Introduction - Construction Project Scheduling and Control - page 12

however, cannot alone guarantee good results. It just provides a minimum level of
confidence in the qualifications of the person (usually the job applicant).
Unfortunately, the author knew people who carried the title “scheduler” but
lacked the fundamental requirements for the position. In one incident, the author met
a “scheduler” from a construction company who had no education or experience that
was relevant to his job. He was chosen for that position because of his computer skills!
The Tripod of a Good Scheduling System
1. The human factor : A proficient scheduler or scheduling team that understands
the concepts, definitions, and applications of project scheduling and control
2. Technology : A good scheduling computer system (software and hardware),
along with capable IT support
3. Management : A dynamic, responsive, and supportive management team that
believes in the use of scheduling as part of the management effort
If anyone of these three “legs” of the tripod is missing, the system will fail.
SCHEDULING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Planning, scheduling, and project control are extremely important components of
project management. However, project management includes other components, such
as cost estimating and management, procurement, project/contract administration,
quality management, safety management, HSE (health, safety, and the environment)
management, among others. These components are all interrelated in different ways.
The group of people representing all these disciplines is called the project manage-
ment team . It is usually headed by the project manager (PM) . In Chapter 10, we dis-
cuss the relationships between scheduling and other project management components.
CHAPTER 1 EXERCISES
1. Define project planning and scheduling . Differentiate between the two terms.
2. Define project . What makes planning and scheduling construction projects dif-
ferent from general planning? ( Hint : Think of the key words in the definition of
project .)
3. Are the following projects? If no, make modifications that would qualify them as
projects:
a. Repair of a broken diesel generator
b. Raising my two kids to be the best
c. Cooking daily for my family
d. Preparing for my son's wedding
e. Investing in the stock market