Project Planning & Scheduling
Effective project management ensures that system development projects are completed on time, within budget, and to specification. Planning and scheduling are foundational activities that guide the entire development effort.
Project Planning Activities
- Define project scope and objectives
- Identify deliverables and milestones
- Estimate effort, cost, and duration
- Identify required resources (people, tools, infrastructure)
- Assess and plan for risks
- Develop a communication plan
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
A WBS decomposes the project into manageable tasks and sub-tasks.
SAD Project
|-- Planning
| |-- Feasibility Study
| |-- Project Charter
| '-- Resource Allocation
|-- Analysis
| |-- Requirements Gathering
| |-- DFD Creation
| '-- ERD Design
|-- Design
| |-- UI Design
| |-- Database Design
| '-- Architecture Design
|-- Implementation
| |-- Coding
| |-- Unit Testing
| '-- Integration Testing
'-- Deployment
|-- User Training
'-- System RolloutEstimation Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Lines of Code (LOC) | Estimate based on estimated lines of code to be written |
| Function Point Analysis | Estimate based on system functions and complexity |
| Expert Judgment | Experienced team members provide estimates |
| Analogous Estimation | Use past similar projects as a basis |
Gantt Charts
Gantt charts display project tasks along a timeline, showing start dates, end dates, and dependencies between tasks.
Task | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
Planning | ████ | | | | |
Requirements | | ████ | ███ | | |
Design | | | ███ | ████ | |
Implementation | | | | ███ | ████ |
Testing | | | | | ████ |
████ = Scheduled duration
Dependencies: Planning -> Requirements -> Design -> Implementation -> TestingPERT/CPM
PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method) are network-based scheduling techniques.
- Critical Path: The longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines minimum project duration
- Slack/Float: The amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the project end date
- PERT Estimates: Use optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic time estimates
PERT Expected Time = (Optimistic + 4 x Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 6
Example:
Task A: (2 + 4(4) + 6) / 6 = 4 daysRisk Management
- Identify potential risks early
- Assess probability and impact of each risk
- Develop mitigation strategies
- Monitor risks throughout the project
- Common risks: scope creep, resource turnover, technology changes
Summary
Project planning and scheduling provide the roadmap for successful system development. By using WBS, estimation techniques, Gantt charts, and PERT/CPM, project managers can plan, monitor, and control projects effectively.