Network Diagrams

Network Diagrams

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  Network Diagrams Project Management
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  Introduction to NetworkDiagrams • A network diagram is a flow chart of all tasks which make up a project • The chart demonstrates how each task relates to another • Provides a logical flow of events • Commonly used • Network Diagrams are made up of a collection of task dependencies known as Network Logic i.e. some tasks are dependent on others
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  Creating Network Diagrams 1. 2. 3. 4. Determinethe activities which need to be completed Put these activities into sequence Calculate how long each activity should take Establish dependencies i.e. tasks which depend on the completion of a previous task 5. Establish which tasks are to be completed first, any tasks with no predecessors can start as soon as the project begins
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  Drawing the NetworkDiagram 1. Begin drawing the diagram by drawing the relationship between the project start and the first activity with no predecessor Start T=0 AcActivity 1 T=x 2. Then find all activities which have activity 1 as a predecessor 3. Draw boxes to represent these activities, and draw arrows from activity 1 to these activities
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  Drawing the NetworkDiagram 4. Repeat these steps for the remaining activities 5. After adding all the activities to the diagram, draw a box to represent End, and draw an arrow from the last activity you have to complete to that box
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  Sample Network Diagram
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  Sample Network Diagrams
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  Network Diagrams • Establishwhich tasks must be completely individually and which can be completed simultaneously • Completing tasks simultaneously can shorten the length of the project
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  Benefits of NetworkDiagrams • Easy to read and understand • Clearly highlights the sequence of tasks in the project • Conveys parallel activities • Demonstrates the links between each task • Highlights which activities are critical • Shows where float can exist
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  Disadvantages of NetworkDiagrams • The can become very complex for large projects with many activities • They can be time consuming to produce • Can be costly to produce • Tasks may be missed out, affecting the whole diagram
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  Video Example • Thisvideo shows how to draw a network diagram from a Work Breakdown Structure • In addition it shows how to calculate project task durations and provides another example of the Critical Path Method • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=URdx hl_8qIE
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  Further Reading • Schwalbe,K. (2008). Introduction to project management. Cengage Learning, 2nd ed. – Chapter 4
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  References • Holland andHolland Eterprises LTD, 2013. The Network Diagram bringing order to project work flows. [Online] Available at: http://www.successful-project-management.com/networkdiagram.html [Accessed 07/11/13] • Rick A. Morris, 2013. The Network Diagram- Project Management. [Online] Available at: http://www.netplaces.com/projectmanagement/creating-the-schedule/the-network-diagram.htm [Accessed 07/11/13]