(Jeff Thompson, Dirk Sylvester, 1994)
Building a parking garage is a very complex and thought consuming process. Like most construction jobs, it requires the careful planning and scheduling of tasks and resources to ensure a smoothly run operation. These tasks are planned and positioned in a step-by-step process in which their progress is monitored by the project manager.
The project manager's first responsibility is to make an original schedule involving any necessary tasks. Because certain tasks are dependent on others, there are some tasks that without their initially scheduled completion, a delay in the entire project would occur. As a result, the project would be run in an inefficient manner creating higher costs and wasted time. To eliminate this problem, the project manager must determine the critical path of all tasks. In doing this, they can tell which tasks have a lag time and which ones must be completed as planned. Once the critical path is determined then the project manager can track the progress of the project. Once this path is determined and a baseline plan has been created, tasks can be added and deleted, and their duration can be shortened and lengthened. Any and all changes are kept current by updating them on a new schedule.
Project management using PERT/CPM is necessary for virtually every task oriented project. For projects that rely on
a set timetable and use many resources, PERT/CPM is an invaluable tool. A few examples lie in the areas of
construction planning, managing of inventory, personnel planning, and transportation scheduling - whether it be bus
routes, train routes, or flight routes.