Topic 5:

Introduction to Network Technique

Dr. Suzila Binti Mohd
Block C07, Level 3, Room 307
[email protected]

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QUICK CHECK
• TOPICS
Topic 1 : Overview Current Issue in The Construction Industry
Topic 2 : Project Management Project Development Process
Topic 3 : Project Manager: Roles, Ethical Responsibilities
Organizational Management
Topic 4 : Introduction to project planning
Topic 5 : Introduction to the networking technique
Topic 6 : Introduction to scheduling software & Demonstration

• ASSESSMENTS (30%)
Case Study : 5%
Test 1 : 10%
Project : 15%
• FINAL EXAMINATION (50%)

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Network Technique
Organizing Project Task

• Project task can be organized in two major way:

1. By using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

2. By grouping them in the appropriate group

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Network Technique
1) Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a part of activity involved
in organizing project task.

• WBS is defined as process of breaking down the project into

smaller components to facilitate the project management
process, or

• a process of dividing the project task into smaller manageable

components for planning purposes.

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Network Technique
1) Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• There are few practical consideration for WBS which are:

Area of responsibility Category of work Distinct structural element

• Personnel in charge • Building construction • Footing
• Sub contractors • Road and pavement • Ground beam
• Department • Water supply system • Column GF-1stFL
• M&E work • Column 1stFL-2ndFL
• Sub-structure • Column 2nd FL-Roof
• Earthwork

Location of work Bill of Quantity

• Kilometre 100-200 • Preliminaries
• Northern section • Earthworks
• Block A • Sub-structure works or
• Block B • (Work below ground level)
• Phase 8-10 • Building frame
• Floors

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Network Technique
1) Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Process of sub-diving the project and task into a smaller level of
components, e.g.:

First level of Second level of Third level of

WBS WBS WBS

Con. Slab 1st floor

Concrete Slab Con. Slab 2nd floor

Concrete Concrete Column Concrete slab 3rd
Work floor
Concrete Beam

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Network Technique
2) Grouping
• Grouping is a process of organizing the project activities into a
smaller bands so that it is easy to exert control over the entire
project.

• WBS provides multi-level division of the same category of task

while grouping provides more flexible way of organizing the
activities into a common group even though not from the same
category of work)

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Network Technique
2) Grouping - Example

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Network Technique
2) Grouping - Example

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Network Technique
2) Grouping
• Using Numbering System
• Using Alphabhet System
• Combination Of Both

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Network Technique
Critical Path Method (CPM)
• The critical path method (CPM) is a technique that allows
project manager to identify tasks that are necessary for
project completion.

• A critical path in project management is the longest sequence

of activities that must be finished on time in order for the
entire project to be complete.

• Any delays in critical tasks will delay the rest of the project.

• CPM revolves around discovering the most important tasks in

the project timeline, identifying task dependencies, and
calculating task durations.

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Network Technique
Critical Path Method (CPM)

• Reason of CPM in a project are:

1. Improves future planning: CPM can be used to compare

expectations with actual progress. The data used from current
projects can inform future project plans.
2. Facilitates more effective resource management: CPM helps
project managers prioritize tasks, giving them a better idea of
how and where to deploy resources.
3. Helps avoid Congestion: Congestion in projects can result in
lost valuable time. Plotting out project dependencies using a
network diagram, will give you a better idea of which activities
can and can’t run in parallel, allowing you to schedule
accordingly.

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Network Technique
Elements of Critical Path Method (CPM)

• The essential technique for using CPM is to construct a model of the

project that includes the three basic elements:

1. A list of all activities required to complete the project.

2. The time (duration) that each activity will take to completion.
3. The dependencies between the activities.

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Network Technique
CPM Calculation

• Forward Pass Method

• Calculates early start and early finish dates for all network
activities. It also calculates the free float for two dependency
tasks & the overall duration of the project

• Backward Pass Method

• Calculates late start and late finish dates of all network
activities.

• The results of the above calculations determine the total float of

each task and the critical path of the project

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Network Technique
Benefits of Critical Path Method (CPM)

• Since project schedules change on a regular basis, CPM :

1. Allows continuous monitoring of the schedule,

2. Allows the project manager to track the critical activities,

3. Alerts the project manager to the possibility that non-critical,

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Critical Path Method (CPM) Terminology
1. Early Start (ES)
• The earliest possible time to start an activity
2. Early Finish (EF)
• The earliest possible time to finish an activity
3. Late Start (LS)
• The latest possible time to start an activity without delaying the overall
completion of the project
4. Late Finish (LF)
• The latest possible time to finish an activity without delaying the overall
completion of the project
5. Total Float (TF)
• The total time available to delay the start or finish of an activity without
delaying the overall completion of the project
6. Free Float (FF)
• The total time available to delay the start or finish of the activity without
delaying the Early Start (ES) time of the proceeding activity.

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Network Technique
Critical Path Method (CPM) Terminology
Example: ADM/AOA & PDM

Or AOA

Activity

Node

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Critical Path Method (CPM) Formula

1. Early Start (ES) “Forward Pass”

• The ES for the first task(s) in a project is set to zero (0).
2. Early Finish (EF) “Forward Pass”
• Early Start (ES) + Duration
3. Late Start (LS) “Backward Pass”
• Late Finish (LS) - Duration
4. Late Finish (LF) “Backward Pass”
• LF is the lowest LS value from immediate successors
5. Total Float (TF)
• LS - ES or LF - EF
6. Free Float (FF)
• ES (next task) - EF (current task)

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Network Technique
Lag Time

• The PMBoK defines lag time as:

• “the amount of time whereby a successor activity is required

to be delayed with respect to a predecessor activity.”

• In practice, when the first activity has been completed but

there was a delay with the start of the second activity, the
delay itself is called Lag Time.

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Network Technique
Lag Time - Examples

• F-S with 3 days lag • F-S with -2 day lag

Site Clearing
Pour Slab

Column Lag = -2d

Cutting

• S-S with 5 days lag • F-F with 5 days lag

Lay brick Lag = 5d

Lay Brick

Lag = 5d
Plastering Plastering

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