Page 105 - The Six Sigma Project Planner

Project Schedule Management
The Planner will provide two alternatives for project schedule management. The
traditional approach is to focus on individual activities. A relatively new approach,
called the critical chain approach, focuses on the project and the organization’s portfolio
of projects as integrated systems. Both methods have their proponents (and opponents)
and both are presented here. In all likelihood, the Six Sigma project team will be
required to follow the system practiced by its organization.
Traditional project schedule management involves a focus on activities. Status reports
are prepared by those responsible for the various activities. For each activity, these
reports include percentage completion, expected completion date, issues and plans to
overcome them, etc. Activity-based action plans are set in motion when activities are
substantially beyond their expected completion dates. The premise of this approach to
schedule management is that if activities are carefully monitored, the project due date
will take care of itself.

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