Monday, October 27, 2008
New Course - Delay Claim Analysis Using primavera P6
This new course is designed specifically for Primavera P6 users who have already completed the Primavera P6 training. If you are interested to know more about this course, please logon www.icpsprojects.com/delayclaim.html for more information.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Why Should We Update the Project Schedule?
Project owner X told me yesterday: Why should we update the schedule since we are on schedule?
Project manager Y said: We have not made any progress this period, why should we update the project schedule?
There has never been a valid reason for not updating the schedule. Because the time has elapsed, doing nothing is doing something. The only way to determine the current progress status is to update the schedule. Remember that unless actual progress occurs exactly as planned, the critical path will change as actual progress is recorded over the life of the project.
Accordingly, even if no progress was made in the current period, the schedule still needs to be calculated based on a current cut-off date. If indeed no progress has been made, all activities on the critical path based on the last update will have slipped by amount of time since the last update and activities formerly not on the critical path may now be critical.
The reporting, or update, period is typically established at the beginning of the project and, once it is agreed upon, the project schedule should be updated at this interval regardless of progress made. Also established at the beginning is the updating process: Who is or are responsible for recording the actual progress on site? Is there any standard format or system for recording progress? Who is responsible for updating the schedule (project manager or project engineer? planner?) and which of the major stakeholders (owners? sponsors?) are to review and agree on the recorded progress and the actual dates?
Once the progress data is agreed upon, update the schedule and examine the current progress status and, if cost-loaded, the earned value. Compare the current progress status versus the targeted (as-planned) schedule to check whether the project is either on track or slip and the earned value is performed as planned
If created and maintained properly, the schedule will be an accurate reflection of real world conditions and a useful tool for planning and monitoring the balance of the project. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the construction schedule is a static document; it must be periodically updated to be useful. Remember to record activity percent complete, start and finish dates and change the data (status) date prior to re-calculating the schedule.
Please post your comments or email to kent@icpsprojects.com for further discussion.
Project manager Y said: We have not made any progress this period, why should we update the project schedule?
There has never been a valid reason for not updating the schedule. Because the time has elapsed, doing nothing is doing something. The only way to determine the current progress status is to update the schedule. Remember that unless actual progress occurs exactly as planned, the critical path will change as actual progress is recorded over the life of the project.
Accordingly, even if no progress was made in the current period, the schedule still needs to be calculated based on a current cut-off date. If indeed no progress has been made, all activities on the critical path based on the last update will have slipped by amount of time since the last update and activities formerly not on the critical path may now be critical.
The reporting, or update, period is typically established at the beginning of the project and, once it is agreed upon, the project schedule should be updated at this interval regardless of progress made. Also established at the beginning is the updating process: Who is or are responsible for recording the actual progress on site? Is there any standard format or system for recording progress? Who is responsible for updating the schedule (project manager or project engineer? planner?) and which of the major stakeholders (owners? sponsors?) are to review and agree on the recorded progress and the actual dates?
Once the progress data is agreed upon, update the schedule and examine the current progress status and, if cost-loaded, the earned value. Compare the current progress status versus the targeted (as-planned) schedule to check whether the project is either on track or slip and the earned value is performed as planned
If created and maintained properly, the schedule will be an accurate reflection of real world conditions and a useful tool for planning and monitoring the balance of the project. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the construction schedule is a static document; it must be periodically updated to be useful. Remember to record activity percent complete, start and finish dates and change the data (status) date prior to re-calculating the schedule.
Please post your comments or email to kent@icpsprojects.com for further discussion.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Hands-on Training in November Schedules
Table above for the training in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project 2007.
You may log on to www.icpsprojects.com for more information about the courses.
Kent Chan 012-253 8283,
kent@icpsprojects.com
www.icpsprojects.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Primavera P6 Training Schedule
The training is scheduled to start on 20-23 of October. The whole course takes 4 days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Please login to www.icpsprojects.com to see more information about the course. The course modules cover 4 levels:
Level 1 : Planning without respources
Level 2 : Tracking progress without resources
Level 3 : Scheduling with resources, roles and budgets
Level 4 : Monitoring and controlling a resourced schedule
Drop a few lines to kent@icpsprojects.com for further information and advice.
Level 1 : Planning without respources
Level 2 : Tracking progress without resources
Level 3 : Scheduling with resources, roles and budgets
Level 4 : Monitoring and controlling a resourced schedule
Drop a few lines to kent@icpsprojects.com for further information and advice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
