What is a project?

1. A project is a one-time operation composed of several tasks that must be completed during a stated period of time.
2. Programs used to assist in project planning are called project managers.
3. Two important tools used in project management are Gantt and PERT charts.
4. Examples:
   1. Construction -  building a house
   2. Aerospace -  space mission
   3. Political campaign -  running for governor
   4. Advertising agency -  client marketing
   5. Marketing -  sales proposal
   6. MIS department -  report production
   7. Student -  term paper   

Gantt Chart

1. Uses bars and lines to represent a project.
2. Left part of the window lists information about each task to be performed.
3. Right part of window is a bar chart that shows all of the following on a timeline:
   1. Order of tasks
   2. Task durations
   3. Start dates
   4. Finish dates   

PERT Chart

• Also known as Program Evaluation Review Technique.
• Uses boxes and lines to represent a project.
• Shows timing of a project and relationships among its tasks.
• Identifies which tasks must be completed before others can begin.
• Relationships are represented by lines connecting boxes.
• Each box represents a task along with completion time and date.
• The sequence of tasks that takes the longest to complete is called the critical path and is identified on the chart.   

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