Chapter 9 - Reducing Project Duration

Crash

Term for shortening the duration of an activity or a project beyond when it normally can be done

What to do to accelerate project completion (resources are not constrained)

• Add resources

• Outsource project work

• schedule overtime

• Establish a core project team

• do it twice

What to do to accelerate project completion (resources are constrained)

• Improve project team efficiency

• Fast tracking

• Use critical-chain management

• reduce project scope 

• Compromise quality

Project Indirect Costs 

Costs that cannot be associated with any particular work package or activity (overhead costs, administration, consultants, interest) vary directly with time)

Project Direct Costs

Costs that are assigned directly to a work package and activity (labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors)

Crashing Steps

1. Analyze Network - Determine Critical Path(s)

2. Find the lowest cost activity on the critical path to crash

3. Reduce the lowest cost task by exactly one time unit 

4. Rewrite the duration for all tasks on the next worksheet 

5. Repeat step 1 until you hit the crash point

6. Collect duration, direct costs and indirect costs data 

7. Find low cost/ low time solution