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Volume X - Issue II - February 2008

Second Edition

Second Editions include selected high quality papers previously published in another journal in a language other than English. Republication is with the permission from the author and journal of original publication.

 

A Brief History of Scheduling:
Back to the Future

By Patrick Weaver

Editor’s note:  This paper was originally presented at the MyPrimavera06 Conference, held during 4-6 April 2006 in Canberra, Australia.  It is being republished here with permission of the author.  Additional information received since original publication was consolidated into the text on 23 December 2007.

Introduction

The science of ‘scheduling’ as defined by Critical Path Analysis (CPA) celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007.  In 1956/57 Kelly and Walker started developing the algorithms that became the ‘Activity-on-Arrow’ or ADM scheduling methodology for DuPont. The program they developed was trialled on plant shutdowns in 1957 and their first paper on critical path scheduling was published in March 1959.  The PERT system was developed at around the same time but lagged CPM by 6 to 12 months (although the term ‘critical path’ was invented by the PERT team). Later the Precedence (PDM) methodology was developed by Dr. John Fondahl in 1961 as a ‘non-computer’ alternative to CPM.  Arguably, the evolution of modern project management is a direct consequence of the need to make effective use of the data generated by the schedulers in an attempt to manage and control the critical path.

The evolution of scheduling closely tracked the development of computers.  The initial systems were complex mainframe behemoths, typically taking a new scheduler many months to learn to use.  These systems migrated to the ‘mini computers’ of the 1970s and 80s but remained expensive, encouraging the widespread use of manual scheduling techniques, with only the larger (or more sophisticated) organisations being able to afford a central scheduling office and the supporting computer systems.

See ‘The Origins of Modern Project Management’ – P. Weaver: www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Resources_Papers_050.html

Read the complete paper English

 

About the Authors:


Patrick Weaver
Author

Patrick Weaver, PMP, FAICD, FCIOB, is the Managing Director of Mosaic Project Services Pty Ltd, an Australian project management consultancy specialising in project control systems and a PMI Registered Education Provider.  Patrick is also the business manager of Stakeholder Management Pty Ltd. He is a Fellow and Regional President of the Chartered Institute of Building, Australasia (FCIOB) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). He is a member of the PMI College of Scheduling, College of Performance Management and the PMI Melbourne Chapter (Australia), as well a full member of AIPM and the APM (UK).  Patrick has over 35 years experience in Project Management.  His career was initially focused on the planning and managing of construction, engineering and infrastructure projects in the UK and Australia. The last 25 years has seen his businesses and experience expand to include the successful delivery of project scheduling services and PMOs in a range of government, ICT and business environments; with a strong focus on project management training.  His consultancy work encompasses: developing and advising on project schedules, developing and presenting PM training courses, managing the development of internal project control systems for client organisations, and assisting with dispute resolution and claims management.  He is a qualified Arbitrator and Mediator.  In the last few years, Patrick has sought to ‘give back’ to the industry he has participated in since leaving college and has sought to contribute to the development of the project management profession.  In addition to his committee roles he has presented papers at a wide range of project management conferences in the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia, has been part of the organising committee for two PMI Congresses in the Asia-Pacific region, and has an on-going role with the PMOZ conference in Australia and World Project Management Week.  Patrick can be contacted at patw@mosaicprojects.com.au or at www.mosaicprojects.com.au.

 

 

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