BUSINESS FORMULATION

AND
PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT
Syllabus 6025

TOOLS FOR DECISION MAKING

NETWORK DIAGRAMS

By Jerry Mwedziwendira
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What is a network diagram?
• It is a graphical portrayal of the activities and
events of a project.
• They show how each activity relates to others in
the project, the sequence of activities, and the
need to perform some tasks before others.

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 Elements of a network diagram
• Activities
• Dummy activity
• Nodes
• Critical path
• Critical time
• EST
• LFT
• Float
• Critical activities
• Non-critical activities

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The elements
• Activities
Actions taken which consume time and resources
Are shown by straight lines or arrows
Have an estimated duration
Activity A is expected to take 6 days
A
6

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The elements
• Dummy activity
Is an imaginary activity which consumes neither
time nor resources
It is shown by a broken arrow on a network
diagram
Dummies do not have durations
Dummy activity

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The elements
• Nodes
Signifies the start and the end of the activity
Used to show the EST and the LFT
Must have a node number if EST and LFT are to be
shown

EST
Node
No LFT

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The elements
• Critical Path
Is the longest path on the network diagram
It is shown by bolded arrows on the diagram
CP=A,D,E,F&H

C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

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The elements
• Critical Time
Is the shortest possible time needed to complete
the project
It is found by adding the durations of the critical
activities
CT=6+10+9+6+11=42 days
C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons

The elements
• EST
Is the Earliest Starting Time of the next activity
It is found by adding the durations of the preceding
activities
EST of activity E=6+10= day 16

C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

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The elements
• LFT
Is the Latest Finishing Time of the previous activity
It is found by subtracting the durations of the
succeeding activities from the critical time.
LFT of activity E=42-11-6=day 25

C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons

The elements
• The Float
Is the amount of time an activity or a path of activities
can be delayed without affecting the critical time.
There is independent, free and total float
Critical activities have zero float
Non-critical activities can be delayed
Float of an activity=LFT of the activity-EST of the
activity-duration of the activity.

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The elements
• Critical Activities
These are activities which lie on the critical path
Critical activities are=A,D,E,F&H

C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons

The elements
• Non-Critical Activities
These are activities which do not lie on the critical
path
Non-Critical activities are=B,C&G

C
8 E F
A D 9 6 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

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Rules for constructing a network diagram

• Each activity is represented by one and only one

arrow
• Arrows should be kept straight not curved
• Arrows should not cross each other
• every node should have at least one activity
preceding it and at least one activity succeeding it
except for the node at the beginning and at the end
of the network.

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 DATA
ACTIVITY DURATION SUCCEEDING ACTIVITY

A 6 C&D

B 4 G

C 8 F

D 10 E

E 9 F

F 6 H

G 7 H

H 11 -

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0773391379 for professional online lessons
 DIAGRAM

C
8 F
E
6
A D 9 H
6 10 11
B G
4 7

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp

0773391379 for professional online lessons
 Benefits of a network diagram
• Facilitates planning and coordination of large projects
• Identify critical activities
• Identify activities likely to cause delays
• Determine when resources and components are
needed
• Plan use of resources
• Reduce idleness
• Network can help solve problems that arise during the
project

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons

 Drawbacks of a network diagram
• Ignores qualitative factors
• Overemphasises on time as the sole factor in the
success of projects
• Requires managers with good numerical skills
• It can become very complex- could be misinterpreted
• Can easily be affected by external factors that cause
problems, e.g. weather
• It costs a lot to produce a network diagram
• Reliability of data can be questionable

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons

 Review questions
• Define the following terms
• Float [2]
• Critical path [2]
• Critical time [2]
• Dummy activity [2]
• Critical activities [2]
• Non-critical activities [2]
• Critical time [2]
• Network diagram [2]

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Construct a network diagram
ACTIVITY DURATION PRECEDING ACTIVITY

A 6 -

B 8 -

C 10 A

D 6 B

E 10 B

F 12 A&D

G 14 C&F

H 10 E

I 4 G&H

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp

0773391379 for professional online lessons
 Review questions
• With the aid of a diagram explain how network
analysis might be useful to a construction company
of your choice. [25]
• Evaluate the role of a network diagram to a projects
manager. [25]

Thank you!

By Jerry Mwedziwendira WhatsApp 0773391379 for professional online lessons