Planning process is linear or is iterative?

Ahmed,

the same may be done using project management software.

Why do you need Excel?

Dear planners;

I want to share our experience in monitoring progress for Railway/Line projects.

for my self I'm using excel (Multiple columns: Km ponits each 5m; zones; area; phases of work; date of achievement of each phase on each Km..) so I can have  Three results; Graphical of the progress; Progress by Zone (Area) with possibility to choice the cut off date (Can get the progress on older dates); and the cumulative progress by months or week.

I found this method very useful and easy, please if you have another methods please share.

Gary wrote;



"The plan itself would be linear.



The planning process however is iterative."



Can I nominate the above for the "Favorite quotes about planning" thread? :-)



I basically agree with Gary. However, there are certain occasions when the plan is also not totally linear: when rework has to be performed after a failed test.



If the rework has been pre-planned in fragnet form (as it should have been), then in a sense the plan is still linear. but the "product" has to go through reiteration.



Them semantics things is a bitch, ain’t they?



Fraternally in PM,



Steve D.

I think we’re talking at cross purposes here.



The plan itself would be linear.



The planning process however is iterative

Hi All



I can’t help but jump in here.



A fully developed bottom up plan with FS links and one critical path is Linear.



It can be nothing else.



Even when progress is added the linear nature is retained.



In PowerProject there is the option to "Link Around Completed Tasks"



Best regards



Mike Testro

Many thanks Gary..

Any time you enter information, analyse it, make changes, then re-analyse, it’s an iterative process. Planning is definitely an iterative process



example (when developing a schedule):

"We’ve got 10km of pipe to put in the ground. How long will that take?"

"4 weeks"

".....that’s no good. That pushes us past contract completion"

"OK, I guess we’ll have to hire an additional welding crew. That would bring it down to 2 weeks"

"perfect"

...is an iterative process.





example (when updating a schedule):

"The pump is going to be delivered 2 weeks later than planned -shipment has been delayed by adverse weather"

"Oh dear. That was on the critical path. Is there anything we can do to recover the delay?"

"Well the diesel gen is due in 1 week. we could recover some of it by installing that first, if we can get the foundation done in time."

"OK, pull the boys off the pump foundation, and get them cracking on the diesel gen. Pull extra manpower from the admin building if you need to"



...is an iterative process

hmmmmmmmm

what do you mean by Linear vs Iterative.

There is the answer to the question,



If you are using CPM (90%), then it is linear.



Regards,



Safak

But with respect I do hear what you say!!



Roger

Have you not forgotten singing off the same hymn sheet, or even project cosmic view, or even taking the low hanging fruit



Regards



Roger

Hi Tom,



I can imagine many people enjoy reading your programme narrative.



Cheers,

Most of my planning is "out of the box", with a degree of blue sky thinking. If we are not all on the same page then I run it up the flagpole and see who salutes. However we MUST reach out for an end to end solution. To touch base together, aim for evolution NOT revolution.



REMEMBER TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK !