Schedule Compression
Schedule compression is a technique used to shorten or accelerate the project schedule duration without reducing the project scope.
Explanation
Schedule compression techniques are applied when the project schedule needs to be shortened to meet a required deadline or to recover from schedule slippage. The key constraint is that the project scope cannot be reduced. The two primary schedule compression techniques are crashing and fast tracking.
Crashing involves adding resources to critical path activities to reduce their duration. This typically increases project cost because additional resources (overtime, additional staff, expedited materials) must be funded. Crashing is most effective when applied to critical path activities where additional resources can actually reduce the duration, and it is most efficient when the cost increase is minimal relative to the time saved.
Fast tracking involves performing activities in parallel that would normally be done sequentially. This is accomplished by overlapping activities or removing discretionary dependencies. Fast tracking does not necessarily increase cost, but it increases risk because activities are being performed concurrently with incomplete information from predecessors. Both techniques are applied to critical path activities because shortening non-critical path activities will not reduce the project duration.
Key Points
- •Shortens the schedule without reducing scope
- •Two main techniques: crashing and fast tracking
- •Crashing adds resources (increases cost)
- •Fast tracking overlaps activities (increases risk)
Exam Tip
Remember: crashing adds cost, fast tracking adds risk. Both must target the critical path. Compressing non-critical activities does not shorten the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Crashing
Crashing is a schedule compression technique in which additional resources are added to critical path activities to reduce their duration at the least additional cost.
Fast Tracking
Fast tracking is a schedule compression technique in which activities or phases normally done in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their duration.
Critical Path
The critical path is the longest sequence of activities in a project schedule network diagram that determines the shortest possible project duration.
Develop Schedule
Develop Schedule is the process of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and schedule constraints to create the project schedule model for project execution, monitoring, and controlling.
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Schedule Management
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