Tools and Techniques Learned - Essay Sample

Introduction

During the course, I have learned many tools and techniques involved in project management. Tools and techniques adopted for project sequencing include Dependency Determination, Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM), and Leads and Lags method (Kerzner, 2017). Critical Path Method (CPM) and Project Management and Review Technique (PERT) are project management techniques to show the flow of events and activities in a sequence. Below is a short discussion of the tools and techniques learned in the course.

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Application of the Concepts in the Workplace

All the project management tools and techniques are applicable to different types of projects undertaken in the workplace. All projects have tasks which are interrelated to each other. Thus, the PDM technique is used to establish the types of logical predecessors among the project tasks. Dependency Determination is applied when arranging the different project tasks and assigning the tasks to specific team members (Kerzner, 2017). The Leads and Lags techniques are relevant for projects with Finish-to-Start and Start-to-Start types of dependencies. For projects with strict guidelines like timeline and scope, the Critical Path Method (CPM) is applied. For projects with no specific timeline for completing, the project management and review technique (PERT) is the most effective tool to adopt.

Most Important Technique

All the project management tools and techniques are relevant, but in the projects done in my workplace, the Critical Path Method (CPM) is the most important technique. The Critical Path Method technique provides an algorithm for the scheduling of all the project activities. The technique also incorporates the use of other techniques like the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) to control, coordinate, organize, schedule, and plan for activities that may be uncertain in the plan (Rajagopalan, 2015). The Critical Path Method is important, for it is easy to adopt its four essential steps.

First is the development of a project break down into all tasks required to complete the project. It is at this step where the work breakdown structure is used to create a hierarchical decomposition of the tasks and its deliverables (Kerzner, 2017). Second is estimation the task duration by establishing how long each activity will last. The time estimates should be based on the least time and the longest time possible to complete the task. The third step is to establish the level of dependency between various tasks. Establishing the level of dependency is important for it enables the understanding of which task needs to be accomplished before the other task commence. Forth is the establishment of milestones to be attained in assigned time durations. Having milestones is important in tracking the project to ensure it is aligned to the baseline schedule.

Project Executed

In February 2020, the world was facing the threat of the deadly Corona Virus, and businesses had to restructure their operations to ensure they continue to offer services to people. In our company, we deal with banking services, and banks had to continue offering financial services to the people despite the threat of the virus. A project manager was tasked to ensure all banking halls and service delivery centers, like ATM lobbies, are restructured in compliance with the WHO coronavirus prevention rules.

The project manager adopted the use of the Critical Path Method technique to create an algorithm for scheduling all the project activities. The project manager, with the entire project team with other stakeholders, including the management, some customers, and health consultants, had a consultative meeting to break down the tasks to complete the project. By the end of the consultative meeting, the project manager had developed a work breakdown structure. The work breakdown structure provides a hierarchical decomposition of the tasks to be done to accomplish the project. The project manager then engaged the project team to estimate the task duration for all activities. The least and most time required to accomplish each task was developed. It was important to establish accurate time estimates to establish the longest path the project would take to accomplish (Kerzner, 2017).

In consultation with the project team members, the task dependency was established, and the order of how tasks would be done was established. It is after the task dependencies were established when project milestones and the baseline schedule were set. The use of the critical path method was important for it involves the use of other techniques like PERT to control, coordinate, organize, schedule, and plan for activities that may be uncertain in the plan. The project was successful implemented in six days as per the project plan.

Conclusion

From the course, I have learned that project management tools and techniques are primarily for helping in the planning, implementation, and controlling of all tasks in the project. The project management tools also enhance efficiency in resource allocation and ensure the scope of the project is well defined (Rajagopalan, 2015). The tools and techniques are applicable in all kinds of projects, be them simple or complex in scope. The tools are also important in tracking the project tasks accomplishment. The use of tools and techniques enables a clear definition of the project's goals and objectives. Tools like the Gantt charts enable easy allocation and scheduling of resources.

References

Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 549-569

Rajagopalan, S. (2015). Measuring delay: Introducing a "pseudo resource" — delay — can clarify your project schedule. PM Network, 29(11), 23–24.