An Analysis of Project Networks as Resource Planning Tools

An Analysis of Project Networks as Resource Planning Tools employ and avail ability of visions are inseparable considerations when establishing Project Networks in Resource Planning. This analysis has focused on near of the take chancess of certain actions used to offset pick constraints, advantages/disadvantages for trim back offer scope, and options/advantages/disadvantages for reducing project duration. If implement correctly, wide-awake consideration of the outlined risks will make managing a project a little less painless. chase is an analysis of project networks as resource planning tools.The analysis will be segmented into troika topical areas to include * Risks associated with take aim resources, compressing, or crashing projects, and imposed durations or catch-up as the project is being implemented * Advantages and disadvantages for reducing project scope to accelerate a project and what endure be through to sign up the disadvantages * Three options for redu cing project duration and advantages and disadvantages to these options Risks Associated with Leveling Resources, Compressing, or scare awaying Projects, and Imposed Durations or Catch-Up The text (Gray and Larson, 2008) gives erect definitions for the risks associated with certain actions used to offset resource constraints. The act or process of evening out resource demand by delaying non full of life activities (using slack) to lower peak demand (Gray and Larson, 2008) is considered leveling resources.This action ultimately ontogenys the resource utilization, which is more than likely the desired result. Even though one whitethorn get the desired results resource-wise, leveling resources often results in pushing out the end-date of a project. In most cases, that is the extreme outcome. A nonher risk that bears its head when slack is reduced, is loss of flexibility which equates to an increase in critical activities. Without slack anywhere in a project network, ALL activities b ecome critical. This means that every issue has to fall perfectly in place in format to stay on the prescribed eraline. Compressing a schedule means that you will be conducting project activities in parallel. Compressing is not applicable to all project activities.A good example weed be seen if you have activities labeled pursue Workers and Dig Foundation. You cant implement the Hire Workers and Dig Foundation activities in parallel because to dig a foundation you gather up to have psyche to do the digging. (brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspxixzz0ongX7ECF, 20 May 2010). Risks of compressing include * Increases risk of rework * Increases communications challenges, and whitethorn * Require more resources Crashing a schedule involves allocating more resources so that an activity can be undefiled on time or before time, assuming that by deploying more resources the activity can be completed earlier.One good aspect about crashing a schedule (just like co mpressing), you do not need to crash all activities. The activities that impact the schedule are those with no slack, thus being the only ones that are affected. Risks associated with this action are as follows Budget Since you allocated more resources, you will not deliver the project on-budget. demoralisation Existing resources may get demoralized by the increase in people to complete activities that were primarily assigned to them. Coordination More resources translates to an increase in communication challenges (brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspxixzz0onfuKUmj, 20 May 2010).These risks combined or by themselves can ultimately pose the overall risk of reducing the effectiveness of the existing resources. Advantages and Disadvantages for minify Project Scope to Accelerate a Project and what can be Done to Reduce the Disadvantages step-down the scope of the project can lead to big savings both in time and costs. It typically means the elimination of ce rtain tasks. At the same time scaling down the scope may reduce the value of the project such that it is no longer worthwhile or fails to meet critical success factors. An advantage to reducing project scope is the project is more likely to stay on schedule and on budget. It also allows for more focus being applied to the remaining deliverables in the project scope.A disadvantage that may arise is loss of timber in work due to key quality deliverables selected to be cut in order to balance the timeline of the project. The key to offsetting the disadvantages is reassessing the project requirements to determine which are essential and which are optional. This requires the active involvement of all key stakeholders. More intense re-examination of requirements may actually emend the value of the project by getting it done more quickly and for a lower cost. (just answer. com 21 May 2010) Three Options for Reducing Project Duration and Advantages and Disadvantages to these Options Redu cing the duration a project can be managed by reducing the duration of an activity/activities almost always results in higher have cost.When the duration of a critical activity is reduced, the projects critical path can be change with other activities and that new path will determine the new project extremity date. chase are three options to reducing project duration. Adding Resources This is a popular method to reduce project time by assigning additional staff and equipment to activities-if it is assessed appropriately. The activities at hand need to be researched accordingly and straitlaced determinations of how much time will be saved prior to just throwing bodies at it. The first thing that comes to mind when you add resources is double the resources, reduce the length of the project in half.The unforeseen disadvantage that arises is the increase in the amount of time that an existing team member must spend in explaining what has been done already and what is planned. This i ncreases the overall communication time spent by the team which phenomenally ends up adding/losing priceless time. Outsourcing Project work A common method for shortening the project time is to hire an activity. The subcontract may have access to superior technology or expertise that will accelerate the completion of the activity (Gray and Larson, 2008). Additionally, significant cost reduction, and flexibility can be gained when a company outsources (Gray and Larson, 2008).Disadvantages that may be experienced are conflict due to contrasting interpersonal interactions and internal morale issues if the work has normally been done in-house (Gray and Larson, 2008). Scheduling Overtime The easiest way to add more labor to a project is not to add more people, but to schedule overtime. The www. businesslink. gov outlines potential advantages of using overtime working include * a more flexible workforce * the ability to deal with bottlenecks, busy periods, cover of absences andstaff sho rtages without the need to set up extra staff * increased earning for employees * avoidance of disruption to jobs where the workload is more difficult to share,e. g. ransport and driving * the ability to carry outrepair and maintenance which has to be done outside normal working hours However, disadvantages may include * the expense of premium overtime rates * inefficiency if employees slacken their pace of work in order to qualify for overtime * regular long working hours, whichcan adversely affect employees work, health and ingleside lives * fatigue, whichmay increase absence levels and lead to unsafe working practices * employee expectations of overtime, leading to resentment and inflexibility if you experiment to withdraw it. (businesslink. gov, 22 May 2010) Conclusion Usage and availability of resources are essential considerations when establishing Project Networks in Resource Planning.This analysis has focused on some of the risks of certain actions used to offset resource constraints, advantages/disadvantages for reducing project scope, and options/advantages/disadvantages for reducing project duration. If implemented correctly, careful consideration of the outlined risks will make managing a project a little less painless. References Brighthub. com. Difference Between Schedule Crashing and Compressing, Retrieved 20 May, 2010 http//www. brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspxixzz0onfuKUmj Brighthub. com. When to Crash or Compress a Schedule, Retrieved 20 May 2010 http//www. brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspxixzz0onfuKUmjRead also Conveyor flush Project