Week 5
Kristina Basa - Lecturer
Lesson Progress
By the end of this lesson, you will master the essential skills for effective project scheduling and time management in IT projects.
Visual representation of project schedules showing tasks, durations, and dependencies
Techniques for accurately predicting how long activities will take
Comprehensive schedules that guide project execution and stakeholder communication
Let's explore how PMBOK Guide scheduling principles apply to a typical IT project:
This example demonstrates the PMBOK Guide's Schedule Management processes: Plan Schedule Management, Define Activities, Sequence Activities, Estimate Activity Durations, Develop Schedule, and Control Schedule.
Research shows the critical importance of effective project scheduling in IT:
IT projects with detailed schedules meet deadlines
Reduction in project delays with visual scheduling
Improvement in team coordination
A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that illustrates a project schedule, showing the start and finish dates of project activities, their dependencies, and progress over time. According to the PMBOK Guide (7th Edition), Gantt charts are essential tools in the "Develop Schedule" process, providing visual representation of the project schedule model.
The PMBOK Guide defines six key processes for Project Schedule Management:
Create your own Gantt chart for a mobile app development project:
Duration estimation is one of the most challenging aspects of IT project management, yet it's critical for project success. Software development has unique complexities that make estimation particularly difficult.
The PMBOK Guide recommends three-point estimating to improve accuracy by considering uncertainty and risk. Uses optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates to calculate expected duration.
PMBOK Guide defines analogous estimating as using historical data from similar projects to estimate current project durations. Most reliable when previous projects are similar in fact, not just appearance.
PMBOK Guide describes parametric estimating as using statistical relationships between historical data and other variables to calculate estimates. Requires accurate historical data and scalable parameters.
Relative estimation technique using Fibonacci sequence for user stories.
Practice different estimation techniques with this interactive calculator:
Test your estimation skills with this realistic IT scenario:
A project timeline is more than just a list of dates - it's a strategic tool that guides development, coordinates teams, and manages stakeholder expectations in IT projects.
The PMBOK Guide defines the Critical Path Method (CPM) as a technique used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of scheduling flexibility. It identifies the longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the minimum project duration.
Create a comprehensive project timeline for an IT system development:
Executive and stakeholder communication
Development team coordination
Key deliverables and checkpoints
1. Which estimation technique is most suitable for agile IT projects?
2. In IT projects, what typically represents the critical path?
Scenario: You're managing the development of a new online learning platform. Create a detailed project schedule.
You've mastered project scheduling and time management for IT projects! You can now create realistic schedules, estimate durations accurately, and manage project timelines effectively.
Visual scheduling and dependency management for IT projects
Accurate estimates using proven techniques
Critical path analysis and schedule optimization
Ready to move on to resource management and risk assessment?
Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) (7th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Relevant Sections: Chapter 6 - Project Schedule Management, including processes for planning schedule management, defining activities, sequencing activities, estimating activity durations, developing schedules, and controlling schedules.
Kerzner, H. (2022). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (13th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Comprehensive coverage of project scheduling methodologies and time management techniques in various industries including IT.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Detailed exploration of project scheduling tools, techniques, and best practices with real-world case studies.
Schwalbe, K. (2019). Information Technology Project Management (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Specialized focus on IT project management including agile scheduling, software development lifecycles, and technology-specific estimation techniques.
Cohn, M. (2020). Agile Estimating and Planning (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.
Comprehensive guide to agile estimation techniques including story points, planning poker, and velocity-based planning for IT projects.
IEEE Standard 1058-1998: IEEE Standard for Software Project Management Plans
Provides guidelines for software project scheduling and time management in IT environments.
ISO 21500:2012: Guidance on Project Management
International standard providing guidance on project management concepts and processes, including time management.
Agile Alliance: Agile Project Management Guidelines
Best practices for agile project scheduling and iterative planning methodologies.
Jørgensen, M., & Shepperd, M. (2007). A systematic review of software development cost estimation studies. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 33(1), 33-53.
Comprehensive analysis of software estimation accuracy and methodologies in IT projects.
Standish Group. (2020). CHAOS Report 2020: Beyond Infinity. The Standish Group International.
Annual report on IT project success rates and the impact of effective scheduling on project outcomes.
Boehm, B., et al. (2000). Software development cost estimation approaches: A survey. Annals of Software Engineering, 10(1-4), 177-205.
Foundational research on software estimation methodologies and their effectiveness in different project contexts.