The solution...
The first step in developing the project schedule is to build up a logic network of the various activities, with an assessment of their duration. S P P S use tools including MS Project to produce plans that are logically linked and driven with comprehensive reporting available for full planning and monitoring of your project.
Project Planning...
- Detailed planning of eachphase, including the identification of individual work packages, key deliveries and required delivery dates
- Identification of key milestones
- Identification of interdependencies and critical paths
- Identification and monitoring (if required) of Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)
- Follow-up and progress reporting on a periodic basis or as and when required.
Monitoring and Control...
Float (the amount of time that an activity in a project schedule can be delayed by, without causing a delay to subsequent activities) should be shown on the schedule, so that priority attention can be given to those key suppliers, contractors and other activities, which are on the critical path (i.e. activities with zero days float).
A bar chart (Gantt chart) is usually sufficient for overall management control and progress reporting, although evaluation of actual progress achieved has to be thorough and undertaken regularly. At each progress review, the project management team should make an objective assessment of the time required for completion - investigating areas for concern. This task is more straight-forward if the schedule is broken down into work packages.
The setting of milestones within MS Project will help all parties to the project evaluate overall project progress and to highlight any deviation from the original baseline for each work package. The milestone chart is an especially useful project planning tool for the presentation of progress for the client and will assist in identifying area for corrective action.