Definition
The network diagram technique is a method that is particularly frequently used in project management for scheduling projects or sub-projects. It represents the chronological sequence of individual actions as well as their interdependencies.
Tasks of the Network Diagram
Through network diagrams it is possible to
- Create forecasts for start and end dates as well as milestones.
- Identify activities that are essential for the completion of the project.
- Make bottlenecks visible early on using the critical path and thereby avoid them.
- Actively build time buffers into the scheduling.
- Give the employees involved a better overview.
Structure of a Network Diagram
A task in the network diagram is usually represented as a rectangle. It contains the name of the activity and its task number, as well as information about the duration, the earliest and latest start and end times, and details about possible buffers. The network diagram also contains so-called predecessors and successors.
The critical path shows the tasks whose buffer times are zero. If a delay occurs there, the entire project is delayed.
The network diagram can be created using forward or backward calculation.
With forward calculation, the earliest start time is considered. This has the advantage that the project is completed before the actual completion date, thus providing a certain buffer. With backward calculation, one starts from the last date by which the project must be finished and thus determines the latest start date.
