Glossary - Construction Project Scheduling and Control - page 482

Logical Relationship —The interdependency of activities in a network: one activity
(the Predecessor ) has to finish (or start) before another (the Successor ) can start
(or finish), with or without a Lag . There are four types of logic relationships:
finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, and start-to-finish .
Look-Ahead Schedule —A segment of the overall schedule that includes only
activities that have work planned during a certain period of time, such as during
the next month or the next two weeks. Project managers may use Look-Ahead
Schedules to focus on the immediate future activities.
Loop —See Logic Loop .
Man-Hour Ratio —A method of measuring percent complete of an activity (or a
project) by distributing (linearly or by using other curves) the budgeted
man-hours over the duration of the activity (or project). Percent complete =
Actual man-hours/Total man-hours. This method is similar to Cost Ratio
method except that it uses man-hours instead of money.
Master Schedule —A CPM schedule that includes more than one Subschedule .
Typically, a general contractor requires his subcontractors to submit their
schedules and then incorporates them as Subschedules in the Master Schedule ,
which shows all work items in the project. Relationships in a Master Schedule
may be internal, that is, within the same Subschedule , or external, that is,
between activities from two different Subschedules .
Materials Management —The planning and controlling of all necessary efforts to
ensure that the correct quality and quantity of materials and equipment are
appropriately specified in a timely manner, are obtained at a reasonable cost, and
are available when needed.
Mechanics Lien —A charge or claim upon the property of another individual as
security for a debt that is created in order to obtain priority of payment of the
price or value of work that is performed and materials that are provided in the
erection or repair of a building or other structure ( The Free Dictionary , online).
Mediation —A method of trying to resolve a dispute by the use of an impartial
intermediary to suggest ways to settle the dispute, rather than imposing a
decision upon the parties.
Milestone —An event marking the start or completion of an activity with special
significance. A milestone can be a Start Milestone or a Finish Milestone .
Monte Carlo Simulation —The technique used in project management applications
to estimate the likely range of outcomes from a complex random process by
simulating the process a large number of times.
Most Likely Duration —The duration believed to have more likelihood of
occurring than any other duration.
Negative Float —A situation that occurs when an activity is performed even on its
early dates and fails to meet the project's imposed finish date or other constraint.
Negotiation —When two or more parties with competing interests discuss an issue
with the aim of reaching an agreement. It is the first step toward resolving a
claim.