PERT and CPM PERT and CPM Usage

Usage of PERT and CPM PERT can be understood as a control and planning tool applied in controlling and defining the required tasks in project completion. CPM (Critical Path Methods) and PERT charts are frequently used interchangeably. The primary difference between the two is the manner in which computation of task times is done. Both the charts show all the projects that have scheduled tasks in a sequence. The display on the charts reveals the tasks that are parallel to one another and those that could be executed simultaneously.

Graphical representation otherwise referred to as CPM diagram or Project Network is applied in the graphical display of the relationship between project elements and to reveal the order through which activities must be executed (The Numbers Group, 2002). The primary PERT characteristic is the possibility to schedule projects without necessarily having the precise details or duration for all activities. This is especially important when time is of the essence. Time is often a fundamental variable when it comes to handling tight deadlines in the nonprofit sector.

The significance of time is especially evidenced when building external schedules like the monthly billing or the school calendar cycle. Individual timelines are likely to play a part in the program that responds to infant and maternal health issues since support and services are associated with biological events in the pregnancy and development of children (Social Solutions, 2018).

Examples of programs and projects where the CPM and PERT method can be beneficial include conducting a vacation drive, hospital construction, polio eradication, adding another wind into a hospital facility, CHC (Community Health Centers) and PHC (Primary Health Centers) commissioning, ICU construction and launching, starting a medical college facility, health workers’ training program design, family camp planning, welfare centers for family planning development, nurse hostels construction, sanitation drive planning, and community health education program development etcetera (Jain, 2013).

Evaluation of Programs Projects that are widely diverse subject themselves to the CPM and PERT analysis as suggested in the applications list below. · The procedure for missile launch · Ship repair and construction schedule · Debugging and installation of computer system · Building construction · Assembly and construction of large generators · The research of and the engineering of design projects · New product design and launching (Levy, Thompson & Weist, 1963).

PERT’s fundamental approach details choosing of events that are identifiable as well as establishing and sequencing of interdependent events. It is possible for PERT to provide episodic analysis of some programs with the support of support summaries for the more detailed areas of a project. This depends largely on the situation and the level of skills that goes into the use of PERT. If there are any detected trouble areas it is possible to introduce alternatives and an effective action plan (Chorafas, 2014).

Liabilities and Risks PERT formula application is often criticized because of questions as to whether the most likely, optimistic, and pessimistic activity durations are indeed as objective as they appear. Where estimates used are subjective it means that the formula and its purpose are compromised as well. The standard deviation and weighted estimates may not accurately show the time necessary for every task. A substantial disadvantage of using PERT formula is the possibility of frequently underestimating the duration instead of overestimating or using accurate estimates.

Underestimating time will result to big problems in the management of the project (Bowen, 2013). It is said that CPM uses a deterministic approach. This essentially means that similar results are obtained for the initial conditions (duration for project activity). The truth, however, is that various projects will vary due to circumstances such as undetected expectations from the customer, unexpected events, and poor estimates. The variances result to risks due to the fact that there is likelihood that this will influence the schedule of the project.

Even though the schedule of some projects only has minimal uncertainties, it is possible to manage them with some sound project planning.