ME4103

INTRODUCTION TO
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

A/Prof Loh Wai Lam

ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Flow Chart (Network Diagram/PERT Chart)

• A PERT Chart is a project management tools used to schedule,
organise and coordinate tasks within a project.
• PERT stands for Programme Evaluation Review Technique.
• This technique is a methodology developed by the US Navy in
the 1950s to manage the Polaris submarine missile program
Difference between Gantt and PERT Chart:
• Both charts are used to task scheduling, controlling and
administering the task necessary for completion of a project.
• Gantt Chart is basically a bar chart.
• A PERT chart is a flow chart.
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Bar Charts and PERT Charts

• Gantt Chart

• PERT Charts
PERT Charts
PERT Charts
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

PERT Charts
• PERT Charts are rather more complicated to draw and use compared to
Gantt Charts – but extremely useful in identifying and managing the
sequential flow of critical activities in a project.
• PERT Charts forces the Project Manager to think through each step of a
project in a clear, logical analytical way and give him/her an excellent
feel for what is going on and where the vulnerable points lie.
• PERT Chart also clearly identifies inter-dependent activities and bottle-
necks.
• An import advantage of the PERT Chart is the longest sequence of
activities in the project can be easily determined by adding up the time
estimate along each pat through the project.
• The longest path is called the “Critical Path” which determines the
minimum amount of time for completing the project (since all the
actions must be completed before the project goal is achieved.
• The advantage of a PERT Chart is that a project with hundreds of
activities can be coordinated.
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram
• The heart of any network is the arrow (or the network ifself)
• All networks should be constructed with careful logical thought to ensure
that they show as accurate as possible the relationship and
interdependence of each activity or task with all the others in the projects.
• Each circle represent some programme event or tasks.

1 2
• The next level complication is to introduce more activities.
1

2 4 5

• The activity leading to event 5 cannot begin until all the activities preceding
event 4 have been accomplished.
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1 (con’t)
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram (con’t)
• Introducing duration to the events
6d 8
1 2d 2d

1d 5d
2 5 6
10
3d
4d
3
9d 7 9
2d
4
Day 9

• Event 5 cannot be completed until tasks 1,2,3 are completed.

• Event 7 cannot be completed until tasks 4,6 are completed.
• Event 10 cannot be completed until tasks 7,8,9 are completed.
• What is the shortest duration for the project?
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1 (con’t)
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram (con’t)
• Introducing duration to the events
6d 8
1 2d 2d
Day 3
1d 5d
2 5 6
10
3d
4d
3
9d 7 9
2d
4
Day 9

• Event 5 cannot be completed until tasks 1,2,3 are completed.

• Event 7 cannot be completed until tasks 4,6 are completed.
• Event 10 cannot be completed until tasks 7,8,9 are completed.
• What is the shortest duration for the project?
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1 (con’t)
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram (con’t)
• Introducing duration to the events
6d 8
1 2d 2d
Day 3 Day 8
1d 5d
2 5 6
10
3d
4d
3
9d 7 9
2d
4
Day 9

• Event 5 cannot be completed until tasks 1,2,3 are completed.

• Event 7 cannot be completed until tasks 4,6 are completed.
• Event 10 cannot be completed until tasks 7,8,9 are completed.
• What is the shortest duration for the project?
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1 (con’t)
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram (con’t)
• Introducing duration to the events
Day 8
6d 8
1 2d 2d
Day 3 Day 8
1d 5d
2 5 6
10
3d
4d
3
9d 7 9
2d
4
Day 9 Day 11

• Event 5 cannot be completed until tasks 1,2,3 are completed.

• Event 7 cannot be completed until tasks 4,6 are completed.
• Event 10 cannot be completed until tasks 7,8,9 are completed.
• What is the shortest duration for the project?
ME4103 Introduction to Project Management

Example 1 (con’t)
Constructing a simple PERT Chart/Network Diagram (con’t)
• Introducing duration to the events
Day 8
6d 8
1 2d 2d
Day 3 Day 8
1d 5d
2 5 6
10 Day 13
3d
4d
3
9d 7 9
2d
4
Day 9 Day 11

• Event 5 cannot be completed until tasks 1,2,3 are completed.

• Event 7 cannot be completed until tasks 4,6 are completed.
• Event 10 cannot be completed until tasks 7,8,9 are completed.
• Hence, the shortest duration for the project is 13 days.