Module 3: Working with Estimates and Dependencies

Overview
Module 3: Working with Estimates and Dependencies

1
Entering Task Estimates

5
Adding Lag or Lead Time to a Linked Task

2
Using PERT Analysis to Estimate Task Duration

4
Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Network Diagram View

3
Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Gantt Chart View

Lesson 1: Entering Task Estimates

What Is Estimating and What Is Its Relationship to Scheduling? What Is the Scheduling Formula? Demonstration: Entering Duration and Work Estimates Guidelines for Choosing Estimating Methods Based on Defined Scenarios

What Is Estimating and What Is Its Relationship to Scheduling?

Estimates are the first pieces entered to build your schedule Duration is length of time Work is amount of effort Units is number of resources

What Is the Scheduling Formula?

Duration Units = Work

Duration is the number of business days spanning from the start and to the finish of a task Units is the number of resources needed to accomplish a task Work is the amount of time the resources need to accomplish a task

Demonstration: Entering Duration and Work Estimates

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Enter duration and work estimates by using the Entry table

Enter duration estimates for multiple tasks

Guidelines for Choosing Estimating Methods Based on Defined Scenarios

Here are some examples that may help you:
Enter a duration estimate
If you know that no matter how many resources are applied, the time for task will not change Enter a work estimate If you know that adding more people implies that these people will be working together on the task and they will need less time

Practice: Entering Task Estimates

In this practice, you will:

Enter work and duration estimates

Enter duration estimates for multiple tasks

Lesson 2: Using PERT Analysis to Estimate Task Duration

What Is PERT Analysis? What Are Optimistic, Expected, and Pessimistic Duration Estimates? Demonstration: How to Use and View PERT Considerations in Using PERT Analysis

What Is PERT Analysis?

PERT Analysis
Is a statistical method for determining task duration Results in a weighted estimate Uses the following formula in Office Project 2007 to analyze project data:
[Optimistic + (4 Expected) + Pessimistic] / 6

What Are Optimistic, Expected, and Pessimistic Duration Estimates?

PERT analysis uses three points to estimate the task:
Optimistic estimatebest-case scenario Expected estimatemost likely to occur Pessimistic estimateworst-case scenario

Demonstration: How to Use and View PERT

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Add and use the PERT Analysis toolbar

Select and use the PERT Entry form Select and use the PERT Entry Sheet

Use alternative PERT Gantt Chart views

Considerations in Using PERT Analysis

Advantages
A more accurate duration estimate What-if scenarios that compare the three PERT analysis Gantt Charts A more accurate project schedule Reduced project cost because the duration estimate is more accurate

Disadvantages
More up-front planning time Existing data could accidentally be overwritten Schedule maintenance is time consuming

Practice: Entering and Calculating Duration Estimates

In this practice, you will:

Add and use the PERT Analysis toolbar

Select and use the PERT Entry Form Select and use the PERT Entry Sheet

Use alternative PERT Gantt Chart views

Lesson 3: Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Gantt Chart View
What Are Dependencies? Demonstration: How to Link and Unlink Tasks and Modify Link Types What Impact Do Dependencies Have on the Overall Project Schedule?

What Are Dependencies?

Types of task dependencies
PredecessorThe task that drives the relationship SuccessorThe task that is driven by the relationship

Types of task dependency links

FSSuccessor begins when predecessor finishes SSSuccessor begins when predecessor begins FFSuccessor finishes when predecessor finishes

SFSuccessor finishes when predecessor starts

Demonstration: How to Link and Unlink Tasks and Modify Link Types
Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Link tasks by using the Link button

Link tasks by using the Task Information dialog box Link tasks by using the Predecessors column Unlink tasks Modify link types

What Impact Do Dependencies Have on the Overall Project Schedule?

Using dependencies
Makes your schedule dynamic Causes changes to automatically recalculate the schedule Causes start and finish dates to be automatically generated Provides visual verification when running scenarios

Practice: Linking and Unlinking Tasks

In this practice, you will be able to:

Link tasks by using the Link button

Link tasks by using the Task Information dialog box

Unlink tasks

Lesson 4: Linking and Unlinking Tasks by Using the Network Diagram View
Demonstration: How to Link and Unlink Tasks by Using the Network Diagram View Guidelines for Creating a Complete Network

Demonstration: How to Link and Unlink Tasks by Using the Network Diagram View
Your instructor will demonstrate how to link and unlink tasks by using the Network Diagram view

Guidelines for Creating a Complete Network

To ensure your task network is complete:
Review the predecessor field for each task Review the successor field for each task Review the overall project summary task Review each task for SS or FF relationships

Insert a Total Slack field in your schedule to review for very large slack values

Lesson 5: Adding Lag or Lead Time to a Linked Task

Demonstration: How to Add Lag and Lead Time Considerations for Adding Lag or Lead Time

Demonstration: How to Add Lag and Lead Time

Your instructor will demonstrate how to:

Define and use lag time

Define and use lead time

Considerations for Adding Lag or Lead Time

Consider the following:

Use lag time when two tasks need to be separated for part of the time Use lead time when two tasks need to run in parallel for part of the time Use a specific value when the task values are fixed even if duration changes Use a percentage value when values need to be recalculated as the predecessors duration changes

Lab: Working with Estimates and Dependencies

Exercise 1: Entering a Duration or Work Estimate Exercise 2: Creating Links Between Tasks Exercise 3: Adding Lag and Lead Times Exercise 4: Displaying Links in Network Diagram View