Project Scheduling withGanttProject

EGR 386w

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GanttProject

http://www.ganttproject.biz/ Download version 2.6.x Has numbered tasks option

The video (access from ganttproject.biz) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHCSa5ad34&feature=youtu.be

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GanttProject Pros

Easy outlining of tasks Resource management Accuracy: baseline vs. actual; various

calculations Easy charting and graphics

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GanttProject Cons

Illusion of control Scaling No estimation featuresRemember: Being a Gantt Project expert does not

make you an expert project manager! No more so than knowing MS-Word makes you a

good writer.

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The GanttProject Process

1. Move WBS into a Project outline (in TaskSheet)

2. Establish dependencies3. Add resources (team members or roles)4. Assign resources to tasks5. Refine and optimize6. Create baseline7. Track progress (enter actuals, etc.)

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Project Overview GanttProject User Interface (UI) Create a Project

Add duration to the task sheet Create WBS Add task dependencies Add resources Assign resources to tasks Check Resource allocation Resolve resource allocation problems

Effort-driven scheduling

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GanttProject UI Views

Default isGant Chart View 2 panes Task Sheet

on left (a table) Gantt Chart

on right Panels: Gantt,

Resources Chart

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Task Sheet Gantt Chart

Gantt Project UI

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Tool Icons

Panels

OutlineButtons

(un)linkButtons

Critical Path

Time Scale

Task

Dependency

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Setting up Resource Roles

AFTER you set up yourproject, you can diveback in and set up“roles” i.e., Jobs for the

team members thatare associated withtasks Example:

Structural Analyst,Presentationcoordinator, etc.

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Adding columns to the Task Sheet

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You can drag the columns to a differentlocation—recommend to put Outlinenumbers at left.

Entering WBS

Outlining Sub-tasks and summary tasks Do not enter start/end dates for each Just start with Task Name and Duration for each Use Indent/Outdent buttons to define summary tasks and subtasks You can enter specific Start/End dates but don’t most of

the time To enter Milestones use check in Task Properties (alt+return)

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Sample WBS – Software design project

1.0 Requirement Analysis 91.1 User interviews 21.2 Interview analysis 21.3 GUI mock up design 41.4 Validation of mockup with users 21.5 Writing User Requirements 21.6 User Requirements Review Meeting MS

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DurationTask Name

“MS” Milestone

Enter WBS Tasks

Entering WBS tasks, tips:First, just enter all tasks and subtasks in

order—all are same levelNext, <Ctrl-click> each subtask and indent

with the right arrow iconLastly (for this part), select each task and then

<alt-Enter> to access properties.

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Enter tasks—several ways.Right click in task panel iseasiest to remember

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Select the tasks and indent—makesthem subsets of the task not indentedabove them.

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<Tab> also indents selectedtask(s)

Notice how Outline numbersare renumbered.

Select each subtask and add GeneralInformation

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Select each subtask and add GeneralInformation

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Did all the dates in PAST (2012).Should do this for Present to FUTURE.

How to establish Milestone

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How to establish Milestone

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Add task dependencies

Above task Panel: Link & Unlink buttons Good for many at once

Or via Gantt chart Drag from one task to another

Note: you can ‘scroll in’ and ‘scroll out’ to zoom on thetimeline, making the tasks more accessible

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Add task dependencies—one at a time

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Drag frompredecessor…

…and Drop to successor.

Add task dependencies—all at once

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Ctrl-click the toppredecessor and all itssuccessors (assumedbelow it)…

…select dependency icon (chain link)to set dependencies.

Change Dependency Type

Default dependency relationship type is Finish-to-Start Can be changed through Predecessor Panel in Task

Properties For instance “interview analysis” and “mock up design”

should start together “Start-Start”

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Task Dependency Relationships

Finish-to-Start (FS) B cannot start till A finishes

A: Construct fence; B: Paint Fence

Start-to-Start (SS) B cannot start till A starts

A: Pour foundation; B: Level concrete

Finish-to-Finish (FF) B cannot finish till A finishes

A: Add wiring; B: Inspect electrical

Start-to-Finish (SF) B cannot finish till A starts (rare)

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Change Dependency Type

For instance, “validation of mockup” can only start ifboth “interview analysis” and “GUI mock-up” are ready “validation of mockup” already set to start after “GUI mock-up” so

set as successor to “interview analysis” as well.

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Resources

You need to first establish the roles in theResources Properties. Then, you can define the team members under

the Resources pane, and assign them those roles.

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Add Resources Use Resource Panel

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You can add theresource’s start date orDays off, too. Makes adifference when youassign a task.

WBS (already planned, more detail)

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!"! #$%&'()*%&+(%,$ !-. !--. -. -.!"/ '()*%&+(%,'0)012$($ !-. !--. -. -.!"3 456'789:'#;'<%$(=) !-. >-. -. !--.!"? +01(<0*(8)'8@'789:#;',(*A'#$%&$ /-. >-. >-. -.!"> B&(*()='5$%&'C%D#(&%7%)*$ /-. -. !--. >-.

Assign Resources to Tasks via theTask Pane Highlight task, Properties Resources Panel

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These are all that are added for the “UserInterviews” task—check your WBS to be sure

After Resources established, check forover-allocation

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The default colors show differenttypes of loading (In menus,Edit Settings Resource Chart

Smith is overloaded

Resource over-allocation

Expand Smith’s task list. Looks like Interview Analysis and GUI Mock Up

together take up too much of his time…

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Show Critical Path

Where can you delay completion withoutimpacting the final end date?

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Show Critical Path

The critical path tool is not very obvious here.But we can see that the Task 1.2 durationcould be extended by 2 more days withoutpushing the final milestone forward in time.

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Back to Bob Smith’s Over-allocation

2 days * 100% = 2 person days That’s what we have now for him in the “Interview

Analysis” task 1.2, and he is overloaded But, we can stretch the end date for Task 1.2,

and still be on schedule. 4 days * 50% = 2 person days

We can stretch Task 1.2 to 4 days duration total Then reallocate Bob to 50% over those four days. This may solve our problem…

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Doing the change…

Change Task 1.2 from 2 daysduration to 4 days duration.

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Doing the change…

Now edit the Task 1.2 Resources tab, andreduce Bob Smith’s allocation from 100% to50% for this task.

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Check the Larger Resources Pane forAllocations Bob Smith is now no longer overworked.

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Fully Expanded Resource Allocations

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“Baseline…”

Saves all current information about yourproject Dates, resource assignments, durations, costs Still have not figured out details on this one…

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Other

You keep your progress updated in each task The best way—do it after each team meeting.

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100%completed

25% completed

75% completed

Pert Charts

Another way to view the tasks’ relationships

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