Cascade Activity Diagram

This diagram shows the activities in a more familiar format. The critical path is shown in orange and purple and non-critical paths, with floats, are shown in blue. Descending cascade activity numbers (CANs) are used, rather than event letters. Letters do not realistically reflect the activities in an orderly manner, as horizontally linked routes are not necessarily in the alphabetical order of event letters. CANs will ensure the cascade activity diagram falls in step, using the letter might result in back stepping events from a vertical perspective. These diagrams can be mounted on a wall and plastic sliders can be shifted when an activity has been completed. For example; if there is a delay on the critical path, all events proceeding it will be delayed by the same time.

Resource Histogram

The histogram shows the number of people required at a certain time during the project. These are found by adding the number of people working at any time during the project. Floats are not included, it is assumed that the activity will be completed on schedule by all the people involved.

Improvements

Improvements can be made to the cascade activity diagram and resource diagram. All events on the critical path can be moved into one line to be performed by a team of people. Critical paths follow one another with no floats, and times cannot be changed.

Floats are currently spaces where nothing productive is happening. Non-critical events can be shifted around within their float, as long as they don’t exceed the float time. Once a person has completed a given non-critical event within the float, they can continue to work on another non-critical event. This saves on people required to do the same number of tasks (see diagram), shifting the event along the float to the end of another.

Teams of people will be determined by the vertical compression of the cascade activity diagram. If it is possible to have no more than two events occurring at the same time, only two teams of people will be required. If the improved resource histogram is correct there will 5 or less people working at one time, if the number is greater than 5, the floats will need to be reorganised.