Pert Plus
Pert Plus
PERT Plus brings to the user of the Microsoft Project 2013/2016, the following features to enhance the quality of the schedule and features. The product is being sold and distributed with the name PERT Plus. The suite comes with the following components in the current release [Version 3.0]
1. Schedule Optimizer:
This module performs a diagnostic check on your schedule against a set of 20+ scheduling guidelines and best practices as prescribed by Project Management Institute (PMI) Practice Standard for Scheduling Edition 2 and US Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
2. PERT Analysis and Contingency planning:
You can create a three-point estimate for each activity or selected tasks and apply BETA distribution to calculate the expected duration and see how it compares with the deterministic estimate. If the estimates need correction it can be made for selected tasks or complete range of activities. Contingency planning features helps you to calculate the activity level standard distribution and roll up to project level and build a contingency at the end of the project in the form of a buffer tasks with 1 α (One Standard deviation) for 84% confidential level or 2α (Two Standard deviations) for 97.75% Confidential level. You can also add resource and cost buffer at the same proportion to the overall project effort and / or cost. This utility can also be used to practice Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)
3. RACI Matrix:
This feature helps the user to identify deliverables / artifacts within the project and build RACI matrix [ R- Responsible, A – Accountable, C – To be consulted, I – to be informed]. We intend to add more modules.
Proventures Project PERT Plus is a COM Add-in to Microsoft Project 2013/2016. After the Installation process, Add-in can be accessed in the Microsoft Project Ribbon, PERT Plus Tab.
PERT Plus COM Add-in analyses the schedule for Non-Compliance against the Best Practices identified by Proventures from PMI’s Practice Standard for Scheduling to improve the quality of schedule.
Few of the best practices validated in the Project Schedule Optimizer Add-in are as follows:
- Tasks with Out-of-Sequence (OOS) Errors
- Tasks with missing Baseline info
- Tasks with missing Baseline info
- Tasks using Task Calendars
- Lowest level WBS/Outline used
- Summary Tasks with only one detail task
- Tasks with Soft Constraints
- Tasks with Hard Constraints
- Tasks with Deadlines
- Tasks without Predecessors
- Tasks without Successors (loose ends)
- Summary Tasks with Dependencies
- Tasks with Positive Lags (+)
- Tasks with Negative Lags (-)
- Tasks with Negative Total Slack
- Tasks with Concurrency Failures
- Tasks with Concurrency Warnings
- Percentage of All Detail Tasks/Milestones fully Networked
- Percentage of Remaining Tasks fully Networked
PERT Analysis and Contingency Planning
Schedule model analysis utilizes various tools and techniques throughout the project life cycle to optimize schedule from various perspectives such as Critical Path, Critical Chain, Uncertainties/Risks, Resources constraints and various types of dependencies before creating the baseline schedule model.
Risk analysis is done in the following two stages:
- Qualitative Risk Analysis and
- Quantitative Risk Analysis
Qualitative risk analysis prioritizes the risks based on Probability, Impact and Risk exposure. Based on the prioritized risks response strategies are drawn and an action plan is developed and documented in a risk register. These actions are implemented by reworking on the schedule and building reserves in terms of schedule duration, cost budget and work (effort).
This module focusses on the following key features:
- Establish Three Point Estimates (Optimistic, Most likely and Pessimistic) at each activity level
- Calculating the mean duration for each activity using Beta distribution
- Option to revise the base estimate with the calculated mean
- Tasks using Task Calendars
- Calculating the Standard deviation for the project and
- Arriving at Buffer for two levels of confidence (84% and 98%)
- Insert a new Non-effort buffer task and applying the contingency to the is task
- Insert a deadline at the finish date of this buffer task
- Adjust buffer while monitoring the schedule performance
Benefits:
These features help the project managers to leverage the uncertainties and build a proactive schedule with internal and external targets separated by project buffer. With an effective risk response strategy put in place along with an effective contingency strategy you can demonstrate a minimum of 15 to 20% improvement compared to traditional scheduling methods.
This module helps the project managers to practice Critical Chain scheduling method in conjunction with existing standard CPM and Resource levelling features of Microsoft Project.
RACI Matrix module overview
Resource Management:
Plan Resource Management is the process of defining how to estimate, acquire, manage and use team and physical resources. This process also establishes the approach and level of management effort needed for managing project resources based on the type and complexity of the project. This process is performed once or at predefined points in the project.
Resource planning is used to determine and identify an approach to ensure that sufficient resources are available for the successful completion of the project. Project resources may include team members, suppliers, materials, equipment, services and facilities. Effective resource planning should consider and plan for the availability if, or competition for, scarce resources.
Below are the few Tools and Techniques of this Process:
- Expert Judgement
- Data Representation
One of the Data Representation techniques that can be used for this process include Assignment Matrix. A RAM shows the project resources assigned to each work package. It is used to illustrate the connections between work packages, or activities and project team members. The matrix format shows all activities associated with one person and all people associated with one activity. This also ensures that there is only one person accountable for any one task to avoid confusion about who is ultimately in charge or has authority for the work.
One example of RAM us a RACI (responsible, accountable, consult and inform) chart, as shown in below figure.
The sample chart shows the work to be done in the left column activities. The assigned resources can be shown as individuals or groups. A RACI chart is a useful tool to use to ensure clear assignment of roles and responsibilities when the team consists of internal and external resources.
Proventures RACI is a COM Add-in to Microsoft Project 2013/2016 which simulates the RACI Functionality. After the Installation process, Add-in can be accessed through the Microsoft Project PERT Plus Tab in the Ribbon.
Contact Us:
If need any info, please contact us!
Head office address:
Proventures Education and Consulting Services Private Limited,
Flat No.102, Nestcon Zion
Plot No. 104E, HIG HUDA Layout,
Nallagandla,
Hyderabad 500019
