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Expert Use of Scheduling Software
Project managers with more expertise use scheduling software very differently. They create a model of the project in their software tool. They follow consistent steps to build up a schedule. They understand and override the default settings of their chosen software tool, manually specifying task dependencies and resource usage. Often they ignore predicted end-dates for tasks while entering key data. They wait until their schedule is complete and resource-leveled, then optimize the schedule to reach a desired end-date.
Expert schedulers run “what-if” scenarios on their schedules. They modify start and end dates for critical tasks; they ensure that the remaining project work moves in a realistic manner. They understand what their software will do if key tasks are actually done out-of-order. They regularly update their schedule based upon actual work completed, predicting a new end-date for the overall effort when necessary.
Every project manager comes up with his or her own habits when working with scheduling software. Scheduling software and experience drive these habits. Managers must develop a new mental map of the software. Experienced users view their software as a database manager, not a spreadsheet. They see their project files as a database of related facts, with many views to see the data from different angles. (Stover 2003, 7-8) They consult many views, including the network diagram and resource usage reports, even if they are never published.
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