The Program Manager's Tools
Essential to the program manager's work is a series of tools that make possible the planning and tracking of complex activities that are being performed simultaneously. Today, proprietary systems and many commercially available computer programs are used for this purpose. Most of them employ a series of "modules" that are used for each of the program manager's tasks.
Some flexibility with these modules is required, since some owners want the program manager's system to interface and communicate with their own project information system. Just as important as the tools are the data entered into the program manager's project control system. Clearly, the system is only as good as the accuracy and completeness of the data it contains.
The third key element is personnel. Ultimately, the quality, expertise, and experience of the program management team will determine the success of the effort.
Work Breakdown Structure
The work breakdown structure is the subdivision of the work into all of the individual elements required to complete the project. It is normally prepared in a series of levels, each more complex than the preceding and each involving a greater amount of detail.
- Level 0 is normally the entire project, while
- Level 1 is the major sub-divisions (such as site acquisition, engineering design, construction, procurement, and so on).
- Level 2 consists of the sub-elements of work for each of the Level 1 items. For example, under design there might be civil, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical; under construction there might be demo1ition, site preparation, civil works, structures, and so on.
- Level 3 goes to the next level of detail - for example, under electrical design there might be power systems, lighting, instrumentation and controls, te1ecommuication, and so on.
Logic Diagram
The logic diagram shows the 1ogical sequence and interrelationships of the different parts of the work. Examples are the logic ties between engineering design, procurement, construction, start-up, acceptance testing, and warranty support, as well as the ties between the different elements of each these, such as surveying, grading, excavation, and the other components of the civil work.
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Main Tasks for the Program Manager
