ABSTRACT
In the critical path method, the activities in a project network are connected to each other in a finish-to-start relationship. This chapter covers the precedence diagramming method, in which three additional relationships – finish-to-finish, start-to-start, and start-to-finish – are also used in the development of a project network. Lags or leads time duration between preceding and subsequent activities are also considered. Lag is a time duration delay at the start of an activity after the end of the preceding activity. Lead is when the subsequent activity starts before the end of the preceding activity. The precedence diagramming method represents practical situations between the various activities in a project in a much better way than activity-on-arrow representation. Thus, the precedence diagramming method is best suited for planning and scheduling complex projects. The chapter also covers the determination of the different times and total floats of various activities, and calendar date scheduling.
