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Program Evaluation Review Technique (Pert)

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

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