CS 501: Software Engineering Fall 2000AdministrationOS 360The Aim of Project ManagementThe Project ManagerProject Planning MethodsExample: An Open University CourseFlexibilityScheduling: Critical Path MethodCritical Path MethodSlide 11Slide 12Time Estimates for Activities (Weeks)Earliest Start DatesLatest Start DatesCritical PathSlackKey PersonnelKey Personnel: Schedule for EditorStart-up TimeExperience with Critical Path MethodReadingCS 501: Software EngineeringFall 2000Lecture 4Management I: Project ManagementAdministration• Assignment 1 has been posted to the web site. Note that submission is by email to the senior Teaching Assistant. • Remember to copy email about the course to the Teaching Assistants.• Readings about Requirements Analysis and Definition have been posted to the web site.OS 360The operating system for the IBM 360 was two years late.Question: How does a project get two years behind schedule?Answer: One day at a time!Fred Brooks Jr.,The Mythical Man MonthThe Aim of Project ManagementTo complete a project:• On time• On budget• With required functionality• To the satisfaction of the client• Without exhausting the teamThe Project Manager• Create and maintain the schedule• Should track progress against schedule• Keep some slack in the schedule• Be continually making adjustments:Start activities before previous activity completeSub-contract activitiesRenegotiate deliverables• Keep senior management informedProject Planning MethodsThe Critical Path Method, Gantt charts, Activity bar charts, etc. are roughly equivalent.These methods are best when:• Model is updated regularly (e.g., monthly)• The structure of the project is well understood• The time estimates are reliable• Activities do not share resources[Critical Path Method is excellent for large construction projects.]Example: An Open University CourseDeliverables:16 Written texts (bound in pairs)8 Television programs8 Radio programs4 Computer programs1 Home experimental kit (scientific calculator)4 Assignments and sample solutionsFlexibilitySchedule: Dates for broadcasting TV and radio programs are fixed. Printing and mailings can be accelerated if overtime is used.Functionality: The course team can decide what goes into the components of the course.Resources: The size of the course team can be increased slightly.Scheduling: Critical Path MethodAn activityA dummy activityAn eventA milestoneCritical Path MethodEdit Unit 3PrintUnit 3Revise Unit 3MailUnit 3otheractivitiesSTARTENDCritical Path MethodEdit Unit 3TypesetUnit 3Revise Unit 3MailUnits 3/4otheractivitiesEdit Unit 4PrintUnits 3/4Revise Unit 4otheractivitiesTypesetUnit 4STARTCritical Path MethodSTARTEdit Unit 3ScriptTV 2MakeTV 2Edit Unit 4Prototype Computer 1ProgramComputer 1DocumentComputer 1MailDeliveryTime Estimates for Activities (Weeks)642233133821 14121214Earliest Start Dates642233133821 1412121401121241517171719222623 25Latest Start Dates6 42233133821 14121210111214131517171720232624 254Critical Path0/01/1112/1212/144/1315/15 17/1717/1717/1719/2022/2326/2623/2425/25Slack0/01/1117/1723/24105012/1212/144/1315/15 17/1717/17 19/2022/2326/2625/25100000 00229911311Key PersonnelIn computing, not all people are equal:• The best are at least 5 times more productive• Some tasks are too difficult for everybodyAdding more people adds communications complexity• Some activities need a single mind• Sometimes, the elapsed time for an activity can not be shortened.What happens to the project if a key person is sick or quits?Key Personnel: Schedule for EditorEarliest Start Date Activity Weeks 15-16 Edit Unit 3Weeks 17-18 Edit Unit 4Weeks 19-20 Edit Unit 5Weeks 21-22 Edit Unit 6Week 15 Review draft of Unit 7Week 17 Review draft of Unit 8Week 19 Check proofs of Unit 3Week 21 Check proofs of Unit 4Weeks 18-19 VacationWeek 22 Out sickStart-up TimeOn a big project, the start-up time is typically three to six months:• Personnel have to complete previous projects (fatigue) or recruited.• Hardware and software has to be acquired and installed.• Staff have to learn new domain areas and software (slow while learning)• Clients may not be ready.Experience with Critical Path MethodAdministrative computing department at Dartmouth used the Critical Path Method for implementation phase of major projects.Experience: Elapsed time to complete projects was consistently 25% to 40% longer than predicted by model.Analysis: • Some tasks not anticipated (incomplete understanding)• Some tasks had to be redone (change of requirements, technical changes)• Key personnel on many activities (schedule conflicts)• System ZZZ (non-billable hours)ReadingBefore next class, read the readings on Requirements that have been posted on the web
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