Operations management and Project Evaluation and Review Technique

Operations management and Project Evaluation and Review Technique

1

Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a way of analysis of tasks that are required for project completion. It focuses, particularly on the analysis of the time required to complete each task individually, as well as finding a time required for the entire project. Thus, PERT was developed primarily to visualize planning and to create graphs for big and complex projects. The technique implied the presence of uncertainty, giving the ability to develop a working plan without knowing the details and precise time of all tasks (Pankaja, 2005).

PERT/CPM has been widely used in project management as one of the most effective ways to track a project’s progress and get estimates under uncertainty (Pitagorsky, 2001). At the same time, the uncertainty that is inherent to some tasks can play a critical role in affecting actual timing. Uncertainty can be the result of human error or variability that comes from risks or unpredicted events. A resulting error can be significant enough to make the method useless.

When it comes to certification of any kind, I always skeptical as certifications usually focus on their own profitability, and the value of a certificate is rather doubtful. I believe PERT certification is not an exception. However, I would prefer hiring a candidate who has a relevant degree and familiar with the method from their academic work, not from certification.

2

A PERT chart (Program Evaluation Review Technique) was a method that was developed by the U.S Navy so they could manage the timeframe of the Polaris submarine. The purpose of this chart is to help review and manage time frames of projects. Another method called Critical Path Chart (CPM) was developed for project management right around the same time that PERT was but CPM was for the private sector (Rouse, 2016) The purpose of these charts is to help you can show and predict a timeline for your projects. Yes, projects are subject to change but it does give you a starting point. Another purpose for these charts, particularly the PERT chart will show you the progress of your activities that are within your project. The direction of your arrows in your lines will show you the sequence of the task, these are called dependent or serial tasks. This helps you identify which tasks are dependent or independent from or on each other. The PERT chart to my understanding is the most widely known along with the GHANT chart, each chart has its advantages and disadvantages. The chart that you would want to use is the one that works best for you and your organization (INVESTOPEDIA, 2017). The reason that these charts are so widely used is that they help you avoid pitfalls, steps that are not required, they can show you the dependencies especially PERT, since it was designed to show you these things. There are many different charts out there for you to use (Suhanic. G).

There can be benefits of being certified in the field, if you are certified you are can get higher pay for your knowledge that you can prove with the certification There is annual training, workshops that are made available to you, depending on where you receive your certification from. I would also hire someone without certification if they can prove to me that they can do the job that I ask of them. If they are willing to constantly keep themselves up to date on the new developments within the chart or charts. In my opinion, just because you have a certificate does not mean that you are the best person for the job.