Evaluating the Effectiveness of Construction Project Schdules Based On the Microsoft Project Planner: The Research Agenda (Published)
This paper reports the methodology adopted in developing a generic procedural framework for evaluating the effectiveness of construction project schedules. A problem is identified from literature that users of the MS Project are not adequately guided in making choice of start date applied in scheduling the project activities. Most users apply as soon as possible while a few apply as late as possible schedules. But the extent to which this is a practical and effective scheduling option is in question. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using ANOVA in a pilot survey to assess whether or not a problem exist as defined and if solution can be sought in the way and manner conceived. Null of hypothesis 1: There is no significant relationship between start time constraint option and activity start variance. Null hypothesis 2: There is no significant relationship between the start time constraint option and activity finish variance. Results show that Fcal = 0.86, Ftab = 5.14 at 1 % level of significance and Ftab = 10.9 at 5 % level of significance. Since Fcal < Ftab we accept H1: That there is a significant relationship between start time and activity start variance. This suggests that schedules based on as late as possible experience reduced activity start variability that events are likely to occur as planned. This is desirable.