Linear Programming for Project Management Professionals

Learn techniques of project scheduling using MS Excel and Solver.

Key Features
● Covers methods to streamlining project completion and optimising budgets.
● Includes techniques for resolving business problems and optimising EVM.
● Examines project crashing strategies, linear programming solutions, and the Solver tool.

Description
This book assists project management professionals in resolving project crashing situations through linear programming. It demonstrates how the PM team can help streamline the project's on-time completion and cost optimization.

The book begins with understanding project management processes and frameworks such as WBS, PDM, and EVM. The book helps build familiarity with the PM team's procedures to monitor a project. It helps investigate linear programming problems (LPPs) and the mathematical foundations for their formulation. It covers various approaches to solving the LPP, including graphical methods, their limitations, and the necessity of tools such as MS Excel's Solver. It also covers how the PM team can solve LPP with the help of Solver.

This book covers various business and technical scenarios for crashing a project. It teaches how to formulate the problem of optimizing a project for time and cost using LPP. This book then discusses how LPP can be solved using Solver and more complex issues. It also explores the relationship between earned value management and crashing a project.

What you will learn
● Learn the process of developing the Work Breakdown Structure.
● Prepare a project schedule with all contingencies in consideration.
● Recognize the circumstances that necessitate considering crashing a project.
● Utilize linear programming to formulate and resolve project scheduling issues.
● Develop strong proficiency in using MS Excel for Project Management activities.

Who this book is for
This book is intended for project management professionals at all levels, including project coordinators, operations analysts, quality analysts, and all stakeholders in a running project. Although not mandatory, some background in project management and familiarity with Microsoft Excel would be an advantage.

Table of Contents
1. Project Scheduling
2. Earned Value Method
3. Linear Programming Problems
4. Crashing a Project
5. Using LPP to Crash a Project
6. More Complex Problems
7. Linking EVM and LPP
8. Annexure I: Microsoft Excel Basics
9. Annexure II: Advanced Methods of Crashing a Project