Advantages and Disadvantages of PERT CPM

Advantages of PERT –

 Planning For Large Projects in PERT – The scheduling of project activities is

done easily with the help of the PERT system by the project manager. This
technique is more active in large sophisticated project works.
 Visibility of Critical Path in PERT – The PERT method will show the critical
path in a well-defined manner. The critical path is the path with activities that
cannot be delayed under any circumstances. Proper knowledge about the
stack values with limited conditions of dependencies will help the project
manager to bring fast and quality decisions that will favor the project
performance.
 Analysis of Activity in PERT – The activity and the events are analyzed from
the PERT networks. These are analyzed independently as well as in
combination. This will give a picture of the likely completion of the project and
the budget.
 Coordination in PERT – The various departments of the construction
organization will deliver data for the PERT activities. Good integration is
developed between all the departments which will help in improving the
planning and the decision-making capabilities of the project team. The
combination of qualitative and quantitative values from a large amount of data
will help in improving the coordination of the project activities. This will also
improve the communication between various departments of the organization.
 The What-if Analysis – The possibilities and the various level of uncertainties
can be studied from the project activities by properly analyzing the critical
path. This type of analysis is called what-if-analysis. For these various sets of
permutation and combination are conducted. Among them, the most suitable
combination is taken into consideration. This set chosen will be the one with
minimum cost, economy, and best result. This analysis helps to identify the
risk associated with any activities.

Disadvantages of PERT –

 Time Focused Method – PERT is a time-bound method, so finishing projects

or activities on time is of high importance. If it does not happen than a
problem can arise
 Subjective Analysis – Here, the project activities are recognized according to
the available data. However, it is difficult in PEERT projects as it is applicable
for the only new project are which is not repetitive in nature, therefore, the
collection of information to be subjective in nature.
 Prediction Inaccuracy – PERT does not have any past records for a
framework of a project, so prediction comes into play. The project will be
ruined if the prediction is not accurate.
 Expensive – Too expensive in terms of time consumed, research, prediction,
and resources utilized.
 Other Issues with PERT – This method is highly labor-intensive in nature. As
there are chances of an increase in project activities large and complicated
 networks are developed as many task dependencies come into existence. If
two activities share common resources, this technique won’t find very apt for
the project.

Advantages of CPM –

 CPM figures out the activities that can run parallel to each other. It helps the
project manager in identifying the most critical elements of the project.
 CPM gives a practical and disciplined base which helps in determining how to
reach the objectives.
 CPM is effective in new project management. It can strengthen a team’s
perception if it is applied properly.
 CPM provides a demonstration of dependencies which helps in the
scheduling of individual activities. It shows the activities and their outcomes as
a network diagram.
 CPM gives a fair and concise procedure of documenting of project. It helps in
determining the slack time.
 An explicit and clear approach of communicating project plans, schedules,
time, and cost performance is developed.
 CPM is extensively used in the industry. It helps in optimization by
determining the project duration.

Disadvantages of CPM –

 The scheduling of personnel is not handled by the CPM.

 In CPM, it is difficult to estimate the completion time of activity.
 The critical path is not always clear in CPM.
 For bigger projects, CPM networks can be complicated too.
 It also does not handle the scheduling of resource allocation.
 In CPM, a critical path needs to be calculated precisely.

Actually, PERT is stipulated according to events whilst CPM is ranged towards

activities. A deterministic model is used in CPM. While PERT uses a probabilistic
model.
 BASIS FOR
PERT CPM
COMPARISON

Meaning PERT is a project CPM is a statistical technique of

management technique, used project management that
to manage uncertain activities manages well defined activities
of a project. of a project.

What is it? A technique of planning and A method to control cost and

control of time. time.

Orientation Event-oriented Activity-oriented

Evolution Evolved as Research & Evolved as Construction project

Development project

Model Probabilistic Model Deterministic Model

Focuses on Time Time-cost trade-off

Estimates Three time estimates One time estimate

Appropriate for High precision time estimate Reasonable time estimate

Management of Unpredictable Activities Predictable activities

Nature of jobs Non-repetitive nature Repetitive nature

Critical and Non- No differentiation Differentiated

critical activities

Suitable for Research and Development Non-research projects like civil

Project construction, ship building etc.

Crashing concept Not Applicable Applicable

Software Packages

There are already plenty of available software applications for PERT CPM.
- Program inputs include the activities, their immediate predecessors,
and expected activity time.
- This program can easily be modified and can quickly determine the
effect of each modification to the activity schedule and the expected
time required to complete the project.

Example Software:

Project Manager
https://www.projectmanager.com/

Wrike
https://www.wrike.com/

Microsoft Project
https://www.microsoft.com/