Programming & Planning (L3)

Question 1

What is a programme?

Answer 1

A tool used to manage and track a project

Question 2

What are the key components of a programme?

Answer 2

Activities

Durations

Dependencies

Question 3

What different techniques could you use to produce a programme?

Answer 3

GANTT Charts - A visual project management tool that displays the total timeline of a project

PERT - Programme Evaluation and Review Technique

Question 4

What is the difference between PERT and GANTT charts?

Answer 4

Representation – A GANTT chart represents tasks on a timeline, while a PERT chart focuses on task sequences and dependencies

Focus – PERT charts are more focused on the relationships between tasks and the project’s critical path, while GANTT charters are more focused on the schedule and timing of tasks

Complexity – PERT charts are more complex, especially for large projects with many dependencies.

Question 5

What is the Critical Path?

Answer 5

• Determines the shortest possible route to complete a project.
• It is the longest sequence of dependent tasks that must be completed for the entire project to be finished on time.
• Any delay to the critical path will delay the Practical Completion date

Question 6

What is a Critical Path Analysis

Answer 6

• A process used in project management to analyse and identify the critical path

Question 7

What is the process of a Critical Path Analysis?

Answer 7

1. List out all project activities
2. Determine the dependencies between each task
3. Estimate the duration of each task
4. Draw a network diagram with nodes and arcs
5. Identify the Longest path (Critical Path)

Question 8

What is “Float”?

Answer 8

• The amount of time an activity can be delayed for without impacting upon another activity (free float) or project completion (total float)

Question 9

Who owns the Float in a project?

Answer 9

• It depends on the contract being used. NEC the contractor owns it.

Question 10

What is a forward pass?

Answer 10

• Forward pass calculates the earliest possible start and finish times for each task in the project
• Process:
  o Start with the first task of a project, and calculate the earliest finish based on the quickest programme assumption
• Result: The forward pass gives you the Earliest Start and Earliest Finish times for each task, as well as the minimum project duration

Question 11

What is a backward pass?

Answer 11

• The backward pass calculates the latest possible start and finish times for each task without delaying the project
• Process:
  o Start with the last task in the project. The latest finish time for these tasks is typically set to the projects minimum duration
  o Move backward through the project network diagram
  o For each task, calculate the Latest Start time = the latest finish for the task – the duration it should take
  o Continue this process until you reach the first task in the project
• Result: The backward pass gives you the latest start and latest finish times for each task

Question 12

How do you make a programme?

Answer 12

1) Consult the project brief – what is the end goal, and timeline for achieving it?
2) Identify what the key milestones are – i.e. when is Practical Completion required to be? When is planning permission required?
3) Identify each of the project tasks, duration and sequencing required
4) Get buy in from the rest of the team – i.e. does your planning consultant agree that your proposed duration for planning approval work?
5) Input these into a programme of your choosing – e.g. PERT or GANTT Chart

Question 13

How do you analyse performance against a programme?

Answer 13

Droplines
* A line draw on the programme with a specific date. Activities behind schedule will cause the line to zag left.
* A simple way to identify what the project status is
* However, it dosen’t identify the cause of the delay

Baselines
* Measures performance vs the planned programme
* For example, the baseline could be at the point at which you are four weeks away from completion – if this isn’t the case then you’re behind programme.

Question 14

What is earned value analysis?

Answer 14

What is earned value analysis?

Question 15

What is acceleration?

Answer 15

• A situation whereby the works are sped up by a contractor in order to complete before the contract completion date

Question 16

How do you achieve acceleration?

Answer 16

• More resource
• Overtime
• Re-sequencing activities
• Changes in design / scope
• Innovative construction methods

Question 17

What are the issues with acceleration?

Answer 17

• Increased costs – overtime pay, additional workers, more expensive construction methods
• Quality compromise – potential to rush works which can lead to poor workmanship
• Safety Risk – Worker fatigue

Question 18

What are the different contractual positions on programmes?

Answer 18

• NEC – Programme is a contractual document which needs to be regularly updated, submitted and approved by the PM
  o Includes activities, durations, float, key dates, completion
• JCT – Master programme must be submitted at the earliest convenience by the contractor
  o Not a contractual document – no specific requirement for regular updates

Question 19

What are the benefits of a GANTT chart over a PERT?

Answer 19

1) Clarity - GANTT charts are visually simpler

2) Time focus - GANTT charts focus on when activities happen and for how long

3) Overlapping activities - GANTT charts show which activites overlap and run at the same time.

4) Shows the critical path

Question 20

What is the purpose of a programme?

Answer 20

1) Model the delivery of a project

2) Communicate the plan to the team and client

3) Monitor progress and performance

Question 21

What are the different types of float?

Answer 21

1) Free Float - The time a task can be delayed before impacting the next dependent activity

2) Total Float - The amount of a time a task can be delayed without affecting the end date of the project

3) Terminal Float - The difference in time between a contractors planned completion date, and the contract end date.

Question 22

What is a project milestone? Examples?

Answer 22

Project milestones are significant events which impact the delivery of a project.

These are events which may require client sign off, and indicate forward progress.

Examples include: End of stage sign offs, planning submission etc.

Question 23

What software can be used to create a programme?

Answer 23

1) Asta Powerproject
2) Microsoft Projects
3) Excel

Question 24

What is concurrent delay?

Answer 24

Concurrent Delay refers to a situation where there are two or more independent delays to the project at the same time.

Both events would have caused a delay to completion independent of the other.

Importantly, the delays are unrelated, and one of which can constitute a relevant event, whereas the other could not.

Typically, in the event there are two causes of delay (and one of which is the employer’s risk), the contractor would get an EOT, but not money.

Question 25

How would you address a project which is behind programme?

Answer 25

I would undertake a systematic review of the current programme to devise next steps, including: 1) Identify and analyse the delay, the cause and contractual implications 2) Notify the client, and understand the contractual requirements - e.g. has a notice of delay been issued 3) Mitigation and Recovery - seek to mitigate the delay by assessing acceleration techniques 4) Assess implications - e.g EOT, LAD impact

Question 26

Talk me through the process of creating a programme on 1FA?

Answer 26

1) Reviewed project brief with the client to understand purpose and scope of the works 2) Identified project tasks 3) Identified interdependicies 4) Identified timescales 5) Identified the critical path 6) Populated a GANTT chart 7) Sought review from the design team

Question 27

How did you track construction progress on 1TS?

Answer 27

1) Regularly reviewed the main contractors construction programme 2) Undertook regular site inspections / walk arounds. Assessed any divergence from the main contract programme 3) Reviewed the contractor casfhlow using earned value assessment

Question 28

How did you produce the Party Wall programme?

Question 29

What is the Party Wall Act?

Answer 29

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a piece of legislation in England and Wales that provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes relating to party walls, boundary walls, and excavations near neighbouring buildings.

Question 30

Talk me through the acceleration process on 1TS?

Question 31

Talk me through the programme option analysis on 1FA?

Question 32

What is a GANTT Chart?

Answer 32

A visual project management tool used to demonstrate a project schedule. The GANTT charts includes tasks and activities vertically, and time on the horizontal axis.

Question 33

What is a PERT?

Answer 33

Programme Evaluation and Review Technique. A project management tool used to plan, schedule and control complex tasks. It focuses primarily on the relationships between activities. Unlike a GANTT chart, which is time based, a PERT is shown on a flowchart diagram of nodes and arrows. A PERT uses the most optimistic, pessimistic and realistic durations for each programme activity to establish task durations.

Question 34

What are the different levels of programme?

Answer 34

1) High Level / Strategic Programmes - Overview of the whole project throughout the RIBA Stages 2) Detailed Programme - Breaks down specific stages of the project into a specific programme (i.e. a planning programme, STAGE 2 programme) 3) Construction Programme - Focuses on the construction programme and sequencing of activities.

Question 35

What is a baseline, what is a dropline, and how do they differ?

Answer 35

A baseline shows a holistic comparison between the planned (contractual programme) and the actual on site progress. A dropline is a visual representation at a given point in time. A vertical line is drawn down from the date - any activities to the left should be complete, activities to the right are future works.