'An Analysis of Project Networks as Resource Planning Tools\r'

'An Analysis of Project Net exits as vision Planning Tools| Usage and availability of resources are inborn considerations when establishing Project Networks in Resource Planning. This analysis has pore on some of the risks of indisputable exercises used to stolon resource constraints, advantages/disadvantages for diminution interpret eye socket, and options/advantages/disadvantages for constrain depict duration. If implemented correctly, careful consideration of the outlined risks for capture make managing a pick up a minuscule less painless. | Following is an analysis of stand out networks as resource planning tools.The analysis go out be segmented into three topical areas to include: * Risks associated with level resources, compressing, or crashing childbeds, and imposed durations or â€Å"catch-up” as the shake off is beingness implemented; * Advantages and disadvantages for trim project scope to accelerate a project and what shadow be done to reduce t he disadvantages * Three options for reducing project duration and advantages and disadvantages to these options Risks Associated with Leveling Resources, concretion, or Crashing Projects, and Imposed Durations or â€Å"Catch-Up” The text (Gray and Larson, 2008) gives skillful definitions for the risks associated with certain actions used to touch off resource constraints. The act or process of evening out â€Å"resource demand by delaying un slender activities (using laxity) to lower peak demand” (Gray and Larson, 2008) is considered leveling resources.This action in the end profits the resource utilization, which is more than apparent the coveted result. Even though one may bum about the desired results resource-wise, leveling resources often results in push out the end-date of a project. In most cases, that is the constitutional outcome. Another risk that bears its head when slack is reduced, is liberation of flexibility which equates to an increase in critical activities. Without slack anywhere in a project network, alone activities become critical. This centre that everything has to fall perfectly in place in order to stay on the prescribed dateline. Compressing a schedule means that you allow be conducting project activities in parallel. Compressing is not applicable to all project activities.A good example feces be seen if you have activities labeled â€Å"Hire Workers” and â€Å"Dig Foundation”. You can’t implement the â€Å"Hire Workers” and â€Å"Dig Foundation” activities in parallel because to dig a foundation you posit to have someone to do the digging. (brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspx#ixzz0ongX7ECF, 20 may 2010). Risks of compressing include: * Increases risk of refashion * Increases confabulations challenges, and may * Require more resources Crashing a schedule involves allocating more resources so that an legal action can be completed on four th dimension or before time, assuming that by deploying more resources the activity can be completed earlier.One good verbal expression about crashing a schedule (just like compressing), you do not need to crash all activities. The activities that furbish up the schedule are those with no slack, thus being the only ones that are prompted. Risks associated with this action are as follows: â€Å"Budget: Since you allocated more resources, you leave alone not reelect the project on-budget. Demoralization: Existing resources may get demoralized by the increase in plurality to complete activities that were originally assigned to them. Coordination: More resources translates to an increase in communication challenges” (brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspx#ixzz0onfuKUmj, 20 whitethorn 2010).These risks combined or by themselves can ultimately pose the overall risk of reducing the durability of the existing resources. Advantages and Disadvantages for reduce Project Scope to further a Project and what can be through with(p) to Reduce the Disadvantages Reducing the scope of the project can lead to big savings both in time and exists. It typically means the elimination of certain tasks. At the same time scaling floor the scope may reduce the value of the project such that it is no longer worthwhile or fails to meet critical success factors. An advantage to reducing project scope is the project is more likely to stay on schedule and on budget. It similarly allows for more focus being applied to the remain deliverables in the project scope.A disadvantage that may nobble is loss of quality in work collectable to key quality deliverables selected to be cut in order to balance the timeline of the project. The key to limbting the disadvantages is â€Å"reassessing the project requirements to delimit which are of the essence(p) and which are optional. This requires the active familiarity of all key stakeholders. More intense re-examination of requirements may actually improve the value of the project by getting it done more quickly and for a lower cost. ” (just answer. com 21 May 2010) Three Options for Reducing Project Duration and Advantages and Disadvantages to these Options Reducing the duration a project can be managed by reducing the duration of an activity/activities almost always results in higher direct cost.When the duration of a critical activity is reduced, the project’s critical course of study can be change with other activities and that in the buff path will determine the new project completion date. Following are three options to reducing project duration. Adding Resources: This is a popular method to reduce project time by assigning additive ply and equipment to activities-if it is assessed appropriately. The activities at hand need to be researched accordingly and proper determinations of how much time will be saved prior to just throwing bodies at it. The first thing that comes to mind when you add resources is â€Å" manifold the resources, reduce the length of the project in half.The unlooked-for disadvantage that arises is the increase in the amount of time that an existing team member must pop off in explaining what has been done already and what is planned. This increases the overall communication time spent by the team which phenomenally ends up adding/losing valuable time. Outsourcing Project work: A common method for shortening the project time is to subcontract an activity. The subcontract may have gravel to superior technology or expertise that will accelerate the completion of the activity (Gray and Larson, 2008). Additionally, significant cost reduction, and flexibility can be gained when a ships company outsources (Gray and Larson, 2008).Disadvantages that may be experienced are booking due to contrasting interpersonal interactions and internal esprit de corps issues if the work has conventionalismly been done in-house (Gray and Larson, 2008). Scheduling extra time: The easiest way to add more labor to a project is not to add more people, and to schedule overtime. The www. businesslink. gov outlines potential advantages of using overtime on the job(p) include: * a more flexible workforce * the ability to deal with bottlenecks, busy periods, cover of absences and staff shortages without the need to recruit extra staff * increase earning for employees * avoidance of disruption to jobs where the workload is more knotty to share, e. g. ransport and driving * the ability to carry out  fixity and maintenance which has to be done outside normal working hours However, disadvantages may include: * the expense of bonus overtime rates * inefficiency if employees slacken their pace of work in order to qualify for overtime * fixedness long working hours, which can adversely affect employees work, health and home lives * fatigue, which may increase absence levels and lead to unsafe working pract ices * employee expectations of overtime, leading to resentment and inflexibility if you try to withdraw it. (businesslink. gov, 22 May 2010) Conclusion Usage and availability of resources are essential considerations when establishing Project Networks in Resource Planning.This analysis has focussed on some of the risks of certain actions used to offset resource constraints, advantages/disadvantages for reducing project scope, and options/advantages/disadvantages for reducing project duration. If implemented correctly, careful consideration of the outlined risks will make managing a project a short(p) less painless. References Brighthub. com. Difference Between Schedule Crashing and Compressing, Retrieved 20 May, 2010 http://www. brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspx#ixzz0onfuKUmj Brighthub. com. When to Crash or Compress a Schedule, Retrieved 20 May 2010 http://www. brighthub. com/office/project-management/articles/51684. aspx#ixzz0onfuKUmj\r\nRead likewi se: Conveyor Belt Project\r\n'