Network Scheduling

 A graphical display of the logical order of activities

that defines the sequence of work in a project
Where the activities are represented by boxes.

 Networks are usually drawn from left to right

With lines drawn between the boxes
To show the "precedence" relationships
between them.

 Arrow heads are sometimes placed on the lines to

indicate the direction of the flow through time.
Project Network Diagrams are used
for schedule preparation and analysis.
They use a combination of nodes and
arrows to pictorially represent
activities and relationships among
those activities. They are also called
Project Schedule Network Diagrams
and Logical Network Diagrams.
Project Network Diagrams are drawn to depict Project
Dependencies or relationships between two activities
and/or milestones.
An activity ‘Y’ is said to be dependent on another activity
‘X’ if Y requires some input from X.
A project dependency can defined as an association
between two activities, in which one activity requires input
from the other. It simply means that one activity is reliant
on the other for its start or completion.
 Types Of Dependencies
Mandatory Dependency
Discretionary Dependency
External Dependency
Internal Dependency
 Mandatory Dependency
Consider 2 activities A and B. If B has a Mandatory
Dependency on A then it means action on B cannot be
performed until Action on A has been completed.
A: Requirements Documentation; B: Client Approval – Client
cannot approve requirements until documentation is complete
A: Lay Building Foundation; B: Construct a Floor – A floor of a
building cannot be constructed until foundation is laid.
A: Build Car Prototype; B: Perform Crash Testing – Crash
testing on a care prototype cannot be performed unless the
prototype itself is available.
 Discretionary Dependency
Discretionary Dependencies are defined by the Project Team as a certain
order of activities is more suitable for the nature of work.
 Consider 2 activities A and B. A and B can be independently performed
or one can be performed after the other. The project team can chose to
make B dependent on A.
 A:-develop system module X; B: develop system module Y – the project
team can develop either X first or Y first but they decide to develop X
first.
 A: furnish room r; b: furnish room s – the project team can furnish either
room r first or s first but they decide to furnish s first.
 A: book airline ticket; b: buy travel insurance – the project team can book
an airline ticket before buying travel insurance or do it other way around.
 External Dependency
External Dependencies are defined between
Project Activities and Non-project Activities.
 The Project Activities are done by the Project
Team.
The Non-project Activities are done by people
who are external to the Project Team e.g.
representatives from Client’s organization,
Vendors’ organization or any other external
groups within the same organization
Consider 2 activities A and B. If B has an external dependency on
A then it would signify that B is a project activity while A is a non-
project activity.

A: Client go-ahead; d: Initiate Project: a project cannot be

initiated before the client gives a go-ahead.
A: Delivery of Equipment; d: Start Development: project
development cannot start until equipment is delivered.
A: Approval of Building Plans; d: Start Construction:
construction of a building cannot be started unless the building
plans are approved.
 Internal Dependency
Internal Dependencies are defined between two project
activities. consider 2 activities A and B. If B has an
Internal Dependency on A then it would signify that both A
and B are project activities. These are performed by the
Project Team members. There is no involvement of any
external party.

 A: Develop System; B: Test System

 A: Construct Wall; B: Paint Wall
 A: Assemble Machine; B: Pack Machine
Project Scheduling Steps and Techniques
 Project Scheduling Steps

Define Activities
Sequence activities
Estimate time and
Develop schedule
 Project Scheduling Techniques
 Gantt chart- This is represented by the graph or bar chart with a specific
bar for activities in the project that shows the passage of time. Gantt
chart limits a clear indication of interrelation between the activities.
 CPM- Critical path method was developed for industrial projects where
activity times are generally known.
 PERT- Program evaluation and review technique were developed for
R&D projects where activity times are generally uncertain. Its prime
objective is taking the shortest possible time.
 Microsoft projects- All the work is performed on the computer memory
and changes can be saved only when the program is asked to operate.
Constructing a Network Diagram
Things to know before we construct
4 types of logical relationships between two dependent
activities/milestones.
FS  Relationship – Start Event of a Successor
is dependent Finish event of Predecessor.
SS  Relationship – Start Event of a Successor
is dependent Start event of Predecessor.
FF  Relationship – Finish Event of a Successor
is dependent Finish event of Predecessor.
SF  Relationship – Finish Event of a Successor
is dependent Start event of Predecessor
Finish to Start is a Logical Relationship in which a Successor Activity cannot start until a
Predecessor Activity has finished.
Consider 2 activities A and B. Let us
also consider A to be the predecessor
and B to be the successor.
A – document requirements, b – get
approval
A – design machine, B – develop
prototype
A – write user manual, B – print user
manual
Start to Start is a Logical Relationship in which a Successor
Activity cannot start until a Predecessor Activity has started.
The "from" activity must start before the
"to" activity can start.
on a telemarketing project the compilation of
phone lists must be started before people can
actually be called.

• A – Write Code for S/W Module X, B – Write DB

Scripts for S/W Module X
• A – Write User Manual, B – Review User Manual
Finish to Finish is a Logical Relationship in which a Successor Activity cannot finish until
a Predecessor Activity has finished.
 Car body and engine production can be started
at the same time. The last step in the engine
production phase is to install it in the body.
Therefore, the body must be finished before the
engine can be finished.

Consider 2 activities A and B. Let us also

consider A to be the predecessor and B to be
the successor.
A – write code for s/w module x, b – unit test s/w
module x
A – lay electrical wires, B – inspect electrical
wires
In SF relationship, the Finish of Second Activity is dependent on
the Start of First Activity. The Second Activity is called the
Successor and the First Activity is called the Predecessor
 if your car refuses to start, you may need to
jump start the battery with booster cables. The
engine must start before you can finish jump
starting the car.
X – Duty of Evening Guard (E), Y – Duty of
Morning Guard (M). M cannot Finish her/his
duty till E Starts. M cannot abandon the post
even if E gets delayed.
X – Start using New Software System (N), Y –
Phase out Old Software System (O). It is
assumed that N & O cannot be used in parallel.
O cannot be phased out until N is started.
Rules For Network Diagram
Rule 1:
Each of the activity is symbolized by one and
only one arrow in the network

Rule 2 :
No two activities can be recognized by the same
end events
Rule 3 :
To assure the correct precedence relationship in
the arrow diagram, various questions must be
tested every time any activity is added to the
network
What activity must be finished immediately
before this activity can start?
What activities must occur at the same time
with this activity?
What activities must follow this activity?
 Common Errors in Drawing Networks

1.Dangling
2. Looping or Cycling
3.Redundancy