PRECEDENCE NETWORK

CRITICAL PATH METHOD

BASIC
NETWORKS
DEFINITION AND INTRODUCTION
• A network is a logical and chronological,
graphic representation of the activities (and
events) composing a project. Network
diagrams are basically of two types: arrow
networks and node networks.
• Arrow networks were more popular in the
1960s and 1970s, and then precedence
diagrams (an advanced form of node
diagrams) became the choice for network
scheduling
 BAR (GANTT)
CHARTS
DEFINITION AND INTRODUCTION
• A bar chart is a graphical representation of project activities
that are shown in timescaled bar lines with no links shown
between the bars (activities) (Popescu and Charoenngam, 1995, p.
96).
• PMI (PMI, 2013) defines it as “a graphic display of schedule-
related information. In the typical bar chart, schedule activities or
work breakdown structure components are listed down the left
side of the chart, dates are shown across the top, and activity
durations are shown as date-placed horizontal bars.”
• The bar chart was originally developed by Henry L. Gantt, an
American mechanical engineer, in 1917 and is alternatively called
a Gantt chart. It quickly became popular—especially in the
construction industry—because of its ability to graphically
represent a project’s activities in a clear, simple, and time-scaled
manner.
 WORK PROGRAM USING P6

PROJECT PLANNING
NETWORKS VERSUS BAR CHARTS

When comparing bar charts with Bar charts predict the completion of the project, or
networks, we find that networks have other dates, on the basis of the user’s skills. In
contrast to networks, bar charts have five
three advantages over bar charts:
advantages:
1. Networks show logic (i.e., the
1. Bar charts are time-scaled (i.e., the length of the
relationships among activities). Bar activity bar represents the time duration of the
charts do not. activity). Both nodes, in the node networks, and
arrows, in the arrow networks, are not time-
2. Networks can better represent large
scaled.
and complicated projects.
2. Bar charts are simple to prepare.
3. Networks can estimate, or predict, the
completion date of a project, or other 3. Bar charts are easy to understand.
dates, on the basis of mathematical 4. Bar charts are more acceptable for
calculations of the CPM. presentations, especially for field people and
people who are unfamiliar with the CPM.
5. Bar charts can be loaded with more information,
such as cash-flow diagrams and man-hours. This
advantage is partially a by-product of being
time-scaled.
4.1 NETWORK
ANALYSIS
The critical path method (CPM) utilizes the
technique of network analysis to present a
project plan by a schematic diagram which
represent the sequence and inter-relationship
of activities within the project.

The are two main types of network in common

use :-
i) Activity on Arrow, and
ii) Precedence Diagram
However, the normal bar chart does not show clearly
the inter-relationship of all operations, and
consequently requires the dependence of one operation
on another to be remembered by the planner : this is
extremely difficult with large projects.
In CPM, when a delay occurs, critical
operations will stand out as requiring
particular attention. Whilst with bar
charts being used on a large project,
many operations tend to be “crashed”
unnecessarily, as it is almost
impossible to remember which
operations are interdependent.
4.2
PRECEDENCE
DIAGRAM
This technique was developed by Milligan an
Brookes for ICI Ltd. In 1968. There are
difference in this approach compared to arrow
diagram, namely :-

i. Activities are represented by the node.

ii. Relationship between activities are
denoted by connecting lines known as
dependencies.
iii. Dummy activities are not used.
Both method have advantages and disadvantages,
although modern computer packages tend to offer a
lead-in via the precedence approach. The main feature
of the node :-

ES D EF
ES Activity Number EF
ACTIVITY or
LS Duration LF
Total
LS LF
Float
BOTH METHOD HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES,
ALTHOUGH MODERN COMPUTER PACKAGES TEND TO
OFFER A LEAD-IN VIA THE PRECEDENCE APPROACH. THE
MAIN FEATURE OF THE NODE :-

ES D EF Activity Number
ES EF
or LS Duration LF
ACTIVITY

Total
LS LF
Float
The above symbols should be strictly adhered
to, because the various logic links afforded by
the system can result in ambiguous logic if
arrow heads are accidentally omitted.

There are four types of relationship that may

exist between activities. (Figure 17).
 Finish to Start

Finish to Finish

Start to Start

Start to Finish

Figure 17 : Relationship in Precedence Diagram

 4.2.1. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING
A PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM

i) Set out obvious sequence first.

ii) Start with single activity, expand and contract the network and finish
with another single activity. (Easier to plot the diagram using pre-produced
sheet of blank nodes as shown in Figure 18).
 4.2.1. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING
A PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM

iii) Activities should be drawn at the earliest possible start for

maximum flexibility.

iv) After all activities have been defined : assess duration.

v) Consider all lag and lead restraints

 4.2.1. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING
A PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM

vi) Advantageous to overlap activities wherever possible; duration

entered on dependency line : +ve overlap indicates delay and –ve overlap
indicates lead-in on previous activity

vii) To reduce project duration, increased overlaps or reduce activity

durations (leads to increased resources).
 4.2.1. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING
A PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM

viii) To reduce date is unacceptable – reverse calculation may be

done.

ix) After reverse pass, critical activities may be highlighted.

x) Determine amount of float.

4.3 COMPARISON OF ARROW
DIAGRAM AND PRECEDENCE
DIAGRAM

Although both method provide identical solution, the use of

precedence diagram for construction planning is preferred for the
following reasons :-

i) Pre-printed sheets saves time and avoids confusion.

ii) Dependencies have an overlapping facility.

4.3 COMPARISON OF
ARROW DIAGRAM AND
PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM
iii) Avoids use of large number of dummy activities.

iv) Compatible with most computer-based network analysis

programs, i.e. Microsoft Project, Sure Trak, Primavera, etc.

v) One activity number defines that activity.

4.4 CPM Exercises
i) A precedes C
A and B precede D
C and D precede E
SOLUTIONS
1. Arrow Diagram
A C E
8 2 4 5

D
3

Precedence Diagram
A C

B D
ii) A precedes B and C
B precedes D
C and D precedes E
E and F precedes G

Activity A B C D E F G
Duration (days) 5 3 8 3 2 10 4
 2. Arrow Diagram
F

10

0 A 5 B 8 D 13 E 15 G 19
1 2 3 4 5 6
0 5 5 3 10 3 13 2 15 4 19

C
8

Precedence Diagram
0 5 5 5 3 8 8 3 11 13 2 15 15 4 19
A B D E G
0 0 5 7 2 10 10 2 13 13 0 15 15 0 19

0 10 10 5 8 13
F C
5 5 15 5 0 13
 iii) A, B, C start simultaneously
D and F start after A is finished
E starts after C is finished
G starts after B, D and E are
completed.

Activity A B C D E F G
Duration (days) 5 2 3 1 4 5 6
3. Arrow Diagram

F
5

A 5 D
2
5 6 1

0 B 7 G 13
1 4 5
0 2 7 6 13

C 3 E
3
3 3 4
 Precedence Diagram
5 5 10
F
0 5 5 5 1 6
D 8 3 13
A
1 1 6 6 1 7

0 2 2 7 6 13
B G
5 5 7 7 0 13

0 3 3 3 4 7
C E
0 0 3 3 0 7

iv)
Activity A B C D E F G
Duration (days) 5 2 3 1 4 5 6
Predecessor - - - A C D C
B E
 4. Arrow Diagram
A 2 6
6 17

0 B 10 D 19 F 24
1 4 5 6
0 10 17 2 19 5 24

C 7 E
3
7 7 12

Precedence Diagram
0 6 6 10 2 12
A D
11 11 17 17 7 19
19 5 24
0 10 10 F
B 19 0 24
7 7 17

0 7 7 7 12 19
C E 7 3 10
0 0 7 7 0 19 G
21 14 24
V) After analysing the project, the planning engineer
decides the following relationships exist between the
activities.

Activity A B C D E F G H J K L M N P Q
Duration (days) 5 11 4 2 7 7 4 9 9 2 6 12 15 6 5
Predecessor A A A A B B C E F F K E M
-
C C D G G L
H H
J J
Activity P can be carried out at any time as long it is completed.

Questions :-
a) Draw the network.
b) Find the duration of the project.
c) Determine the critical activities and the critical path.
d) Calculate the total float of the activities.
e) Tabulate the results.
 5. Arrow Diagram

0 A 5 D 9 H
1 2 4
0 5 5 2 14 9

C
B 16 F 23 K 25 P
4 6 8 9
11 16 7 23 2 29 6

9
3 20
14 G
7
4 23
L 29 M 41 Q 46
10 11 12
6 29 12 41 5 46
12 5
E J
5
7 14 9

N
15
 5. Precedence Diagram
5 2 7 9 9 18
D H
12 7 23 2 25
14 14 5 23
K

5 4 16 7 23 27 4 29
9
F 29 12 41 41 5 46
C
16 0 23 M Q
10 5 14
29 0 41 41 0 46
0 5 5
A 16 4 20 23 6 29
0 0 5 G L
19 3 23 23 0 29
5 11 16 29 6 35
B P
5 0 16 40 11 46

5 7 12 12 9 21
E J
7 2 14 14 2 23

12 15 27
N
31 19 46
5. TABULATION OF
RESULTS
THANK YOU