What is PERT in Project Management? Steps you Should Know to Track your Construction Project.

There are several techniques and planning tools that are a part of project management. One of them is PERT. Before applying these techniques, you must know the basic requirements of the project that are needed to be fulfilled.

In today’s article, we’re going to talk specifically about What is PERT in Project Management.

An insight to What is PERT in Project Management?

PERT stands for Program Evaluation and Review Technique and is one of the planning tools used in project management. To carry out a project, especially a complex one, you need to know and estimate all of its details. Details include scheduling, organizing, and coordinating tasks within a given project.

PERT is all about calculating the estimates, especially time estimates. PERT technique is often used by project managers to estimate how much time a specific task within a project will take. PERT gives its results based on time estimates.

There are three time estimates. They’re optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic. An optimistic estimate identifies the quickest time in which a certain task can be completed. Most likely helps to identify the time between maximum and minimum. Pessimistic is all about estimating the maximum time that each task will take before it can be complete.

Let’s move further with our question What is PERT in Project Management.

How does PERT work?

PERT planning tool is widely used by project managers so that they can have an idea about how much duration, and the cost they need to plan for a certain type of project. It is a network of numbered boxes and arrows. Numbered boxes are also referred to as nodes and represent project events within a project. These boxes can either be rectangular or circular.

These nodes are connected by labeled lines that represent different kinds of tasks within a specific type of project. Arrows indicate task sequence, and numbers represent the time allotted. The sequence of the tasks must be in order and it is necessary to be followed by all the team members for the PERT technique to be effective.

Concurrent arrows represent tasks that are dependent on each other and without completing these you can’t proceed further. Diverging sets of arrows represent independent tasks that aren’t linked to any of the tasks. Tasks comprising diverging arrows mean that they can be completed simultaneously.

However, it is not the case with dependent tasks. By making a PERT chart a project manager and their team members can effectively calculate the risks and time estimates of the whole project. Moreover, PERT represents the data and timeline through graphical illustration which makes it easy for the members and the project manager to comprehend it.

After knowing What is PERT in Project Management. We should know its benefits.

Benefits of using PERT:

There are many benefits of using the PERT technique. Some of the most effective ones are listed below.

• Helpful in knowing the time estimates

By using the PERT technique, a project manager can know about the completion time of a specific project. PERT technique uses three, time estimates. These are optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic. By knowing these estimates a project manager can identify how much time to spend on a certain task.

• Dependency is the key

PERT technique’s another advantage is that it helps the project manager to know which tasks are dependent on each other. It also enables the project manager and the team to give a clear idea of where to begin.

It helps the project manager to know which task must be completed first so the project can be further escalated. Knowing the dependency of the tasks helps to maintain the order of the project.

• Helpful in analyzing different paths

By using the PERT technique, a project manager can visually analyze all the possible paths that can save time. It helps the project manager to complete the project in the most effective way.

Moreover, it enables the project manager to know the obstacles, and risks that might occur when a certain path is chosen. It also enables the project manager to know the longest route that a project will take to be complete. This path is also known as the critical path.

• Improves strategy

By using the PERT technique, a project manager can identify what strategies to apply in a project and what to avoid. Team members gain significant knowledge by using the PERT technique. It helps to build communication between the project manager and the team members.

Team members visualize complex problems and make different strategies through the PERT planning tool and share with their project manager. As a result, strategies to overcome complex problems are significantly improved.

• Helps to identify the resources needed

By using the PERT technique, a project manager can identify how many resources are needed for a specific type of project. PERT technique shows all of the events, and tasks within a project through graphical illustration.

So, with the help of this, a project manager can know and gather all the resources that a single task might need. It gives an idea to the project manager about the maximum number of resources needed. This will help the project manager to complete a single task, cost-effectively, and without any obstacle.

How to create PERT in project management?

Creating PERT in project management contains different phases and stages. All of them are listed below.

Be aware of the tasks, and activities

To create a successful, and effective PERT chart you should be aware of the tasks, events, and different types of activities that are required in your project. You should know all general, and specific details about your project for you to create a PERT chart.

Define and mention both, dependent, and independent tasks that are involved in your project. Mention the details that these tasks contain. By mentioning these details you’ll be able to know which tasks are the most important.

Moreover, you should have an idea about which tasks are connected and which aren’t. To make a PERT chart, you must have a full understanding of the processes that your project will undergo. Also, make sure to mention the final goal, and milestone of your project. This will give you a clear idea of what you’ve to accomplish by the end of your project.

Sequence is the key

To create a PERT chart in project management, make sure you know the correct sequence of your tasks and events. Mention the sequence correctly while creating a PERT chart in project management.

You will not be able to make a PERT chart if you aren’t able to identify the correct sequence of your tasks. This will harm your project and you’ll not be able to identify the starting point of your project.

Create different nodes, and arrows

To create a PERT chart in project management, make sure that you draw different nodes and arrows. Make sure that you put all the events in the drawn nodes. Link these different nodes by the labeled lines. Labeled lines represent project tasks.

Be sure to draw arrows, both, concurrent, and diverging. To create a PERT chart in project management, make sure that you know which task is to be completed in which sequence.

Time is of the essence

To create a PERT chart in project management, make sure that you know the proper time estimates. Be sure that you know how to calculate the three time estimates. The three time estimates are optimistic (the minimum amount of time required to complete a specific task Pessimistic (the maximum amount of time required to complete a specific task), and most likely.

Once you’re able to calculate how much time a certain task will take, and in what category of the time estimates your task falls, proceed further in making your PERT chart. Don’t proceed ahead without calculating the time estimates, as this is the main objective of the PERT technique.

Critical path

To create a PERT chart successfully in project management, make sure that you know how to calculate the critical path of your project. Calculating the critical path requires the above-mentioned steps to be completed successfully. Without completing these steps you’ll not be able to calculate the critical path of your project.

After completing the above steps you’ll be able to get a clear idea of how to complete your project in the allotted time. With the help of this, you can easily determine the critical path which is also the longest path that is required by your project to be complete.

To create a PERT chart in project management, make sure that you also know the problems, risks, and uncertainties that your chosen path might have. Also, make sure that you highlight your paths especially the one you’re considering choosing. This will save both time, and effort later on.

Conclusion:

PERT is one of the planning tools that is used by project managers worldwide. PERT helps project managers to get a clear idea of how to manage and plan their project, concerning resources, and time.

Moreover, by using the PERT technique, project managers can identify the amount of time a task can be left overdue in case of some problem or emergency. PERT technique helps project managers to identify the risks, and threats they can face in their project.

The most important benefit of using the PERT technique is that project managers can identify the tasks which are related to each other and at what time they can be finished most effectively. We hope you understand What is PERT in Project Management in detailed way.