3.3.4 CPA

• What is CPA?

  •  a project management tool that uses network analysis to plan complex and time-sensitive projects 
• Key elements of CPA

  • A list of all activities required to complete the project
  • The time (duration) that each activity will take to complete
  • How each project activity depends on others
• What does CPA show?

  • Order in which activities must be completed.
  • Longest path of project activities to the completion of the project
  • Earliest & latest  each project activity can start and finish without delaying completion of whole project.
  • Activities within a project that can be carried out simultaneously are identified
  • The critical project activities which if delayed will cause the project as a whole to over-run
  • Those project activities where some delay is acceptable without delaying the project as a whole
  • The shortest time possible to complete the project
• What is a node?

  • a circle that represents activity is started or finished
  • split into three sections
  • The left half of the circle is the activity number 
  • top right section= EST based on the completion of the previous activity
  • bottom right section LFT by which the previous activity must be completed
• Activities

  • An activity is a process or task within a project that takes time
  • Activities are  shown on the network diagram as a line which link nodes 
  • A description of the activity or a letter representing the activity is usually shown above the line
• Duration

  • the length of time it takes to complete an activity
  • The duration is shown as a number of time units such as hours or days below the activity line
• CPA

  .

  A) NODE

  B) ACTIVITY

  C) DURATION

  D) EST

  E) LFT

  
• Critical Path

  • Critical path highlights activities that determine the length of the whole project.
  • If delayed, the project as a whole will be delayed
  • nodes where the EST and LFT are equal = Critical path
• What is float time?

  • The total float refers specifically to spare time that is available so that the overall project completion is not delayed
  • Float time exists where there is a difference between the Earliest Start Time (EST and the Latest Finish Time (LFT)
• How does float time help?

  • Transfer resources such as staff or machinery to more critical activities
  • Allow extra time to complete tasks to improve quality or allow for creativity
• Calculation for float time

  • LFT for the activity - Duration of the activity - EST for the activity
• Limitations of CPA

  • Very lengthy or complex projects involve a very large number of activities that have numerous dependencies.
  • Relies on estimates and forecasts.
  • Does not guarantee the success of a project .
  • Resources may not prove to be as flexible as hoped when managers identify float periods.
• Limitations of CPA

  • Specialist network planning software may be required.
  • Layers of supervision may be required to manage different groups of activities within the project.
  • Significant research is required prior to the completion of network analysis.
  • Close and honest  working relationships with suppliers are essential.
  • Project managers - highly skilled and will need experience of working with complicated plans
  • Employees may require additional training in order to transfer to critical tasks
  • Machinery and other capital resources may require adaptatioN