
- Clear site.
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Construction stage:
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Establishing key activities or events:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Assessing how long the activities will take:
- Determine the duration of each task.
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Assessing how long the activities will take:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Establishing the sequence:
- Identify the logical order of tasks.
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Establishing the sequence:
Planning a Project
- Planning requires a logical approach with defined steps:
-
Deciding which programming technique to use:
- Select the appropriate scheduling method for the project.
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Deciding which programming technique to use:
Programming Techniques
- A project is a collection of tasks that need to be completed within a given time or budget.
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Objectives of Project Scheduling:
- Completing the project as quickly as possible by identifying the earliest start and finish times for each activity.
- Calculating the likelihood of project completion within a specific time frame.
- Determining the minimum cost schedule to complete the project by a certain date.
Programming Techniques
-
Objectives of Project Scheduling:
- Investigating the impact of potential delays in activity completion.
- Controlling project progress.
- Smoothing out resource allocation over the project's duration.
Steps in the Planning Process
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1) Identify the tasks: Tasks bridge the gap between a problem and a product.
- Begin with major development activities.
- Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks.
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2) Clearly state the objective of each task: Refine tasks so the results are clear.
- Make objectives easily understood by the entire design team.
- Ensure that the objectives are specific, indicating what information needs to be developed.
- Verify that the objectives are feasible, considering available time, personnel, and equipment.
Steps in the Planning Process
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3) Estimate the personnel, time, and resources required to meet objectives: Estimating is challenging as design requires time.
- Various estimation schemes are used, all based on assumptions.
- Company track records provide the best indicator for accurate estimations.
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4) Develop a task sequence:
- Sequential tasks: Tasks must be completed in sequence.
- Parallel tasks: Tasks can be performed concurrently.
- Coupled tasks: Tasks must be completed in a specific order, but their duration can be varied.
- Uncoupled tasks: Tasks have no dependencies on each other.
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Develop a planning/scheduling chart:
- Milestone or Gantt chart:
- PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique):
Steps in the Planning Process
- 4) Develop a task sequence:
- Design Structure Matrix: Displays task dependencies.
Planning and Scheduling
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Gantt Chart is a simple and widely used project scheduling technique:
-
Advantages:
- Direct correlation with time, making it easy to visualize durations.
- Straightforward relationship for projects with a limited number of tasks.
- Easy integration of subtasks with separate scheduling charts.
- Flexible time schedule that can be expanded to show shorter tasks.
- Progress against the plan is easily reflected.
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Disadvantage:
- Doesn't portray complex interrelationships between tasks.
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Advantages:
Planning and Scheduling
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Milestone Chart: Similar to a Gantt chart, but focuses on task completion milestones.
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Advantages:
- Embodies simplified techniques of a Gantt chart.
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Disadvantages:
- Doesn't depict interrelationships between tasks.
- Doesn't identify the critical path.
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Advantages:
Planning and Scheduling
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PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique): Ideal for complex projects with interconnected tasks.
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Advantages:
- Handles complex projects with interconnected tasks.
- Offers flexibility in time estimations.
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Disadvantages:
- More complex compared to the CPM.
- Requires three time estimates:
- Optimistic (to): Shortest possible time.
- Most Likely (tM): Best estimate.
- Pessimistic (tp): Longest possible time.
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Advantages:
Planning and Scheduling
-
Critical Path Method (CPM): Shares similarities with PERT.
- Defined activities and events:
- Activity: A time-consuming effort to complete a project part, represented as an arrow in a diagram.
- Event: Marks the end of one activity and the beginning of another, represented as a circle. Events can be decision points.
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CPM Terminology:
- Earliest Start time (ES):
- Latest Start time (LS):
- Earliest Finish time (EF):
- Duration (D):
- Latest Finish time (LF):
- Total Float (TF): The slack between the earliest and latest start times. Total float is zero on the critical path.
Critical Path Method
- CPM Example: Demonstrates critical path analysis with a list of activities, predecessors, and durations.
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Description
This quiz covers the essential aspects of planning in project management. It explores the importance of planning, the reasons behind setting a realistic framework, and the different kinds and levels of planning necessary for effective project control. Test your knowledge on these vital principles that ensure successful project completion.
