Project Scheduling: Lagging,

Crashing and Activity Networks

Chapter 10

2007 Pearson Education

Lags in Precedence Relationships

The logical relationship between the start
and finish of one activity and the start and
finish of another activity.
Four logical relationships between tasks
1. Finish to Start
2. Finish to Finish
3. Start to Start
4. Start to Finish

Finish to Start Lag

Most common type of sequencing

Shown on the line joining the modes
Added during forward pass
Subtracted during backward pass

0
A
6
Spec Design
6

6
B
11
Design Check
5

ot
n
is s
g
la e a
s
i
Th e sam slack
th ivity
act
15
C
22
Lag 4
Blueprinting
7

Finish to Finish Lag

Two activities share a similar completion point
The mechanical inspection cannot happen until
wiring, plumbing, and HVAC installation are complete

15

D
21
Wiring
6

10
A
16
Plumbing
6

Lag 3

16

B
21
HVAC
5

21
C
22
Inspection
1

Start to Start Lag

30

Logic must b
e
maintained b
y
both forward
a
backward pa nd
ss

D
36
Wiring
6
Lag 3

31
A
33
Plumbing
6

33

B
36
HVAC
5

36
C
37
Inspection
1

Start to Finish Lag

30

D
36
Wiring
6

Least common type of lag

relationship
Successors finish dependent on
predecessors start
Lag 3
28

22
A
28
Plumbing
6

B
33
HVAC
5

33
C
34
Inspection
1

Gantt Charts
Establish a time-phased network
Can be used as a tracking tool
Benefits of Gantt charts
1. Easy to create and comprehend
2. Identify the schedule baseline network
3. Allow for updating and control
4. Identify resource needs

Create a Gantt chart based on the

activities listed in the table.
Task Time Pred Task Time Pred
Z

--

U,T

Y,X

Gantt Chart With Resources in MS Project

Crashing Projects
Accelerating a project by committing more
resources than initially planned
Principal methods for crashing
Improving existing resources productivity
Changing work methods
Increasing the quantity of resources

Managerial Considerations
Determine activity fixed and variable costs
The crash point is the fully expedited activity
Optimize time-cost tradeoffs
Shorten activities on the critical path
Cease crashing when
the target completion time is reached
the crash cost exceeds the penalty cost

What is the lowest cost to complete this

project in 53 weeks? Times are in weeks
and costs in dollars.
Activity

Pred

Normal
Time

Min
Time

Normal
Cost

Crash
Cost

--

14

500

1500

1000

1600

10

2000

2900

B, C

1000

2500

1600

1900

1500

3000

E, F

600

1800

15

11

1600

3600

Activity on Arrow Networks

Activities represented by arrows
Widely used in construction
Event nodes easy to flag
Forward and backward pass logic similar to AON
Two activities may not begin and end at
common nodes
Dummy activities may be required

1. Use AOA to sketch the network that represents the project as

described in the table.
2. Calculate early and late start and finish times for all activities.

Activity

Time

Pred

Activity

Time

Pred

--

15

10

E,F,G

B,C

11

15

Controversies in the Use of Networks

Networks can be too complex
Poor network construction creates problems
Networks may be used inappropriately
When employing subcontractors
The master network must be available to them
All sub-networks must use common methods

Positive bias exists in PERT networks