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               Project Scheduling in Construction

We live in the age of the microcomputer. Cheap desktop PC's are
now commonplace in the offices of contractors, construction
managers and public works agencies. Software developers have met
the industry's need for project planning tools by developing
scheduling software based on the Critical Path Method (CPM) and
the Program Evaluation & Review Technique (PERT).

PC planning software usually falls into one of two categories:-

  General Purpose packages for business users involved in a wide
  variety of "projects", and

  More complex and specialized packages directed at the
  Construction or defence and aerospace Contracting industry.

General purpose packages are often suitable for planning small
and simple projects which are broken down into just a few
activities. They are typically not designed to cope with the
complexities of "real world" construction or development projects
and usually fall by the wayside when monitoring and controlling a
project during its execution.

The specialized software has usually been modelled on competent
mini and mainframe packages developed in the 70's and 80's. Like
their predecessors, they can be expensive, rather complex and
somewhat intimidating to new users. Nevertheless, most have the
inherent power and flexibility to plan and manage any sort of
construction or development project. Project Managers and
Supervisors eventually find they can avoid the awkwardness and
expense of centralized computing without having to accept the
limitations of the general packages.

So what should a Project Manager look for in selecting planning
software?  While individual needs will vary somewhat, we can
still identify the essential ingredients of a project planning
system. The software must have a mix of technical capabilities
and user interface features.

The list of technical capabilities of a competent package has
changed little in the last few years. It includes:-

 * The ability to use Precedence Diagramming notation.

 * Provision of at least Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish and
   Finish-to-Start type relationships with time lags and leads.

 * Constraints specifying Earliest, Latest and "Must" start and
   finish dates and overall project Completion date.

 * Milestone dates.

 * Multiple user defined Calendars within one network. (Eight
   would be the minimum.)

 * A Summary activity ("Hammocking") capability that is flexible
   enough to produce summaries by both work type ("trade") and
   area.

 * Resources of several types (Reusable & Consumable) which can
   be allocated in both fixed and time dependent ways.

 * Alphanumeric numbering of activities and resources so they can
   be intelligently assigned.

 * Tolerance of minor Logic Errors so that the basic validity of
   the network is maintained throughout updating.

 * Selecting and Sorting of data so that reports can be prepared
   by "trade" and area.

The user interface on most software has improved significantly
over the last few years. Project management software is no
exception and nowadays we would expect a planning package to
include:-

 * Menus that are clear and unambiguous.

 * Full Screen input and editing of data so that setup and
   updating is as easy as possible.

 * Validation of data during entry. This minimizes frustration
   caused by keyboard error.

 * Flexible Date formats that avoid the confusion resulting from
   enforced use of the American M/D/Y format.

 * Cloning capabilities to minimize the repetitive entry of 
   similar sets of activities. 

Most full featured planning packages allow their technical 
capabilities to interfere with their ease of use. The result can 
be a long learning curve and some frustration on the part of 
users. 

One Australian developed program - PROPLAN produced by PROCON 
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS in Sydney - seems to have successfully 
married powerful technical capabilities with a "user 
friendliness" rarely seen in specialized software. So much so 
that PROPLAN has become a popular teaching aid in over a dozen 
Australasian Universities and Technical Colleges. Engineering, 
Building and Business schools use PROPLAN to introduce senior 
students to Project Management techniques through practical 
examples and exercises. PROPLAN also works in conjunction with 
PROCON's powerful resource based estimating system - PROBID. 
The user is able to simultaneusly price and plan his projects. 

For more information contact:-

   PROCON CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS
   3/5-7 Victoria Parade
   MANLY   NSW 2095
   Tel: +61 2 9977.6863, Email: sales@procon.com.au
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