RP 499R-06, Identifing the Critical Path

Nice review of some features of four PM software packages.
Did it really take several years to write this paper?
Best Regards,
Vladimir

Dear Ronold,

The collective advice found in PP far exceeds the Recommended Practice published now.

"Different CPM software products can produce different calculation results when applied to the same
schedule." Any Lawyer will take this statement and turn the table anyway they like!

With kind regards,

Samer

Hi Ron,

"Activities should be validated before accepting them as members of the critical path."

Question(s): Who makes the validation(s)? The Scheduler or the Project Manager?

"Scheduling is the ordering of the activities within a plan utilizing additional discretionary logic restraints and constraints... based upon the discretion of the project manager...and including adjustments to activity-specific and total resource usage that may be directed."

Note: No mention of the Scheduler.

Duties of PSP - "To assist the project management team in developing, monitoring, and updating an integrated project plan and schedule so that the project may be executed in the most efficient manner possible."

"PSP assists the project manager to accomplish the following:"

1. "Facilitate the preparation of the project plan and WBS;
2. Facilitate the estimation of timelines and project phases;
3. Identify key project results and milestones;
4. Involve team members in the planning process; and
5. Involve the client in defining project goals and key results."

Question(s): Who is the backbone or who really is supposed to initiate the development of the schedule? The Scheduler or the Project Manager?

Thank You

Ronald,

Thanks for the reference, I find it easy to read and relevant, I liked in particular the call for our attention of the distinction between the four methods for determining the Critical Path.

It seems like some USA courts are interpreting that the specs requirement on how to display the official schedule is binding. This has a significant effect on how delays are to be evaluated, particularly when the specs require the Contractor to display negative float.

Requiring under the specs to display negative float in the official schedule and then telling that it is not to be used into the determination of criticality is absurd. The following article shows a case in which a court recognized negative float as binding.

http://www.arcadis-us-pmcm.com/assets/files/PinnacleOne_Criticality_What_Do_Courts_Say.pdf

Best regards,
Rafael