Parallel Activities Activities that can be done during the same
period of time.
Predecessor Activity An activity that must be completed before
the activity under consideration can begin.
Series Relationship Two activities that must be done in a par-
ticular order, that is, one must be done before the other.
Preparing a Project Timeline: A Seven-Step Process
There are countless ways to prepare a project schedule. I
believe in taking a very systematic approach, which is outlined
in this seven-step process. (Details on some of the key tech-
niques will follow.)
Step 1. Prepare for Scheduling by Identifying Schedule
Activities on the WBS. Using the WBS, identify the specific
activities that will appear on your schedule. You should have
already broken down these activities to a level where you can
track and control their progress. (Remember the 4% rule of
thumb?) You should define each activity in sufficient detail so
that all relevant project participants understand the activity
completely.
Step 2. Develop the Network Diagram. Prepare a logic dia-
gram that includes all project activities. (We’ll discuss this in
detail shortly.) Arrange the activities to show any interdepen-
dencies by asking two questions:
- Which tasks must be completed before others may
begin? - Which tasks can be done at the same time?
Step 3. Estimate Preliminary Activity Durations. Identify how
long each activity would take, assuming full-time commitment
and unlimited resources. Don’t panic! This is done primarily to
establish a benchmark of the best possible schedule. You’ll
make accommodations for limited resource availability in Step
- Try to obtain estimates of effort from people who are expect-
ed to do the work, if possible.
122 Project Management