Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

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rjagodowski
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Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:59 pm

Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by rjagodowski »

This week we will discuss scheduling, PERT/CPM & Gantt Charts and an introduction to some of the software which can be used to help create effective schedules.

Here's some background links project management scheduling. I believe you may have to Register on their website to access the links below.

Project Management Tools & Strategies

PERT - Program Evaluation Review Technique which is also similar to CPM - Critical Path Method.

Gantt Charts.

In general, PERT charts show dependencies better than Gantt charts, but can be difficult to read for complex tasks. Gantt charts offer a better method to show project status but dependencies are more difficult to represent.

Here's a handout presenting an Overview of Project Management and Scheduling:
Project Management Planning & Scheduling.pdf
(205.52 KiB) Downloaded 253 times
A common scheduling chart is called a Gantt Chart. Here is Wikipedia on Gantt Charts.

Here's a YouTube Video on How to Create a Gantt Chart in Excel. Watch this video before next week's class. There is a homework assignment attached below which should be completed by 2/26. Here's the Excel Spreadsheet similar to what is used in the video:
Gantt Chart Spreadsheet for YouTube Example.xlsx
(9.86 KiB) Downloaded 258 times
How to estimate completion time:
When estimating completion times, the weighted average formula Ta = (a + 4m + b)/6 is sometimes used.
where:
Ta = the actual time estimate you will use
a = the most optimistic estimate
b = the most pessimistic estimate
m = the most realistic estimate

Example: If the most optimistic estimate is 1 hour (a = 1), the most pessimistic estimate is 8 hours (b = 8) and the most realistic estimate is 4 hours (m=4), then the best time estimate (Ta) would be:
Ta=(1+4*4+8)/6=(1+16+8)/6=25/6= 4.17 hours or 4 hours & 10 minutes.
When using this formula, all estimates must be in the same units (minutes or hours or days).

Here are a couple examples of scheduling software MS Project Pro for Office 365 and jxProject. jxProject is a freeware program available for Windows, Linux & Mac operating systems. It's not as feature rich as MSProject, but it is free. (MS Project has an MSRP of $1159.99 as of 1/30/2014.)

MS Project Training Courses for Project 2013 from MicroSoft. (Update: These links are for Project 2013. Our computers have MSProject 2010 installed.) Plus this one.

MS Project videos from Lynda.com.

In addition here's a link to 6 other "open source" Project Management Software programs.

In next week class (Week #4), we'll introduce some "cloud based" solutions in our discussion of Online Collaboration.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

The assignment below should be completed & all work submitted by Friday, March 4, 2016..

1.) Follow the YouTube Video link "How to Create a Gantt Chart in Excel" above and recreate the Gantt chart as done on the video. Your finished file should look similar to this:
Gantt Chart for YouTube Example - Complete.xlsx
(12.88 KiB) Downloaded 280 times
2.) Create your own Gantt chart using the technique presented in the video above for a scheduling process with which you are familiar. It should have about 8-12 steps in the process.

3.) Using the Gantt Chart created in step 2, recreate the chart using either MSProject or jxProject.

4.) When you are done with the Gantt Charts created in steps 2 (& 3), create a printout of each file with your name on each sheet (electronically, not hand-written) and submit the hard copy to your instructor. (NOTE: If you need to create a pdf from any Windows program, download and install BullZip. This program will then appear to be a "printer" in your available printers list. When you select it and print, it will print a pdf file to the location you specify. I use this to create all of my Windows pdf files.) Then e-mail each file to your professor.

5.) When you have completed the assignment, post a "Reply" to this post stating that you have completed the assignment.
nacolon

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software.

Post by nacolon »

read up to project management software
crbrooks-bouchar0001

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by crbrooks-bouchar0001 »

E-files sent, will turn in hard copies this week
vlevchyk

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by vlevchyk »

Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment
Complete
Attachments
Life Travel 1.zip
(202.04 KiB) Downloaded 225 times
ljbaker0001

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by ljbaker0001 »

Week #4 Homework Assignment completed.
Attachments
XP grant chart.zip
(19.29 KiB) Downloaded 223 times
erodowicz

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by erodowicz »

Week 4 assignment complete and emailed
ybespalov09

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by ybespalov09 »

Week#4 Gantt Chart and MS Project
Attachments
Gantt Chart.zip
(55.79 KiB) Downloaded 219 times
yakgun

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by yakgun »

Week #4 homework ass. is done
Attachments
New Compressed (zipped) Folder.zip
(10.83 KiB) Downloaded 225 times
tddejesus

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by tddejesus »

Thomas Dejesus, week #4 H.W. assignment complete.
emailed copies sent, will turn in hard copies Fri.
ydzyubenko5885

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by ydzyubenko5885 »

Completed the Assignment
Attachments
charts.7z
(192.32 KiB) Downloaded 216 times
wgonzalez7074

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by wgonzalez7074 »

The "Gantt Chart" is complete.

Gantt Chart Report.zip
(10.8 KiB) Downloaded 238 times
Jxproject gantt chart.zip
(4.49 KiB) Downloaded 242 times
nacolon

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by nacolon »

Reply
Last edited by nacolon on Sun Mar 06, 2016 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
nacolon

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by nacolon »

Finish homework assignment emailed it to you
btenerowicz1

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by btenerowicz1 »

Gantt chart HW assignment complete
Attachments
Gantt Chart.zip
(4.62 KiB) Downloaded 243 times
Gantt Chart (2).zip
(10.76 KiB) Downloaded 225 times
Ismith0001

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by Ismith0001 »

Working through it, excel and I have never gotten along.
mjhowe0001

Re: Week #4: Scheduling & Gantt Charts, Software. HW Assignment

Post by mjhowe0001 »

Completed the assignment on time but late on email.
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