CPM any OTHER

Hi,



Sorry for hear bad comments about CPM theory. Scheduling is not just bar charts.It is know how early and how late you can schedule your activities (floats).



Many project mangers do not even know what is CPM, they are interested to see bar charts only.

CPM works and it is the same philosophy behind all the modern software we are now using.



CPM (critical path method) technique was used to analyse the longest path (critical) on a project. Before the computer era, it was done and calculated manually. Knowing the critical path, the construction team can focus their works on these critical elements of the project to achieve major key dates or completion date of a project.



Now that we all have computers and softwares, it makes our life easier, but let me reiterate that it is the same animal.

Ulysses

this was not the topic!

Dieter

What about critical chain?



Or,



I’ve seen some bang up jobs done in excel.



I even been handed an excel A3 sheet which was the tender program for a multi million dollar job.



It was very pretty, little cute boxes with a timescale across the top and everything, only trouble, the dates down the left hand side didn’t correlate with the position of the boxes on the grid area – sheer brilliance. (Project’s late now)



I’ve even seen a customer given a PowerPoint slide with the contractually agreed critical path on it for a $500 million project, It was never updated after that and everyone was surprised when I said there was a difference from the schedule to the PowerPoint slide, Imagine that!!!!!.

Planners,



Don’t know how a planner can reject CPM as a credible tool? CPM is the theoretical backbone of planning and float theories. Tell me, what would planning profession be without floats? Granted, planning is not only about CPM but I could not imagine planning without it.



But then, all this years as a planer, I might be brainwashed.



Regards,

Larry

Dieter, Ulysses



Just coz CPM is old doesn’t make it bad. (And it isn’t old, not yet 50 years old!)



If anyone out there has anything against it then they should be quiet until they have a well thought-out alternative which can be proven to work, rather than a different name for the same thing.

Hi Dieter



I’m totally agree with your explaination and i would like to discuss this imprtant issue deeply.

Ulysses



YOU keep believing..

Hi all



CPM as a method is

- Rather old now

- Its advantages and disadvantages well known

- Its mathematical theorie covered

- It’s easy to use



Is there a better one? No - I’m sure. With this lack of alternatives, it is "best practice". I can work with its disadvantages and profit of its advantages.

Bysani mentioned CCM: It is more than 20 years ago when I saw the first try to apply this method. First result was that the management cancelled the buffer - the project exceeded schedule. Always, if you publish a buffer, management says that with their knowlegde and experience this buffer is not required. Later it was always the lack of experience of project member which lead to failure. I saw many of these attempts - none of them ended successfully. With big luck I always managed that never a project of mine was involved into such illusions.

Resource oriented relationships you can use together with CPM as well.

Maybe Uly’s thesis for phd - with his new method - will turn pm upside down, but now I live with what’s feasible.

Regards and have a nice weekend

Dieter

Look on the internet for CPM pro/cons, is easier than us doing your homework!

I’m working since long time to study and analize the advantages and dis-advantages of this method ,can any one advise me in points about his opinion regarding the advantages and dis-advantages of this method in order to add these points to my list and my final report.

No doubt CPM is the correct method to analyze the programmes than any other available methods.

I feel that CPM is the right and accurate method but we have to think how to improve it and maximize it;s advanteges and minimize it;s dis-advanteges-if any.

I feel critical chain is a better tool compare to CPM as critical chain considers resource dependencies and it sets aside the entire project buffer which we can use at any point of time.