6.3 Time Management
Time management aims to complete the project within the stipulated time period. Time management essentially involves the following processes:
a) Defining project scope in the form of work breakdown structure to generate activity identification and listing,
h) Activity duration estimating,
c) Activity sequencing with interactivity dependencies,
d) Project schedule development. and
e) Project schedule control.
Work breakdown structure should be used as a tool to prep are the project schedule by defining the project scope and identifying and listing of the activities in the work packages. For the quantum of work involved in the activities, the activity durations are estimated based on the standard productivity norms for different trades of work. Past-documented experience and expertise should also be used for determination of the activity durations with the construction technology adopted and manpower and equipment resources used.
Based on the construction methodology proposed with the consideration of project specific constraints. the sequencing and interdependencies of the act ivities are determined and the graphical representation of activities in the form of network should be prepared. The network thus prepared should be analyzed to develop the project schedule with information on early and late start and finishing of activities with their available floats and the cr itical path/critical activities on the network. Incorporating the calendar dates, the baseline schedule may be finalized with the incorporation of milestones for subsequent schedule monitoring and control processes.
During the construction stage. schedule monitoring involves methods of tracking and comparing the actual schedule with the baseline schedule and schedule control activities should ensure to remove deficiencies and slippages corrected to acceptable levels.
Project scheduling and monitoring is adynamic process and periodic schedule updating should be done for effective monitoring and control process. In the
process, the status of each activity should be examined. For completed activities, actual durations utilized, are incorporated; and for activities in progress, balance to complete revised durations and estimated finish dates are determined and incorporated. If the actual schedule lags behind the baseline schedule, various options should be considered to control and bring back the schedule to acceptable levels. The possible control actions, which may be considered are: possible reduction in activity duration of future activities with alternate technology options . increasing the resources, alteration in the construction logic and activity sequencing, etc.
