Effective Scheduling Techniques

This 7-hour course covers the necessary skills needed to create and maintain a correct project schedule that contains tasks and resources. Topics include a brief review of schedule types, typical formats, critical path method calculations and interpretation of float values.

Scheduling best practices will be explained including correct use of task relationships, how to handle task duration uncertainty, check for network logic breaks, and correct use of constraints, summary tasks and contingency. Effective methods for adding resources to tasks, reporting progress, handling changes and compressing the schedule will also be discussed. This course includes practical scheduling exercises to reinforce course concepts.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This course is intended for Project Managers, IT Managers, Business Analysts and anybody else with some experience preparing
schedules and who wants to develop knowledge in creating and modifying project schedules.

COURSE FEATURES

This 7-hour course on Effective Scheduling Techniques covers the necessary skills to create and maintain a correct project schedule that contains tasks and resources. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Effectively use Precedence Diagramming and the Critical Path Method
• Explain the types of task relationships
• Use constraints correctly
• Use scheduling best practices to prepare a correct schedule
• Check a schedule for mistakes

COURSE OUTLINE

Type of Schedule and Level of Detail

• Schedule Types & Formats
• Appropriate Level of Detail for Schedules
• Naming of Deliverables and Activities
• Showing Activities in the Schedule

Scheduling Fundamentals Review

• Task Sequencing & Relationship Types
• Schedule Development using Critical Path Method
• Understanding Critical Path and Float

Project Tasks Duration

• Estimating Time Duration
• Handling Uncertainty in Duration Calculations
• Use of Buffers

Scheduling Best Practices

• Checking the Network Logic
• Schedule Contingency
• Proper Use of Constraints
• Task Type Impact on Schedule Calculations
• Summary Tasks and Milestones
• Project Resources
• Using a Resource Pool
• Adding Resources to Tasks
• Resource Leveling Methods
• Keeping Your Project on Track
• Establishing & Entering Task Progress
• Interrupting Task Work
• Dealing with Changes
• Methods for Compressing a Schedule

KNOWLEDGE AREAS ADDRESSED

This course addresses the following knowledge areas of the Project Management Institute’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge:

• Project Scope Management
• Project Time Management