new to scheduling?

The best way to use the CPM tutor is to start at the begining and take your time working through the table of contents from front to back.

Use the CPM tutor for free on the web, or purchase an expanded version here!.

need specific help?

Please use this table of contents to find the section in which you are most interested and just jump there. If you're not clear about any of the information you find, then you should backup and try starting from an earlier section. The glossary may also assist you.

table of contents

 

1. why have a plan?

  1. purposes of scheduling
  2. project control cycle
  3. why have formalized techniques
  4. techniques used today
  5. steps to effective project management
 

2. history of project planning tools

  1. planning in ancient egypt
  2. modern planning methods
  3. bar charts
  4. fenced bar charts
  5. arrow diagramming
  6. precedence diagramming
  7. line of balance
  8. earned value management
 

3. schedule definition and layout

  1. construction method
  2. work area
  3. phasing
  4. work breakdown structure
  5. activity
  6. resource
  7. duration
  8. cost
 

4. overview of the critical path method

  1. schedule definition and layout
  2. forward pass
  3. backward pass
  4. total float calculation
  5. analysis
 

5. arrow diagramming

  1. arrow diagram notation
  2. logic dummies
  3. numbering dummies
  4. forward pass calculation
    1. forward pass notation
    2. early event times
    3. multiple priors
    4. dummies
  5. backward pass calculation
    1. backward pass notation
    2. late event times
    3. multiple followers
  6. total float calculation
    1. total float notation
    2. total float calculation
  7. how-to checklist
 

6. precedence diagramming

  1. precedence diagram notation
  2. forward pass calculation
    1. forward pass notation
    2. early start and finish times
    3. multiple priors
  3. backward pass calculation
    1. backward pass notation
    2. late start and finish times
    3. multiple followers
  4. total float notation &calculation
  5. start-to-start logic
  6. finish-to-finish logic
  7. how-to checklist
 

7. sequence and duration exercises

  1. exercise 1 - logic exercise
  2. exercise 2 - logic exercise
  3. exercise 3 - roadwork
  4. exercise 4 - build the door
  5. exercise 5 - build warehouse
 

8. schedule management techniques

  1. material, labor, and equipment
  2. limited resource allocation
  3. unlimited resource leveling
  4. cost vs value loading
  5. cost time tradeoff
  6. cash flow analysis
  7. cash flow example
  8. earned value management
 

Chapter 9. schedule management exercises

  1. exercise 1 - resource allocation
  2. exercise 2 - resource leveling
  3. exercise 3 - time cost tradeoff
 

Chapter 10. effective schedule setup

  1. useful models
  2. work area
  3. crew chase
  4. milestones
  5. non-work activities
  6. cost-loaded schedules
  7. using calendars
  8. rules of thumb
 

Chapter 11. effective schedule use

  1. out-of-sequence progress
  2. delay analysis
  3. claims analysis

 

The following additional chapters are planned.

 

10. effective schedule setup

  1. concurrent activity logic
 

11. effective schedule use

  1. falicy of reporting percent complete
  2. effective progress updating
  3. as-built schedule
  4. getting paid on time