What is the importance in a project programme?
It should show the project scope of works, identify activties and show the sequence of works.
Maintainng a programme is key to understanding actual project progress, identifying any risks, planing resource for future activities.
It is used both to monitor and plan progress.
What information does a programme typically contain?
- Activities and their sequencing
- Activity duration including start and finish dates
- Activity dependencies
- Milestones (key dates)
- Float and lag
- Critical path
- Current and predicted progress
- Can also be used to predict cashflow and resource requirements
What is programme float?
The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the subsequent activity or critical path.
What is lag between activities?
When the first activity is completed there is a delay before the second activity starts.
What is the critical path?
The longest sequence of activities that must be completed to successfully complete a project.
Activities on the critical path are known as critical activities.
What are the different types of float?
Total and free
What is total float?
Total Float refers to the amount of time that a task can be delayed without affecting the completion date of the project. It is the difference between the estimated duration of the task and the latest possible start date.
What is free float?
Free float represents the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project’s duration or the start of any dependent activity. It provides flexibility in scheduling non-critical activities, allowing for efficient resource utilization and minimizing project delays.
What is terminal float?
This is the time between a project’s planned completion date and its contractually set completion date. This float is owned by the contractor, often used more in NEC contracts
What is positive and negative float?
Positive float indicates than an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion date, positive float can be built in to a programme as a safety margin for unpredictable delays. Negative float indicates a task is behind schedule and it needs to be accelerated, this is a red flag for any project mangement team.
What other methods are there for tracking project progress apart from a programme?
Earned Value Management (EVM): EVM is a technique that integrates project scope, schedule, and cost to assess project performance and progress. It compares the planned value (budgeted cost for work scheduled), actual cost, and earned value (budgeted cost for work performed) to determine if a project is on track.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): KPIs are quantifiable metrics used to evaluate the success of a project in meeting its objectives. By tracking KPIs related to schedule performance, cost control, quality, safety, and other key areas, project managers can monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.
Milestone Tracking: Projects are often divided into key milestones, significant points in the project timeline that represent important achievements or deliverables. By tracking milestone completion, project teams can gauge progress and identify any delays or issues early on.
Daily Reports: Daily reports provide a detailed account of work completed, challenges faced, resources used, and any other relevant information on a daily basis. These reports help project teams stay informed about progress, issues, and achievements in real time.
Weekly/Monthly Progress Meetings: Regular progress meetings allow project stakeholders to discuss project status, updates, challenges, and upcoming milestones. These meetings facilitate communication, collaboration, and problem-solving to ensure project progress aligns with the overall objectives.
Visual Management Tools: Tools such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and dashboards provide visual representations of project status, tasks, and deadlines. These visual aids help teams quickly assess progress, identify bottlenecks, and prioritize work effectively.
What are milestones?
A task of zero duratoin that shows an important achievement in a project
What are typical milestones on one of your projects?
STFC R131
RIBA Stage 2 Design Completion
RIBA Stage 2 STFC Governance Sign Off
Contractor Appointed
Start on site
Planning Permission Granted
Project Board
Steering Group
STFC Planned Site Shut Downs
What is a jagged drop line?
Progress is shown as a percentage on the programme for each task. The jagged drop line shows activities which are on, behind or ahead of the reporting date.
What is a straight drop line?
After progress is entered, the programme is rescheduled so each task sits on the progress reporting date. This is useful to determine the impact on the critical path.
How would you put together a programme for a new project?
I would use the programme of a similar project as a baseline. On the R131 project I have used the RCC project as a baseline to understand STFC governance processes.
I would then identify all activities that need to be included in the programme.
Once I understand the activities I can link each item to show the interdependencies.
I will use the RIBA Plan of Work which provides me with a basis of how to build up each RIBA Stage.
Validate design stages against the design team programme and ideas.
Issue programme to team to review and comment.
Monitor and review
What is a concurrent delay?
Two or more delays caused by different parties occur independently of each other, but during the same period.
What is the benefit of assigning resources to specific programme activities?
It allows a resource profile to be built which helps to identify resource requirements for the project and/or pinch points.
What is acceleration?
Completing the works in a shorter period or mitigating some form of delay.
Who pays for acceleration?
It depends who has requested the acceleration. If the client asks for the project to be sped up then they will need to pay.
If a contractor is running behind on programme they should be paying for the acceleration works to maintain programme.
Can you give me some options for acceleration?
Re-sequencing of works
Working longer hours
Increasing resources
Adpoting alternative construction methods
Changing the design or specification
Reducing the scope of works
How is a programme developed?
Project Plan dependencies are the relationship between tasks that show order and timings to ensure work is done sequentially and efficiently. When drafting a programme it is important to to use project management software to map out tasks and dependencies.
Finish to Start - Task B can’t begin until Task A has been completed
Start to Start - Task B can’t begin until Task A has begun
Finish to Finish - Task A can’t finish until Task B has finished
Start to Finish - Task A can’t finish until Task B has started
What are the key differences between the RIBA Plan of Works 2020 to 2013?
- Structure of stages changed (names of stages have changed)
- Greater emphasis on sustainability
- New focus on outcomes
- Digital Integration (Allignment with BIM)
- Simplified language and template
- Flexibility & customisation
-
Summary of Experience Q&A (Pre-Qual Only)69
-
Development/ Project Briefs18
-
Leading Projects, people and teams20
-
Managing Projects17
-
Ethics, Rules of Conduct & Professionalism55
-
Client Care19
-
Sustainability26
-
Construction Technology31
-
Health & Safety33
-
RICS General Knowledge14
-
Accounting Principals and Procedures34
-
Business Planning24
-
Data Management21
-
Inclusive Environments12
-
Diversity, Inclusion and Teamworking11
-
Communication and Negotiation21
-
Conflict Avoidance, Management and Dispute Resolution Procedures28
-
Contract Practice (Incomplete)31
-
Programming and Planning28
-
Stakeholder Engagement9
-
Procurement & Tendering44
-
Project Finance (Empty)20
