From: zaheer@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Imrana Zaheer)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: Adil NAjam's article on Poond, etc.
Date: 7 Apr 92 17:11:59 GMT
Reply-To: zaheer@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Imrana Zaheer)
Distribution: usa
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Originator: zaheer@daisy.cc.utexas.edu

Thanx very much  Mr. Adil for your e-mail.
It was really a terrific article/posting
and I could judge from the length of the posting that it must have been 
very time consuming. I understand that I have my limited knowledge in
the field of management and hence had to do a lot of study overr the
last few days to understand your concept of parallel activities. It
would not be fair if I don't accept the fact that I sought the help of
my elder sister to help in finding out the appropriate books on the
subject. However this posting is strictly my own and has nothing to do
with my sister.

In the field of management each job or work is defined as an ACTIVITY.
You can correct me if I am wrong at any place in the posting. Each
ACTIVITY has a particular characteristics which distinguishes it
from the rest of the ACTIVITIES. The activities are connected together
differently in diffeerent modes of operation. The complete network of
ACTIVITIES is defined as SHCEDULE. In the field of management there are
three tecniques to define a schedule and 
:
1. Criticial Path method.
2. Project evaluation and review technique.
3. Precedence diagram method.

Each method or technique has certain advantages and disadvantages.
Method no. 1 is based on the fact that the relationship between 
various activities is based on F-S( finish to start relationships).
This means that one activity would start only when the activity 
preceeding to it has finished. This tecnique has some of its limitations
like no other tecnique has. In this tecnique the activities are represented 
by nodes and arrows are used to connect the activites. The limitation of
this method is that no two activities can have the same start and finish
nodes. Hence the concept of null or dummy activity was introduced. ANother
limitation is the absence of concept of lag or lead time in this tecnique.

Critical path is defined as the longest path duration which is essential
for the timely completion of the project. Hence it allows to relax in
other works which would not affect the completion of the project.


2. PERT is method which was invented by US army and it was best suited
 to their style of projects. In this method one makes the max, min and
 average duration of the activity and then carries with the help of 
 guassian distribution and other methods to come up with the critical
 path.


3. The most used technique is PDM. This tecniques employs the fact that
 the relationship between the activities could F-S, S-S, S-F or F-F.
 Since it is most realistic technique it encourages the user to come
 up with the estimate of the time difference in Start or finish of the
 activities.

 Now my questions directed to Mr. Adil are:

1. What are the  activities you mentioned in your postings and what is the
   time duration on average of each?

2. Are you using any software to schedule your activities?

3. Which of the above tecniques you are using to come up with the
   critical path?

4. As I believe everyone related to management knows that Critical
   path consists of activities of the longest duaration and all
  the activities in the critical path have Free float and total float
  equal to zero. One of the repurcussions of C.P. is that it heavily
  depends on the duaration of the activities. Just by changing the
  duration of one activity the Critical path could change completely.

     My question is that isn't it statistically possible that each
     time you sit on the net and Discuss the Baachi, poond etc.
     you are on the criitcal path i.e. you are actually extending
     your wastage of time and doing your Academic as parallel 
     activity?
  

5. Where exactly is the reading of Holy Quaran found in your schedule
   of activities?
   


 
 I am a great fan of yours and would certainly like to hear from you.
 


 Imrana[Always hard pressed for time]Zaheer

 P.S I feel that I have not provoked anyone on the net by my article.
     If so I apologise in advance and to you Ms. Rutgers sincerely :-)
                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~  
 Pakistan is place to live........