Project Network Representation

Basic Definitions
1

A graph, or network, is defined by two sets of symbols:

nodes and arcs.
 Basic Definitions
1
An arc consists of an ordered pair of vertices (nodes)
and represents a possible direction of motion that may
occur between vertices.

Arc

i jj

Node /
Vertice
 Basic Definitions
1
Event

A point when an activity is either started or completed.

2
 Basic Definitions

Predecessors

Those activities that must be completed prior to

initiation of a later activity in the network.

Successors

Activities that cannot be started until previous

activities have been completed. These activities follow
predecessor tasks.
 Basic Definitions

A sequence of arcs such that every arc has exactly one

vertex in common with the previous arc is called a
chain.

For example,

(1, 2)–(2, 3)–(3, 4)-(4, 3)

is a chain.
 Basic Definitions

A path is a chain in which the terminal node of each arc

is identical to the initial node of the next arc.

(1, 2)–(2, 3)–(3, 4) is a chain

and a path.

The path (1, 2)–(2, 3)–(3, 4)

represents a way to travel
from node 1 to node 4.
 Project Networks

A network used to represent a project is called a

project network.

A project network consists of a number of nodes and a

number of arcs that lead from some node to another. 1
 Project Networks

Three types of information are needed to describe a

project.

 Activity information: Break down the project into its

individual activities (at the desired level of detail).

 Precedence relationships: Identify the immediate

predecessor(s) for each activity.

 Time information: Estimate the duration of each

activity.
 Project Networks

The project network needs to convey all this

information.

Two alternative types of project networks are available

for doing this.
 Project Networks

One type is the activity-on-arc (AOA) project network,

where each activity is represented by an arc.

A node is used to separate an activity (an outgoing arc)

from each of its immediate predecessors (an incoming
arc).

The sequencing of the arcs thereby shows the

precedence relationships between the activities. 1
 Project Networks

Activity-on-arc representation.
 Project Networks

The second type is the activity-on-node (AON) project

network, where each activity is represented by a node.

The arcs then are used just to show the precedence

relationships between the activities.

In particular, the node for each activity with immediate

predecessors has an arc coming in from each of these
predecessors. 1
 Project Networks

Activity-on-node representation.
 References

1. Jeffery K. Pinto, “Project Management: Achieving

Competitive Advantage”, Prentice Hall, 3rd Edition.
2. Project Management Institute, “A Guide to the
Project Management Body of Knowledge”, 5th
Edition.
3. Chatfield C and Johnson T., “Microsoft Project 2016
Step by Step”, Microsoft Press, 2016.
4. Winston, Wayne L., “Operations Research:
Applications and Algorithms”, Fourth Edition,
Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning, 2004 .
5. Hiilier, F.S. and G.J. Liberman, Introduction to
Operation Research, Holden-Day İnc., 1986.
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