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Additional PM Information
Time Management

"The early bird may get the worm,
but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese"

Proverb

PMP Module 2 & 6 + PMBOK® Guide Chapter 6 

These notes are supplementary information that expand on the core information contained in Mosaic's PMP Exam Prep courses. Whilst not central the the PMP exam requirements the materials are intended to add value to our course notes and increase the overall richness of the materials as a project management reference resource. Topics planned for this page include:

Critical Path Method (CPM) Techniques
 
Mosaic's Managing Director, Patrick Weaver, is an internationally recognised scheduling expert. In addition to the basic PMP and CAPM course materials, we offer a very popular 'How To develop a successful schedule' course [view course details] and an advanced course to prepare candidates for the PMI-SP credential
[view 'Scheduling Professional' course details]. Some of our key resources of direct relevance to PMP candidates include:
- Scheduling Whitepaper: A Guide to Scheduling Good Practice describes the work undertaken by a scheduler to create an effective schedule.
- Scheduling Whitepaper: Attributes of a Scheduler considers the personal skills and competencies needed by a person to be an effective scheduler.
- Scheduling Whitepaper: Dynamic Scheduling describes the benefits derived from developing a fully linked schedule.
- Scheduling Whitepaper: Links, Lags & Ladders focuses on the issues, problems and challenges of overlapping tasks in a schedule.
- Scheduling Whitepaper: Schedule Float discusses the various calculations and definitions for float.
- Scheduling Whitepaper: Schedule Levels provides a guide the the 5 levels of schedule typically used on major projects.
- PMI CoS Webinars: Free Webinars from scheduling experts
Mosaic's Planning & Scheduling Home Page  provides access to a wide range of additional scheduling resources, papers and general information.
 
- Blog (Feb. 2009): Time IS NOT Money
- Blog (May 2009): The Last Planner and other Old Ideas
- Blog (Aug. 2009): Project Planning  
 
 

The development of CPM in the 1950s was limited by the limited processing power of the computers then available. These limitations can have significant impacts on the CPM modelling process.  Two emerging techniques focused on removing some of the identified shortcomings are RDCPM® discussed in WP1035 and Momentology discussed in WP1036.
 

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Developing CPM Networks
 
- PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling is available free of charge to PMI members as a non-printing PDF
     For instructions on downloading the PDF see: http://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Books.html

 
Designing the schedule for a complex project is an art, the project needs to be 'planned' before an effective schedule can be developed; WP1039 focuses on planning. The concept of 'schedule density' discussed in WP1016 is one way to ensure an effective schedule is created.
 
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CPM Calculations
  
- Paper: The Cost of Time - or who's duration is it anyway?
- Paper: Float - Is It Real?

 
Blog (Aug. 2009): Mathematical Modelling of Project Estimates    

The concept of the critical path is central to the practice of CPM. WP1043 offers a precise definition of the critical path for use by planners, lawyers and contract drafters.

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Schedule Development & Control
 
- Paper: Managing for Success, The power of regular updates 

 
- Blog (Dec. 2008): Scheduling For Effect 
 

Various approaches can be used to manage time including
Timeboxing (WP 1020) and Critical Chain.

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Schedule Uncertainty
   
- Paper: Scheduling in the Age of Complexity

 
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Other Scheduling Techniques
   
Critical path schedules and Barcharts focus on the logical flow of work by defining and linking activities. Whereas Line of Balance (LOB) and Time/Location charts focus on avoiding the conflicting use of workspace (see WP 1021) and Multiple-Activity Charts focus on optimising the use of resources in cyclical operations to determine the best cycle time (see WP_1025).
 

Line of Balance:Line of Balance (LOB) is a method of managing repetitive work such as constructing multiple dwelling units and linear work such as roads and railways. The primary focus of LOB is avoiding conflicts in the use of work space;  See WP 1021 or click the LOB chart to see an expanded version ->
 
Multiple-Activity Charts are a useful technique for optimising cycle times, the results can be used in either a LOB chart or normal barcharts and schedules. See WP_1025 for more.
 
 LOB Chart
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View Mosaic's PMP Course Details
 

Need More Information?
To discuss your training requirements, please complete an [Information Request Form]
Telephone (03) 9696 8684 or simply email your request to:- training@mosaicprojects.com.au

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