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Educational Management

Notes to be taken. It then factored in inevitable delays and planned the exact time that each part of the
project would need to start. By the time the first wave of the fleet was completed, the system was so
well developed that it was adopted by many different business models.

13.8 Features of CPM

• In order to achieve the full advantages of the critical path method, a model of the project must
be created. First, a list of all activities to be performed must be completed. This is known as the
“work breakdown structure.” Every individual activity is identified. The next step is to figure
out which steps are interdependent of each other. This will help determine the exact time and
date the different parts of the project should be started. The order of the project takes shape and
the project managers are able to better monitor the start and completion of the project.
• Critical path method is paramount when attempting to manage the progress of a project. If a
portion of the project needs to be shortened, also known as “fast tracking,” the project manager
can order more of the activities to take place at the same time. Using the critical path method,
a manager can also increase the productivity of an individual activity by “crashing the critical
path.” This means that additional resources are added to shorten the duration of the activity.
Overall, the best advantage of the critical path method is the ability to speed up or slow down
the processes of a project.

The basic difference in PERT and CPM is in how the diagrams are drawn. In PERT,
events are placed in circles (or rectangles) to emphasize a point in time. Tasks are
indicated by the lines connecting the network of events.

• When using the critical path method to its full potential, a project manager must also include
the actual materials that go into the process. If an individual or organization includes the time
that materials will be shipped and received, the critical path method further helps them determine
when to start a project, how fast portions need to be completed and when the project should be
completed. This prevents what is known as a “resource bottleneck,” in which all the work that
can be done is completed and the project is only waiting on materials and resources.
Self Assessment
1. Multiple Choice Questions :

Choose the Correct Option :
(i) PERT was first developed in ______ by the U.S. Navy projects office on polaris missile
system.
(a) 1958 (b) 1959
(c) 1960 (d) 1961
(ii) PERT is an integrated project ______ system.
(a) Administration (b) Management
(c) Evaluation (d) Measurement
(iii) ______ are significantly useful for Computations of the critical path and slack time.
(a) Monitor (b) Evaluator
(c) Computer (d) Calculator
(iv) ______ has become a powerful tool with respect to PERT.
(a) Intranet (b) Internet
(c) World wide web (d) Local network

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