Continued from page 1
Lets say
task of putting stealth paint on your time machine is most likely going to take three weeks. You must also then consider what is longest it will take, and what is shortest amount of time it will take to apply that paint. For example, five weeks and two weeks, respectively.
Here is advantage of this method in EPM. You can manipulate your timelines effectively. If you feel that original schedule is running a bit thin, and overall project forecast was too optimistic, then you can give pessimistic estimate a little more weight. For example, in this case, you can assign timeline of six weeks to paint job. Then, in final PERT analysis, you will see results skewed to a longer forecast.
Here is how an EPM can use information from PERT analysis. As project stakeholders are more edgy about technical tasks running over schedule (and rightly so), due to more chances of complications, a project overshooting its schedule due to a paint job will be a lot less painful to stakeholders. This will allow you to give a lot less explanations, and use your time wisely to deliver project on time. Of course, as a professional Project Manager, you know that if your project is really in trouble, do not use this technique to hide from reality.
Like I mentioned, you probably know CPM and PERT well. However, if you do not, I encourage you to seek it out and use it in your projects. There are many books and white papers written on it. If you are a traditional Project Manager, you can use these methods to tell you other important factors in your tasks as well. For example, if you notice PERT estimates to be off by greater margins, then you must take a closer look at task, as it is indicating greater risk, then a task that has a smaller spread.
Keep at a high level, and trust your team leads, by delegating more specific analysis to them. And always remember, if you are an EPM, then use all this information to always keep ultimate goal of client, as your most fundamental requirement.
Shaun H. Ajani is the author of books "Extreme Project Management". He has been published in many national and international magazines. Shaun has worked with aviation, IT, retail, HR, finance, education, and training industries, in companies like Motorola, Dollar Stores, Nation Gifts, Code Factory, Washington Mutual, Boise Cascade, and Sears. Shaun Ajani consults as a Certified Project Manager in Chicago at Spherion.
