Project Planning, Scheduling and Cost Estimating Skills Training

Project Schedule Planning and Critical Path Method:

• Precedence Network Diagramming
• Job Logic Relationship Chart
• Critical Path Analysis
• Project Float Analysis
• Lead and Lag Scheduling
• Activity Duration Estimation
• Milestone Charts
• Gantt Chart - Schedule Baseline
• Project Estimating Processes
• Production and Productivity Planning
• Resource and Cost Allocation

 Accelerating the Project Schedule:

• Circumstances Requiring Project Acceleration
• Time-Cost-Scope Trade-off
• Project Time Reduction
• Direct Project Costs
• Indirect Project Costs
• Options for Accelerating the Schedule
• Crashing the Schedule - How?
• Pre-Accelerated Schedule
• Developing a Crash Cost Table
• Acceleration in Practice
• The Optimal Acceleration Point
• Gantt Chart for Accelerated Schedule
• Network Activity Risk Profiles
• Additional Considerations
• Multiple Critical Paths
• Project Cost Reduction

Project Contingency Planning:

• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Path Convergence Analysis
• Solving the Path Convergence Problem
• Network Risk Profile Types
• Normal Distribution
• PERT, Probability and Standard Deviation Formulae
• Calculating the Standard Deviation
• Standard Deviation for Critical Path
• Z-Values: The Probability of Project Completion at a Required Date
• True Critical Path
• Network Activity Risk Profiles
• Application: Estimating Project Duration

Line of Balance Scheduling - The Planning of Recurring Activities:

• Preparing a Line of Balance Schedule
• Velocity Diagrams and Linear Scheduling
• Velocity Diagram Production Rate Calculations
• Linear Sequence of Activities as a Series of Velocity Diagrams
• Balancing the Schedule
• Calculations for a Line of Balance Schedule
• Line of Balance Formulae
• Target Units per Week
• Determining Crew Size
• Actual Rate of Output
• Time to Complete One Activity
• Elapsed Time for Recurring Activity
• The slope of Line from Activity Start to Activity Finish
• Balanced Project Schedule without Buffers (Finish-Start)
• Inserting Buffers
• Comparison of Unbalanced with Balanced Schedules
• Measuring Planned Progress on Schedule
• Velocity Diagram Reflecting Expected Conditions
• Actual Progress and Work Conditions
• Variable Conditions

Project Execution Management, Control, and Reporting:

• Progress Tracking and Monitoring
• Project Cost Management
• Earned Value Control Process
• Schedule Variances
• Cost Variances
• Progress Control Charts - Trend Analysis
• Schedule and Cost Variance Forecasting
• Labour Management and Cost Control
• Materials Management and Cost Control
• Earned Value Analysis
• Earned Value Reporting

Project Recovery Plan Development:

• Project Variance Analysis and Quantification
• Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• Setting Schedule and Cost Control Limits
• Project Recovery Data Assessment
• Schedule and Cost Recovery Analysis
• Schedule and Cost Recovery Plan
• Project Recovery Baselines and Controls

Cost Estimating Basics:

• The estimating life cycle
• Phases of the Design Process
• Programming phase
• Schematic design
• Design development
• Construction documents
• Estimating accuracy by phase
• Conceptual Cost Estimates
• Rough Order of Magnitude Estimates (Broad Scope Estimates)
• Assemblies cost estimates
• Cost indices
• Semi-detailed Estimates (Narrow Scope Estimates)
• Definitive Estimates (Detailed Scope Estimates)
• Basic procedures
• Lump-sum contracts
• Unit-price contracts
• Cost-plus contracts
• Cost-plus contract with the guaranteed maximum price (GMP)
• Time-and-Materials contracts
• Bid method
• Negotiated method
• Quantity take-off
• Types of construction contracts
• Procurement methods
• Pre-construction services
• Risk analysis and contingencies

Developing The Project Budget & Cost Control

• Project management inputs to cost budgeting
• Resource Requirements
• Direct & Indirect Project Costs
• PERT, Probability and Standard Deviation Formulae
• Calculating the Standard Deviation
• Earned Value Control Process
• Schedule Variances
• Earned Value Analysis
• Earned Value Reporting
• Project Variance Analysis and Quantification
• Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• Estimate At Completion (EAC)

Managing Cost Risk

• Risk Analysis & Management
• Risk Identification
• Qualitative Risk Analysis
• Quantitative Risk Analysis
• Risk & Probability Matrix
• Risk Response Strategy
• Contingency Reserve
• Watch List
• Acceptance Strategy
• The S-Curve for Risk & for Cost
• Workshop

Contract Types & Compensation Arrangements

• Procurement Management
• Make or Buy Analysis
• Procurement documents
• Contract types
• Risk distribution in contracting
• Project risk profiles
• Contract types according to risk distribution
• Fixed Price Contracts
  • Firm Fixed Price
  • Fixed Price with Economic Adjustment
• Incentive Contracts
  • Fixed Price Incentive
  • Cost Plus Incentive
• Cost-Plus Contracts
  • Cost Reimbursement
  • Cost Plus Award Fee
  • Cost Plus Fixed Fee
• Time-and-Materials

Cost of Quality

• Quality Planning & Assurance
• Quality Control
• Benchmarking
• Pareto Analysis
• Cause & Effect – Fishbone
• Control Chart
• Quality & Grade