Page 172 - DCAP601_SIMULATION_AND_MODELING

Simulation and Modelling

Notes 9.6 Summary

 Ultimately the network user will want to communicate using characters and symbols.
 To accomplish this, some kind of character set must be used. One could use ASCII, however
all 8 bits are not necessary for this purpose. Essentially, CPM (Critical Path Method) and
PERT (Programme Evaluation Review Technique) are project management techniques,
which have been created out of the need of Western industrial and military establishments
to plan, schedule and control complex projects.
 The Program (or Project) Evaluation and Review Technique, usually abbreviated PERT, is
a model for project management designed to analyze and represent the tasks involved in
completing a given project.

 It is usually used in conjunction with the critical path method or CPM. The Critical Path
Method (CPM) is an algorithm for scheduling a set of project activities. It is an important
tool for effectual project management.
 One of the ‘second seven tools’, this is a typical project planning tool for piecing together
a multi-task complex set of interdependent activities. It allows you to calculate what task
starts when, what float there is in the project, etc.

9.7 Keywords

AND: Activity Network Diagram
CPM: Critical Path Method

Earliest Start Time(EST): Earliest probable time for an activity to begin
Event: It represents the start or finish of one or more events (shown as a circle, square, or other
symbol).

Expected Time(ET): The average duration time
Latest Start Time(LST): The latest time an activity can begin and still be completed before the
next activity

Most Likely Estimate(M): Length of time probably needed
PERT: Programme Evaluation Review Technique

9.8 Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. Computing the longest time path during the network is called the …………….
2. …………… is the spare time available when all previous activities occur at the earliest
possible times and all succeeding activities occur at the earliest possible times.
3. A …………… may have numerous pages with many sub-tasks.
4. One possibility to maximize solution sturdiness is to include safety in the baseline schedule
in order to absorb the anticipated ……………...
5. The critical path method (CPM) is an algorithm for ………………. a set of project activities.
6. An additional parallel path through the network with the total ……………. shorter than
the critical path is called a sub-critical or non-critical path.
7. The structure of critical path analysis is such that the …………… from the original schedule
caused by any change can be measured, and its impact either ameliorated or adjusted for.

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