Construction Management, Accounts & Enterpreneurship Devlopment (General Engineering) (SSC JE)

Critical path method–It is the longest path of scheduled activities that must be met to execute a project. The task on critical path are called critical activities because if they are delayed, the whole project completion will be delayed.

PERT–Project Evaluation and Review Technique is based on probabilistic approach. • In PERT analysis, the time estimates of activities and probability of their occurrence follow -distribution curve.

While scheduling a project by CPM–
• The critical path method (CPM) is a technique where you identify task that are necessary for project completion and determine scheduling flexibilities.
• Project is divided into various activities.
• Required time for each activity is established.
• A sequence of various activities is made according to their importance.
• CPM has become popular for planning projects and prioritizing tasks.
• Scheduling can be done by PERT or CPM method.
PERT (Program Evolution and Review Technique)– PERT is a method used to examine the task in a schedule and determine a critical path method variation. It analyses the time required to complete each task.

Gantt chart–Gantt chart is a project management tool. Gantt chart are mostly used for showing the progress a project. Gantt chart is graphical representation of a project schedule. The project schedule helps to plan, coordinate and keep an eye on specific task.
Gantt chart may be a simple one or a complex for complex Gantt chart automated tools are available. The Gantt chart shows a relationship between different activities over the time. As it is a project planning tool it emphasize on completion time of an activity and for overall project.

Crash cost–Activities are assumed to be performed under normal conditions. The activity duration are estimated based on this assumption. However, situations arise when the activities have to be completed earlier than the actual estimated time which is called crash time.
• Crash cost is the cost is incurred when additional resources are used to perform the activities.
• When the activities are performed under crash time, the cost associated with which is called crash cost.

Fulkerson's rule–Every activity in a network is given a name or symbol. The events are represented by circle at the beginning and at the end of an activity and are assigned numbers.
Numbering of events help in drawing the network correctly. Numbers should be so assigned to the events that they reflect the logical sequence of events in the network. Though numbers to event following the logical sequence of activities can be assigned directly for smaller networks, for larger network the problem of assigning numbers to events can be made easier if the rules devised by D.R. Fulkerson are followed.

Note : The commission has accepted option (b) as correct.

Event–The event is a specific instant of time which makes the start and the end of an activity. The event consumes neither time nor resources. It is represented by a circle and the event number is written the circle. Concrete cured is generally represents an event.

Dummy activity–It is an artificial activity represented by dashed arrows which neither consumes any time nor resources.Activity G is dummy activity. Dummies maintain the logic of network diagram and keeps the numbering system of the network engine.
Rules for providing dummies–
(i) If dummy is the only activity coming out from node and terminating into some node. Then dummy can be removed and the two nodes at the two ends of dummy can be merged into one.
(ii) A dummy activity is represented by a dotted line.
(iii) If two or more activities having same set of successors and succeeding activities are having othe predecessors as well the two activities should terminated into one single node.

Activity–A project can be broken into various jobs in the form of operation and each operation consuming time or resource is called an activity.