How to Discover Critical Path on a Gantt Chart

ConceptDraw PROJECT is the Gantt chart software that implements critical path method to provide the user with a wide set of project management tools.

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (abbr. PERT) is a method developed by Ministry of Defense of the USA in 1958 for the project of creation the missile system Polaris. PERT diagram is one of the tools for project management that lets greatly simplify the planning and scheduling of large and complex projects. PERT diagram provides evaluation of project run-time and labor forces, it helps to analyze the time necessary for execution each of project tasks and the whole project, and to calculate the project critical path. PERT chart depicts the set of tasks connected each other in order of their execution and is constructed according to one of definite rules - AOA (activity on arrow) or AON (activity on node). It doesn't give you ready concrete decisions, but helps to find them. Design easy the PERT diagrams in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software enhanced with Seven Management and Planning Tools solution from Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. You have a possibility to build the PERT chart of any type, but AON variant is easier for building and perception.

Project Management

Mind Maps is a visual tool that helps to structure, understand and analyze the information, to find new ideas and solutions to problems. They find their application in many areas of life due to the fact that are convenient graphical way of presenting information. The project management is one of the most popular applications of Mind Maps, which give you the opportunity to make your project plan, to navigate easier in the project and manage it visually, to systematize knowledge, to get a clear picture of what is happening in the project, to save time and quickly find the right solutions and possible defects. Mind Maps ideally suit as a way to make notes during the meetings, presentations, conferences, to record ideas generated during a brainstorming. ConceptDraw MINDMAP software is effective for using in project management. It offers the tools for brainstorming and Mind Maps construction, helps project managers to visually represent the whole project, its implementation phases, to track the current state and switch between the different levels of detailing, showing or hiding some branches. ConcepDraw MINDMAP lets the possibility to make the report or presentation from your Mind Map and provides the compatibility with ConceptDraw Project and MS Project.

ConceptDraw PROJECT Project Management Software Tool

ConceptDraw PROJECT is simple project management software. If you are on the fast track in your career and start facing such challenges as coordination many people, coordination tasks and works, manage project with a great deal of time and money involved - it is the right time to get Project management tool involved in your work.

Dashboards. Time Scale. Part I

Have you ever used dashboards? You probably have, and not just once. Speedometer, tachometer, fuel and oil level indicators, clock, and GPS – this is a typical set of instrumentation that can be found on a car dashboard. Even though all of these indicators are present, an experienced driver feels the speed and engine rpm with sufficient accuracy without looking at the dashboard consistently. The dashboard is an important tool in the car, but not necessarily an irreplaceable one: we need all these indicators to be available while driving, but for 99% of the time they are superfluous.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS PLANNING. PERT Chart

The PERT Chart is constructed as part of the process in creating a schedule of corrective actions. The PERT Chart shows the logical connections and consequence of tasks to be performed. It displays the time period for problem solving and the implementation of all activities through the critical path. ConceptDraw Office suite is a software for corrective actions planning.

Critical Tasks

All project tasks are important, but only some of them are critical. A task that cannot be delayed without affecting the project end date is a critical task. In other words it is a task, which directly affects the project finish date and at the delay of its implementation the project's finish date will be postponed. Conversely, to move the project end date to an earlier date, you must reschedule the dates of tasks of critical path. During the life of a real project often happens that the critical path changes the time to time, because the tasks may be completed sooner or later than they were planned. A task stops to be critical when it is executed, since more it does not affect the execution of subsequent tasks and on the project finish date. The critical path lets easy to see the project was ended on time or not, and to determine the location of dangerous points on it. ConceptDraw Office applications and PM solutions offered by ConceptDraw Solution Park support the project managers and senior managers with perfect abilities of easy planning and managing projects, tracking the project statuses and critical tasks, with tools for creation Gantt Charts, depiction the critical path and easy generation wide range of project reports.