Project Planning and Scheduling: Unified Approach

Essential logical details are explained for a procedure that integrates two important network-based project management techniques: (1) resource allocation; and (2) time-cost trade-off analysis. In the research project upon which the paper is based, these techniques were also integrated with basic critical path networking, resource leveling, and cash flow analysis. All were developed in the context of an interactive man-computer system. The procedure retains properties of networks analogous to the critical path and float while operating within resource constraints. A new interval approach to time-cost trade-off analysis also overcomes many theoretical and practical problems of earlier optimization techniques. Human input forms an integral part of the system as a source of management insight, judgment, intuition, qualitative analysis, and practical evaluation. A step-by-step example illustrates the basic concepts.