Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a systematic approach to project management that uses a network diagram to represent the logical sequence of activities in a project. It is a widely used technique for project planning and scheduling.

Key Concepts of PERT:

• Network Diagram: A graphical representation of the project activities, showing the sequence, dependencies, and estimated durations.
• Critical Path: The sequence of activities that determines the overall project completion time.
• Est, Act, and Float: Estimated, actual, and float times for each activity.
• Total Float: The total amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion time.
• Crashing: Techniques to reduce project duration by accelerating critical activities.
• Fast-tracking: Techniques to reduce project duration by parallelizing activities.

Procedure:

1. Identify Project Activities: List all the activities involved in the project.
2. Create Network Diagram: Draw a network diagram using the activities and their dependencies.
3. Estimate Activity Durations: Estimate the duration for each activity.
4. Calculate EST, ACT, and Float: Calculate the estimated, actual, and float times for each activity.
5. Identify Critical Path: Determine the critical path, which is the sequence of activities that determines project completion time.
6. Schedule Project: Create a project schedule based on the critical path and other project constraints.
7. Track Progress: Monitor project progress and make adjustments as needed.

Advantages:

• Viable for Complex Projects: PERT is well-suited for large and complex projects.
• Provides a Comprehensive Schedule: It creates a detailed schedule that includes all activities and dependencies.
• Facilitates Cost Estimation: PERT helps estimate project costs more accurately.
• Informs Project Control: It provides a basis for project control and monitoring.

Disadvantages:

• Subjectivity: Estimates can be subjective and difficult to accurate.
• Difficult to Update: Updating a PERT network diagram can be complex.
• Resource Constraints: Does not consider resource constraints.
• Not Suitable for Small Projects: PERT is not recommended for small projects.

Conclusion:

PERT is a powerful project management technique that is widely used for planning, scheduling, and controlling complex projects. Its primary advantage is its ability to provide a comprehensive schedule and facilitate cost estimation. However, it does