Explain what requirements and components are required for co

Explain what requirements and components are required for completing a CPM/PERT chart.

Solution

CPM/PERT chart is one of the important tool in Project Management. PERT is used to form graphic representation of a project schedule, depicting the sequence of tasks, tasks that are performed simultaneously and the path that is crucial to complete the project i.e. Critical Path. CPM method which is used alongside PERT determines the length of a project and serves as a control function. Any adjustments if required to be made in the project component, the project manager should always use the Critical Path value as a parameter and should always try to minimize it without harming the completion of related activities.

Requirements for completing a CPM/PERT Diagram:

- A list of tasks and their sequences should be decided before a PERT diagram is drwan.

- The interrelationship between the tasks need to be developed i.e. immediate predecessor/s for each tasks need to be defined.

- Duration of each task should be taken into account. If one cannot zeroed in on the exact value, they can take most optimistic, pesimistic and likely values into consideration.

- If the project manager wants to estimate the overall cost for the project, he/she should also take into account the costs associated with each activity. He/she should also take into account any cost/s that is/are required if delay in any activity happens.

Components:

- Tasks in Each PERT diagram should be represented by a box or circle.

-The task and its following task/s should be connected with arrow. The length of the arrow should be corresponding to the duration ( by rough estimation) i.e. an arrow representing a duration of 4 should not be greater than an arrow representing duration of 2.

- The arrows in the critical path ( path depicting the highest total length for project completion) should be made with different colour or should be highlighted in a manner so that it can be easily figured out.

- Each arrow should be in forward direction and should not go in backward direction as the project always move forward.

- Preferably no arrow should coss.

- 2 activities starting from a single activity can not end in a same and subsequent activity.

- A dummy should be used in the following cases: 1. to avoid duplicating activities between 2 nodes, 2. to correct dangling errors 3. to indicate logical sequence between activities.