Project Management

There are several methods for capturing the information on
activity interrelationships. You can construct an ordered list, a
chart (using the WBS) that you can use to input into scheduling
software, or a wall chart.
How about an example? Let’s say that our family is prepar-
ing for a trip to the ski slopes. We might identify a number of
activities—and their relationships—as shown in Figure 7-9. Once
again, note that at this point we’re not concerned with who’s
doing the work or how long it will take. Our only objective is to
display the logical interrelationships of the project activities.
Using these relationships and PDM graphical conventions
described above would yield the simple network diagram shown
in Figure 7-10.

126 Project Management

Every Arrow Tells a Story

Pay attention to the direction of the arrows in network dia-

grams.Although it may seem like a minor point with parallel

relationships, there are times it makes a difference.Take a look at

Figure 7-8(a) again.The two activities are taking place at the same

time, but the direction of the arrow indicates that Activity G can start

anytime afterActivity F starts.

Activity

Number

Activity

Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Prepare picnic basket

Awake, shower, dress

Load the car

Make sandwiches

Make hot chocolate

Drive to ski slope

Gather all skiing gear

Get gas

Gather munchies

Depends on

Activity

4,5,9

—

1,7

2 2 8 2 3 2

Figure 7-9. Activities and interrelationships for the ski trip project