CPM and PERT techniques for small-scale R&D projects

Abstract

Contemporary Project Management has conceived tools based on mathematical models for planning, scheduling and controlling the projects, the costs and resources. Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) are two network-based methods which were independently developed to assist the project managers in order to schedule complex real-life projects. A scheduling of a small-scale R&D project using these optimization time-oriented methods was accomplished. In many models of project network some activities are closely related to each other such as procurement activities of basic resources and research activities. If this precedence relationship is on the critical path, that means whitout no event slack or float time for activities, then some procurements delay may cause lag in the project’s completion time. Thus a good estimation for procurement and research activities duration is needed for a Just-in-Time project.