Project Management For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 5

You Want This Project Done When?

In This Chapter

Creating a network diagram for your project

Using your network diagram to determine schedule possibilities

Approximating activity durations and forming your project’s initial schedule

Presenting your project’s schedule

Project assignments always have deadlines. So even though you’re not sure what your new project is supposed to accomplish, you want to know when it has to be finished. Unfortunately, when you find out the desired end date, your immediate reaction is often one of panic: “But I don’t have enough time!”

The truth is, when you first receive your project assignment, you usually have no idea how long it’ll take to complete. Initial reactions tend to be based more on fear and anxiety than on facts, especially when you’re trying to juggle multiple responsibilities and the project sounds complex.

To help you develop a more realistic estimate of how long your project will take, you need an organized approach that clarifies how you plan to perform your project’s activities, what schedules are possible, and how you’ll ...