Analyze Planning Data

Explanation

This activity describes how to analyze the resulting data after a scheduling calculation, which has been done either in the Gantt or in a 3rd party planning tool. Information in the project plan that may be evaluated includes:

• Verifying that the logical relationships between activities are realistic and correct.
• Determining the critical activities and analyzing their impact. Critical activities have a total float less than or equal to zero.

After analyzing the project plan, it may be necessary to replan and reschedule the project.

Prerequisites

• A scheduling calculation must be performed for the project plan, either in Gantt or by importing planning data from a third party planning tool.

System Effects

None

Window

Gantt

Project Navigator/Planning
Activity/Planning
Project Navigator/Activity

Activity/General

Related Window Descriptions

Gantt

Project Navigator/Planning
Activity/Planning
Project Navigator/Activity
Activity/General

Procedure

Analyze planning data in the activity information and Planning tabs:

1. Activity dependency information can be verified in the Planning/Predecessors or Planning/Successors tabs.
2. Free and total float values can be viewed in the Planning/Constraints tab. Critical activities have a total float less than or equal to zero.
3. In tabs with activity information, view the early and late activity dates which are a result of the scheduling calculation.

Analyze planning data in the Gantt window:

1. In the Gantt window, select the Show Dependencies and the Show Critical Activities check boxes.
2. Activity dependency information can be verified in the Gantt chart.
3. Critical activities can be viewed in the Gantt chart, where they are marked by having red activity bars.