Project Management

"Total PERT / CPM Planning" Please respond to the following:

Compare and contrast the differences and similarities between CPM and PERT. Support your position with one (1) real-world example of such similarities and differences.

From professor:

Class,

PERT is a management planning and control tool. They consider it a road map for a certain program or project in which all of the major elements have been identified, together with their corresponding interrelations. PERT is used to help determining timing on completion of a project. The same things apply for CPM as well. There are differences in these two. With PERT, you use three time estimates whereas with CPM only one estimate is used. Due to so many estimates for time, this causes PERT to be problematic. Since CPM is based on one time estimate, it is deterministic in nature. They both do allow the use of dummy activities in order to develop their logic. PERT and CPM are used for different types of projects. PERT is used for R&D projects where the risk for time durations is highly variable. CPM is used for construction projects that are resource dependent. I think you could use either one for a report, it just depends on what type of project you are doing (Kerzner, 2013).

Kerzner, H. (2013).Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

· Using the PERT formula, what duration would you plan to complete a task that has the following estimates?

· Optimistic: 7 days

· Pessimistic: 30 days

· Most Likely: 12 days

*hint, hint... you might want to know this computation

E-Activity:

Watch the YouTube Video, “ITEC 3300 POM+ Part 1 (2 of 4) Creating Predecessors” (11 min 53 s). Be prepared to discuss.
Video Source: mango2103 (2012, June 16).
ITEC 3300 POM+ Part 1 (2 of 4) Creating Predecessors [Video file].
Retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dZt9hDjjKw

· Next, using the Sample Project: Task Predecessors and MS Project or Excel software, enter the predecessor for each task in the appropriate column of your MS Project file that serves as the sample project’s WBS.

"GANTT Charts" Please respond to the following:

*From the e-Activities, discuss the advantages and disadvantages that are associated with laying out a project plan using project management software versus not using project management software. Provide a rationale for your response.