Page 226 - DCAP304_DCAP515_SOFTWARE_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Software Project Management

Notes Compared to the serial method, the parallel method has been the most widely used heuristic.
The following priority rules, in the order presented, have been found to be the most effective in
minimizing project delay.
 Minimum slack
 Smallest duration

 Lowest activity identification number
Regardless of the scheduling heuristic used, the primary impact of resource constrained scheduling
is the loss of flexibility due to the reduction in slack. Furthermore, the reduction in slack also
increases the number of critical or near-critical activities.

11.3.1 Resource Scheduling – Example

We will now go through an example to demonstrate the resource scheduling process for a
resource constrained scenario using the parallel heuristic and the priority rules given above. We
will solve two problems. In solving these problems, two critical assumptions are made.
 No splitting activities are allowed, i.e., once an activity is placed on the schedule; it will be
worked on continuously until it is finished.
 The resource level used for an activity cannot change.
In actual practice, however, these limiting assumptions do not exist.

Resource Constrained Network Example (Gray and Larson, 2003)

Develop a resource schedule in the loading chart that follows. Use the parallel method and
heuristics given. Be sure to update as the computer would do. Note: Activities 1, 3, 5, and 6 use
two of the resource skills. Three of the resource skills are available. To proceed through the

example, press the next icon in the Flash slide show below.

Figure 11.5: Resource Loading Chart Example

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