Graphics for Project Planning Grafische Communicatie Wk 7

Graphics for Project Planning Grafische Communicatie, Wk. 7 Informatiekunde Communicatie- en Informatiewetenschappen 1

Graphics for Project Planning • Why project planning? • Complexity • Structure – Tasks, Time, Resources • Graphics – Gantt, Pert • Example: Linguistics Conference 2

Why Project Planning? • Most work can be view as project(s) – teach GC, convert to Euro, advertise service • Project – Goal (implicit success or degree thereof) – Time within which it must occur – Limited Resources – Set of subtasks • some subtasks may in turn have subtasks. 3

Complex Projects • too large for one person – start e-commerce (in established business) – convert to NT, introduce intranet, write prog. • require input from many people – reissue course catalogue • communication then essential – graphical views: times, tasks, resources 4

Project Structure 5

Project Planning • realize goals – on time – respecting task dependencies – within limited resources • planning is essential 6

“Scriptie” Planning, First Pass • Goal: Scriptie, 15 Aug 2002 • Plan – – – Chap. 1 - 15 Apr. Chap. 2 - 15 May Chap. 3 - 15 June Chap. 4 - 15 July Chap. 5 - 15 Aug. 7

“Scriptie” Planning, First Pass Goal: Scriptie, 15 Aug 2002 – too vague, no clear subtasks Plan Chap. 1 - 15 Apr. Chap. 2 - 15 May Chap. 3 - 15 June Chap. 4 - 15 July Chap. 5 - 15 Aug. – reason for duration? – same duration needed? – realistic? 8

“Scriptie Planning” • Goal: Scriptie investigating DB as basis for multipurpose publishing – example: course information – student view (“studiegids”), curriculum (objectives), functioning (w. evaluations) • Tasks – examine literature, report – define experiment, report – conclusions 9

“Scriptie” (in 4 months) 10

“Scriptie” (in 4 months) 11

Task Structure • “natural” hierarchy in task-subtasks 12

Tasks Partially Determine Time • Food before calling family • Water in pot before turning stove on • Boil water before pouring over coffee 13

Pert Charts • Visualize task dependencies – make coffee requires boiling water • Derive temporal dependencies – first boil the water, then pour it over coffee boil pour • May become complex 14

from MS Project (see assignment four) 15

Structure in Pert Charts • Schedules can slip food 15 min 7 am call family 7: 15 am • Projection to time line shows consequences – MS project recalculates schedule! 16

Resource Constraints • Responsibilities for tasks are assigned to individuals • Easy to confuse “has ability to do task” with “can assume responsibility” • Time may not be available 17

Visualizing Availability • bar = 100% • 3 people 7 -7: 01 18

Gantt Charts • tasks shown by bars Task 1 • beginning, end • % fte = line thickness Task 2 begin end – not in MS project 19

Example: Linguistics Conference • 100+ attendees • Kf 20 -40 • 3 -4 organizers – volunteers, session chairs, support • 10 -60 referees • 3 -4 conferences/year 20

Tasks • • sponsors publicity call for papers invited speakers selection of papers publications program • • rooms AV equipment demonstrations exhibitions coffee lunches hotels dinner 21

General • • sponsors publicity call for papers invited speakers selection of papers publications program Local • • rooms AV equipment demonstrations exhibitions coffee lunches hotels dinner 22

New Steps • Temporal, internal priority – check w. sponsors before committing money (inviting speakers) – CFP before selections • Solicit help (program committee) • Propose Schedule 23

MS Project View 24

Management Graphics • Aid in complex planning, communication • Sensitive to task dependencies, time, resources • Check on consistency of planning, fidelity to original plans, schedules 25