on between the various departments that participate on the project. As a project progresses, network analysis can provide an up-to-the-minute assessment on the differences between what was planned and what is actually occurring. The availability of such accurate data is very essential in providing project managers with a means of control. The feedback between the actual and planned activities and times that results from this system provides a very good control system. Computers can further aid project managers with quick analysis of the information, especially when dealing with large projects.CPM tends to branch off of network analysis. Once the network is drawn, the estimated times can be entered and a critical path can be determined. CPM's objective is to evaluate the extra costs of reducing the time taken by activities, and then comparing those numbers with the savings from the reduction of the project time. This method displays the project in graphic form and relates the tasks to focus attention on those tasks that are crucial to the project's completion.Craft uses a similar system. The method they use seems to be mix of the various scheduling methods. They use a graph that breaks the project tasks down on a week by week basis (sometimes even half weeks are used). This graph/schedule determines what needs to be accomplished, and when each task needs to be accomplished. Mr. Hollmann could not emphasis enough that companies need to be flexible when dealing with project scheduling. Flexibility is especially important in the construction industry, where any number of things can go wrong in one instant. Weather is a major problem for businesses in the construction industry. Changes must constantly be made due to rain, snow, or some other type of problem. Mr. HoUmann commented that this uncertainty, and trying to stay within the project goals for scheduling is what makes his job truly interesting. Due to problems and changes in the schedu...
