Syllabus Detail
- Planning, scheduling, budgeting and tracking 11 ATAR, 12 GEN
- CASE tools Gantt and , PERT charts. 12 ATAR
Background
- Project management is the action of planning, scheduling, budgeting and tracking to achieve goals in a project or problem
- Each step is fundamental to ensure that every phase of the project is well thought-out and operational
Planning
- The main purpose is to plan time, cost and resources for the project or problem
- The planning is generally a document that outlines more details about the project, as well as provides a roadmap
Scheduling
- Scheduling allows us to plan each step of the project along with the expected time
- We often use Gantt Charts and PERT Charts to outline the time taken for each step of the project
- Scheduling allows us to work out the critical path for the project timeline
Budgeting
- Budgeting helps us to allocate the financial resources of a project
- This includes ensuring the budget can accomodate each step of the project without spending more than the project is worth
Tracking
- Tracking allows us to keep up to date with every aspect of the project
- It's important to keep an eye on each phase of the project to ensure it's going to plan and there are no problems
- Various tracking and collaboration software is available for groups working on projects, such as BaseCamp
CASE Tools
- Computer-aided Software Engineering tools help to design and implement applications in a project
- They're often used to design the logical rather than physical aspects of a project or solution
- Gantt Charts and PERT Charts are the most often used CASE tools in Computer Science
Gantt Charts
- A Gantt Chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule
- Modern day charts show the dependency between activities (e.g. an activity that can't start until another has finished)
- Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart
- Gantt Charts provide an easy way to clearly see when a project phase can start based off the completed phases
PERT Charts
- A Program Evaluation Review Technique chart is another CASE tool used to help in planning projects
- Specifically, they aid towards scheduling, organizing and coordinating tasks within a project
- Source: http://www.mnsu.edu/its/started/website/krypton/
- A PERT chart shows the amount of time taken on each phase, and in turn the critical, maximum and minimum pathways
Step 5 - Further Research
- Watch a video on Gantt and PERT Charts here
- Check out some project management software here
- [Advanced] Check out how to create a clear project plan here
- Check out Tom's Planner to create free Gantt Charts online here
Step 6 - Worksheet and Practice (yet to be added)
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