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Schedule Integrity - The Key to Successful Project Management
1. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule
MEETING NATIONAL NEEDS
SCHEDULE TECHNICAL INTEGRITY
THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Shane Forth Msc, FAPM, FACostE
Costain Natural Resources - PMO Director
APM North West Event at University of Manchester - 16TH March 2016
2. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 2
Introduction
Alumni of Manchester University
www.costain.comContact Tel:
Mobile:
Email:
Follow us on:
01642 664155 0161 910 3369
07812 961901
shane.forth@costain.com
‘I received high quality support throughout
from the Universities MACE School, course
co-ordinators, programme team, academic
staff, course administrators and especially, my
dissertation supervisor Therese Lawlor-
Wright, who provided excellent support and
guidance.’
2
3. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 3
Costain Group plc
Securing a future energy
supply…
…maintaining a safe and
reliable water supply
…upgrading the transport
infrastructure
Infrastructure
Natural Resources
4. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 4
Costain Group plc
Natural
Resources
LISTED ON THE
London
Stock Exchange
SECURED BUSINESS UK EMPOLYEES
35382014
Female 681
Male 2857
Costain Group plc
is one of the UK’s largest and most respected Engineering Solutions Providers
Infrastructure
Rail Highways
Power Water
Nuclear
Oil & Gas
5. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 5
Costain Natural Resources
Established over 60 years ago
UK & Internationally focused
Full project lifecycle delivery
Driven by technology & innovation
Focus on advisory & design services
Improvement & development of
customer facilities
Advisory & Concept Development
Specialist Design
Programme Management
Complex Project Delivery
Technology Integration
Asset Optimisation & Support
Our Natural Resources division supports
the Oil & Gas, Power, Water and Carbon Management sectors.
6. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 6
Costain Oil & Gas
Project Delivery Centres
Manchester Delivery Centre
870 people across process
sectors
Immingham
CORE CAPABILITIES
– FULL PROJECT
LIFE CYCLE
Concept, feasibility
and FEED
Detailed design,
engineering,
procurement
and project
management
services
Construction
Management
Asset management
& industrial services
180
Head Office
Maidenhead
450
Leeds170
Teesside30
Aberdeen130
7. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 7
Project Management Office (PMO)
‘
‘ To develop, implement and continuously improve
our processes and tools for project controls and
information management to help our project teams
improve delivery outcomes on new projects to
benefit both Costain and our customers
Our customers recognise the industry leading
processes and tools we provide for project controls
and information management that strongly support
our project teams and ensure predictable project
delivery in all our target markets
8. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 8
Integrated Project Delivery Solution
(IPDS)
http://costain.com/media/597674/ipds‐2pp.pdf
11. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 11
Project Controls Technician
Trailblazer Apprenticeship
12. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 12
Agenda
1. Schedule Technical Integrity - What is it and How Big is the Problem ?
2. Common Problems in the Development of Project Schedules
3. A Review of Good Practice in Preparing the Project Network
4. Real World Case Studies
5. 5-Step Solution
6. Emerging Trends in Industry
7. Why is Planning & Scheduling Important?
13. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 13
Technical
relating to a particular subject, art, or craft, or its techniques
Integrity
the condition of being unified or sound in construction
http://oxforddictionaries.com/
Schedule Technical Integrity
What is It?
14. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 14
Technical Assurance
The monitoring of the technical integrity of products.
Technical
Pertaining to the application of specific principles and/or reasoning to the
resolution of project management issues or problems.
Integrity
In dealings between parties, firm adherence to a code of moral values
including completeness, honesty, honor, forthrightness,
straightforwardness and entirety.
Wideman Comparative Glossary of Project Management Terms v3.1 http://www.maxwideman.com/pmglossary/index.htm
Schedule Technical Integrity
What is It?
15. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 1515
After: Ernest & Young 2014
Schedule Technical Integrity
How Big is the Problem?
16. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 16
Schedule Technical Integrity
How Big is the Problem?
ENR, May 2003, reported on a meeting at which four
scheduling experts lamented the state of scheduling and
what they saw as widespread abuse of powerful software to
produce badly flawed schedules, that look good but lack
mathematical coherence or common sense. They described
this as:
The article included a quote from Russell J. Lewton,
construction manager for the Weitz Co LLC, Des Moines:
Korman et al (2003)
‘Among the young guys, computers
have made it east to slap together
something that looks right, but there
is a thought process that must be
involved, and it is hard to tell in many
contemporary schedules if the
thinking has happened or not.’
Critics can't find the logic in many of today's CPM schedules
Users want software with flexibility, but is it true CPM?
17. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 17
Schedule Technical Integrity
How Big is the Problem?
We might liken the current condition of schedule analyses to fruit we buy at the market.
We have all had the experience of buying fruit that looks to be in excellent condition, only
to get home and find it is rotten to the core. In the era of Enron we have seen this trend
carry over to accounting reports not worth the paper on which they are written.
Unfortunately the field of construction planning today presents a landscape that is littered
with too many ‘rotten banana’ schedules. Whilst the majority of schedules in use today
present tools for planning and scheduling projects, too many of today’s schedules fall into
the ‘rotten bananas’ category.
Frequently these ‘rotten banana’ schedules appear to be in excellent condition from the
outside. However when we look at the actual content of these documents and files, we
find that the schedules are flawed, if not useless.
Wickwire et al, 2003
‘Rotten bananas in a Software Paradise
18. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 18
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
1. Open ended activities - no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
These five problems lead to project networks with incorrect float calculations and
invalid or absent critical path. Credibility is lacking, predictability and forecasts
are poor and this not acceptable to customers
19. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 19
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Open ended activities occur as a result of decisions (or errors) made by the
project planner when creating the project schedule. To illustrate the impact of the
problem, we can consider the impact on a very simple project network.
1. Open ended activities - no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
20. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 20
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
A B F I J
C D E
G H
A B F I J
C D E
G H
21. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 21
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
22. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 22
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
The FS dependency between Activity C & D has been removed or missed by the planner below, what are the effects?
23. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 23
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
24. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 24
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
The FS dependency between Activity B & C has been removed or missed by the planner below, what are the effects?
25. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 25
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Computerised project management systems have various constraint date types, which can
be assigned to activities as imposed dates – but beware, this will override the calculation
and results of a natural forward and backward pass.
1. Open ended activities – no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
26. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 26
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
27. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 27
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Computerised project management
systems offer various types of
constraint dates which can be assigned
to activities as imposed dates,
overriding the calculation and results of
a natural forward and backward pass
28. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 28
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Computerised project management
systems offer various types of
constraint dates which can be assigned
to activities as imposed dates,
overriding the calculation and results of
a natural forward and backward pass
Activity C
Start On or After 28 Aug
29. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 29
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Computerised project management
systems offer various types of
constraint dates which can be assigned
to activities as imposed dates,
overriding the calculation and results of
a natural forward and backward pass
Look what’s
happened
to the Project
Finish date ?
Activity C
Start On or After 28 Aug
30. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 30
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Constraint Types (Primavera P6)
Start On or After
Finish On or After
Start On or Before
Finish On or Before
Mandatory Start
Mandatory Finish
Constraint Types (Microsoft Project)
Start No Earlier Than
Finish No Earlier Than
Start No Later Than
Finish No Later Than
Must Start On
Must Finish On
31. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 31
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
31
Extract from CPM Network without Imposed
Restraints
(Adapted from Ahujah, 1976: 54, Figure 3-8)
Figure ‐ Extract from CPM Network with Imposed Restraints
(Adapted from Ahujah, 1976: 54, Figure 3‐9)
32. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 32
1. Open ended activities – no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
33. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 33
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Activity B needs to Start 20 days before Activity A finishes
Dur = 50 days
Dur = 40 days
34. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 34
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Activity B needs to Start 20 days before Activity A finishes
Dur = 50 days
Dur = 40 days
This suggests that the finish of a future activity will determine the start
of an activity in the past which is neither logical nor possible
Better options are
Use an SS relationship with a positive lag of 30 days from Activity A
to Activity B
Use more detailed activities (with smaller durations) and an FS 0
relationship between them
35. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 35
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
1. Open ended activities – no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
36. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 36
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Some Examples of the complexity in software settings Include:
Activity Duration Types
– Fixed Duration and Units
– Fixed Duration and Units/Time
– Fixed Units/Time
– Fixed Units
Scheduling Options
– Make open ended activities critical
– When scheduling progressed activities use Retained Logic or Progress Override
or Actual dates
– Calculate Start to Start Lag from Early Start or Actual Start
– Use Expected Finish Dates
– Ignore dependencies (relationships) to and from activities in other projects
– Compute Total Float as Start Float, Finish Float or smallest of Start and Finish
Float
– Calculate Float based on Finish Date of Each Project or Opened Projects
37. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 37
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Some Examples of the complexity in software settings Include:
Activity Duration Types
– Fixed Duration and Units
– Fixed Duration and Units/Time
– Fixed Units/Time
– Fixed Units
Scheduling Options
– Make open ended activities critical
– When scheduling progressed activities use Retained Logic or Progress Override
or Actual dates
– Calculate Start to Start Lag from Early Start or Actual Start
– Use Expected Finish Dates
– Ignore dependencies (relationships) to and from activities in other projects
– Compute Total Float as Start Float, Finish Float or smallest of Start and Finish
Float
– Calculate Float based on Finish Date of Each Project or Opened Projects
If the planner changes the activity duration manually, the
software automatically changes the resources (manhours)
38. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 38
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
1. Open ended activities – no predecessor or no successor
2. Use of constraint dates
3. Negative Lags
4. Incorrect software settings can affect calculations
5. Excessive detail
39. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 39
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Excessive activity detail in the project network has been a problem
since the very first use of the critical path method. (CPM)
1957-58 - during testing in first use of CPM by Du Pont US on a new chemical
plant facility, a team of six engineers went into far more detail than expected
(Kelley & Walker, 1959)
Early 1960s - the USAF Dyna Soar rocket missile program had a network of
250,000 activities that had to be simplified for contractors (Battersby, 1964)
Early 1960s - Bristol Aircraft ran into difficulties with a 3000 activity network in
Concorde, encountering incomplete logic, loops and incorrect event numbering
(Battersby, 1964)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
40. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 40
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
Excessive network activity detail causes the following problems:
Many stakeholders are overwhelmed and don’t understand the plan, or ignore it
Need for taller organisation with increased levels of management and slower decisions
Difficulties in keeping the project schedule current
– Progress update is a high maintenance chore, the network quickly becomes out of date
– Difficulties adding authorised changes into the network, another high maintenance chore
– Progress status reports are late and inaccurate
Abortive and inefficient schedule development work
– As the more distant planned work moves towards the upcoming time horizon, the schedule
activity detail that was planned too early, before the prerequisite level of scope definition and
information was available, has to be reworked
41. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 41
The convenience of PC, modern project management software and speed of data entry that
can easily lead the planning engineer and project team into temptation to develop the project
network in more detail than the availability of the prerequisite information supports
A long list of authoritative sources cite the problem of excessive activity as the single
most problem in the development of robust and usable project networks
(e.g. PMI, 2007, Andersen, 1996; Lockyer & Gordon, 1996; Drigani, 1989; Laufer & Tucker, 1988; Lockyer, 1984; Morton,
1983b; Lester, 1982 (citing NEDO, 1976); Woodgate, 1977; Ahuja, 1976
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
42. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 42
Common Problems in the Development of
Project Schedules
In addition to the convenience of the PC, organisational and
behavioural issues influence come into play:
Whilst some project team members or stakeholders complain there is too
much detail in the project schedule
… it is often assumed that more thought must have been put into project
schedule development and that more detail provides more certainty as to
the outcome
… many find this a comfort, it give them a (false) sense of security
… I would suggest to you that this is a confusion in thinking that quantity is
equal to quality.
43. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 43
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
2015 - APM - Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring
and Control: The Practical Project
Management of Time, Cost and Risk
2014 - CPM Scheduling for Construction
Best Practice and Guidelines
2010 - American Association of Cost Engineers
- Identifying the Critical Path
- Schedule Level of Detail
- Forensic Schedule Analysis
2007 - Project Management Institute (PMI)
PMBOK
2002 - Society of Construction Law
Delay and Disruption Protocol
Standards and Guidelines that contain statements of good practice concerning
the project network include:
44. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 44
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
2011 - Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB)
- Review for schedule integrity
2010 - Association for Project Management (APM)
- The scheduling maturity model
2010 - Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- 9 point schedule analysis
2009 - Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMS )
- 14 point schedule assessment
Standards and Guidelines - As awareness of problems have increased,
government organisations and professional bodies have introduced specific
standards and guidelines for the checking of schedule integrity
45. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 45
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
A B F I J
C D E
G H
A B F I J
C D E
G H
Open Ends
46. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 46
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Open Ends
47. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 47
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Use of Constraint Dates
48. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 48
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Use of Constraint Dates
49. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 49
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
FS - 20
SS 30
FF 20
Negative Lags
50. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 50
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Negative Lags
51. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 51
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Most professional bodies recommend the ‘rolling wave method to address the
issue of excessive detail (as do Costain procedures)
APM advocates the ‘rolling wave’ method
PMI acknowledge that too much detail can mean a schedule which is difficult
to manage and suggest that the level should be sufficient for the assigned
person to carry out the task without requiring further sources of guidance
AACEI recommend Level 3 detail, which is not too high-level and not too
detailed and support the ‘rolling wave’ method whereby Level 3 may apply o
the detailed engineering/design phase, but the later phases for procurement
and construction phases might only be detailed to Level 1 or 2.
GAO Best Practice number 3 specifies the ‘rolling wave’ method
Society of Construction Law guidance is that activities should not exceed
28 days duration
Costain specify a maximum 3,000 activities for the project
network and recommend the ‘rolling wave’ method
Level of Detail
52. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 52
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
CIOB (2011a :30). Graph of schedule density in relation to predictability
Level of Detail
53. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 53
A Review of Good Practice in
Preparing the Project Network
Level of Detail
CIOB (2011b :36). WBS levels and schedule density
54. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 54
Real World Case Study 1
All eight networks would all fail the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA ) 14
Point Schedule Assessment, which recommends a 5% limit for open ends, constraints
and negative lags
Project
A
Project
B
Project
C
Project
D
Project
E
Project
F
Project
G
Project
J
Max Avg
# Activities 4067 3597 3528 2792 1933 1526 923 522 2361
# Open Ends 5.3% 10.6% 9.2% 7.5% 4.4% 29.1% 33.3% 36.4% 36.4% 11.4%
# Constraints 1.1% 12.6% 11.3% 4.3% 6.5% 2.4% 1.1% 1.3% 12.6% 6.4%
# Negative Lags 0.1% 3.6% 1.8% 2.1% 1.0% 8.9% 1.6% 11.1% 11.1% 2.6%
Project
A
Project
B
Project
C
Project
D
Project
E
Project
F
Project
G
Project
J
Max Avg
# Activities 4067 3597 3528 2792 1933 1526 923 522 2361
# Open Ends 5.3% 10.6% 9.2% 7.5% 4.4% 29.1% 33.3% 36.4% 36.4% 11.4%
# Constraints 1.1% 12.6% 11.3% 4.3% 6.5% 2.4% 1.1% 1.3% 12.6% 6.4%
# Negative Lags 0.1% 3.6% 1.8% 2.1% 1.0% 8.9% 1.6% 11.1% 11.1% 2.6%
Project
A
Project
B
Project
C
Project
D
Project
E
Project
F
Project
G
Project
J
Max Avg
# Activities 4067 3597 3528 2792 1933 1526 923 522 2361
# Open Ends 214 380 325 209 86 444 307 190 444 269
# Constraints 46 454 399 121 126 36 10 7 454 150
# Negative Lags 6 130 64 58 20 136 15 58 136 61
Project
A
Project
B
Project
C
Project
D
Project
E
Project
F
Project
G
Project
J
Max Avg
# Activities 4067 3597 3528 2792 1933 1526 923 522 2361
# Open Ends 214 380 325 209 86 444 307 190 444 269
# Constraints 46 454 399 121 126 36 10 7 454 150
# Negative Lags 6 130 64 58 20 136 15 58 136 61
55. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 55
Real World Case Study 1
Some Possible Causes
– Lack of time to prepare plan (leads to
shortcuts)
– Too much detail (high maintenance)
– Lack of checking
– Computer functionality
– Bad habits
– Laziness/easy way out
– Unlearned what we did before
– Lack of training and procedures
– Lack of experience or capability
– GiGO
56. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 56
Real World Case Study 1
Some Possible Causes
– Lack of time to prepare plan (leads to
shortcuts)
– Too much detail (high maintenance)
– Lack of checking
– Computer functionality
– Bad habits
– Laziness/easy way out
– Unlearned what we did before
– Lack of training and procedures
– Lack of experience or capability
– GiGO
Some Definite Impacts
– Float calculations wrong
– Critical path invalid or absent
– Plan lacks credibility
– Plan not realistic
– Plan not accepted by client
– Poor predictability or forecasts
– Poor reputation
– Plan not recognised in
adjudication or arbitration
– People may not realise there’s a
problem
(ignorance is bliss)
– GIGO
57. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 57
Real World Case Study 2
The Good
Semi-Structured Interviews
13 Project Controls and Planning Managers from 11 companies
with significant experience in energy industry
61. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 61
5 Step Solution
Steps 1 to 4
1
Rules
Procedures, practices
& work instructions
- Procedures and practices
prohibit or discourage actions
which cause problems in
project network development
- Detailed work instructions for
Primavera P6
2
Schedule integrity check
3
Schedule Narrative
4
Risk analysis
Independent
99 point checklist
(before baseline issued)
Eight topics covered including:
- Network Logic & Constraints
- Scheduling Method
- Critical Path/ Float
- Primavera P6 Practice
compliance
- etc.
Basis of Schedule
- WBS & activity detail
- Clarifications & assumptions
- Schedule method statement
- Use of constraints
- Critical path,
- Key issues
- Calendars, and seasonal
implications
- Resource availability
- Resource levelling
Schedule optimisation
- More realistic schedule,
- 3 point estimate of
completion date rather than
deterministic schedule
- May be applied to separate
standalone schedules if
program//project network
is too large.
62. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 62
5 Step Solution
Step 5
5
Project team review the plan (content and constructability) before issue
Includes project management team and key stakeholders
63. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 63
5 Step Solution
Technical Integrity Audit of Project Network
64. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 64
Independent
99 Point Checklist
(before Baseline
issued)
Items on Checklist include:
Guidance Notes
Findings
Recommended Actions
Eight Topics Covered:
1.Project Setup
2.Project Details
3.Network Logic & Constraints
4.Scheduling Method
5.Critical Path/Float
6.Resource Management
7.Progress
8.Primavera P6 Practice
compliance
Summary Report Produced
for Senior Management
5 Step Solution
Technical Integrity Audit of Project Network
65. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 65
5 Step Solution
Typical Results (Project X)
Date / # Activities
17 Dec
2010
1340
Qty %
11 Jan
2011
1340
Qty %
10 Feb
2011
1358
Qty %
Open Ends –
No Predecessor or
No Successor
204 15.2% 172 12.8% 24 1.8%
Constraints 246 18.4% 97 7.2% 83 6.1%
Negative Lags 35 2.6% 35 2.6% 31 2.3%
Date / # Activities
17 Dec
2010
1340
Qty %
11 Jan
2011
1340
Qty %
10 Feb
2011
1358
Qty %
Open Ends –
No Predecessor or
No Successor
204 15.2% 172 12.8% 24 1.8%
Constraints 246 18.4% 97 7.2% 83 6.1%
Negative Lags 35 2.6% 35 2.6% 31 2.3%
66. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 66
5 Step Solution
Typical Results (Project Y)
Date / # Activities
09 Nov
2010
2965
Qty %
03 Dec
2011
2394
Qty %
25 Jan
2011
2392
Qty %
Open Ends –
No Predecessor or
No Successor
388 13.1% 113 4.7% 60 2.5%
Constraints 41 1.4% 26 1.1% 21 0.9%
Negative Lags 16 0.5% 24 1.0% 20 0.8%
Date / # Activities
09 Nov
2010
2965
Qty %
03 Dec
2011
2394
Qty %
25 Jan
2011
2392
Qty %
Open Ends –
No Predecessor or
No Successor
388 13.1% 113 4.7% 60 2.5%
Constraints 41 1.4% 26 1.1% 21 0.9%
Negative Lags 16 0.5% 24 1.0% 20 0.8%
67. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 67
5 Step Solution
Feedback
Project Director – Project X
‘I welcome your input to ensure we have best practice on the project in line with
governance’
Project Director – Project Y
‘I really appreciate your time spent on auditing the schedule. Always good to
have an outside view on the content. While the results are encouraging, I still
believe we have a way to go on making this schedule robust. I am aware that
this audit is usually undertaken on a 6 monthly cycle, but I would appreciate if
you could take time out before the xmas holiday break to check the progress
against the actions, and ensure they are closed out.’
Project Sponsor – Project Y
‘Thanks team, great work’
68. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 68
5 Step Solution
Looking Forward
Indications from feedback are that benefits are being realised
Schedule technical integrity 5-step solution has been incorporated into Costain
project management plans and procedures
Continued recruitment of new practitioners at all levels, and the development and
training and retention of these and existing is happening
The level of checking required for technical integrity of project schedules can
gradually be relaxed, as improved practice is embedded
The strong likelihood that customer requirements will include the need to the
ensure schedule technical integrity will help implement the solution
69. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 69
Emerging Trends in Industry
Further to the recent trend in issuing specific standards and guidelines, the
number of software applications are coming onto the market for checking the
schedule integrity of project networks is increasing
2007
Steelray
Project Analyzer
2010
Acumen
Fuse
2004
Pertmaster
Risk
2003
Schedule
Analyzer for
the Enterprise
2010
Primavera
P6 v 8
2010
Schedule
Cracker
1999
Schedule
Analyzer
Pro
70. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 70
Why is Planning & Scheduling Important ?
A 2009 report by Independent Project Analysis (IPA) benchmarking
organisation for the UK Government found that better scheduling and
cost estimating methods lead to better engineering and construction
labour productivity and cost performance
71. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 71
Why is Planning & Scheduling Important ?
The same report found that in the UK, less than 20% of projects have
resource loaded schedule at project sanction, compared to over 40%
in US Gulf Coast, but use of critical path techniques is 40% in UK
compared to just over 30% in US Gulf Coast. The paradox is that UK
projects tend to be cost rather than schedule driven
72. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 72
Why is Planning & Scheduling Important ?
Projects not using
network analysis
techniques had an
average 26%
schedule overrun
this includes projects
using project
management software but
with over-constrained
project networks
Almost 50% of
projects use
network analysis
techniques with an
average 14%
schedule overrun
73. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 73
References
Association for Project Management (2010: 17-18). The Scheduling Maturity Model. High Wycombe, UK: APM Publishing
Association for Project Management (2008: 15). Introduction to Project Planning. High Wycombe, UK: APM Publishing
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77. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule
IMPROVING PROJECT SCHEDULE OUTCOMES
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE YOUR PROJECT SCHEDULES
AND CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS METHODS IN MANGING TIME
Shane Forth - PMO Director
78. Technical Integrity of the Project Schedule 78
Two Hour Workshop
To Help You Improve Your Project Planning
79. This presentation was delivered
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