Guild of Project Controls: Compendium | Roles | Assessment | Certifications | Membership

Tips on using this forum..

(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?

(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.

Delay Period Representation

7 replies [Last post]
Shah. HB
User offline. Last seen 19 weeks 2 days ago. Offline
Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 773

Hi

In a schedule with 2 calendars (one with 6 days as working period and another with 7 days are working period ) assignment,on determination of delay period after applying TIA (Time Impact Analysis ) method,the resulting delay period should be mentioned as calendar days or working days?

 

Regards

Shahul

Replies

R. Catalan
User offline. Last seen 12 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 314
Groups: None

Shahul,

If you're using P6, the float depends on the assigned global calendar. Since most projects uses calendar days in determination of delays, and for this reason you shall use the 7 days-workweek calendar as your global calendar.

Best regards,

R. Catalan

Roland Tannous
User offline. Last seen 12 years 16 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 84
Groups: None

Hello,

Note that legally , and almost in most juridisctions I know ( Common and civil law).

The word "day" as is, means "calendar day". Check your legal dictionary for more information.

But still and as already stated by all other commentators , it is better to be precise as this issue is a frequent cause of confusion on projects. It is therefore preferable to append the words "calendar" or "work" to your "day" as necessary :)

On a not so related note, It is also a good practice to make sure you explain to clients at an early stage, especially the ones not so proficient and not so familiar with scheduling jargon , the difference between workdays and calendar days and whether your scheduling software represents durations in workdays or calendar-days, what are calendars & how they affect calculations.

These types of clients usually think in calendar days and think of durations for phases and/or the whole project based on Months (which is based on calendar days). So it is quite problematic to explain to those clients , later on in the project, that a 97 Workdays duration of a design phase is equivalent to 5.x months... I've had such a client, it was kind of funny :)

 

Best Regards,

Roland

Rafael Davila
User offline. Last seen 11 hours 38 min ago. Offline
Joined: 1 Mar 2004
Posts: 5229

Free Float and Total Float have different definitions and at times can be the same. Both are displayed using activity calendar.

I did not displayed both as not to reduce scale of picture display, still kind of difficult to read.

Shah. HB
User offline. Last seen 19 weeks 2 days ago. Offline
Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 773

Hi Mr.Rafael Davila

I have a doubt in your picture,you are talking about activity float which is also known as free float but the presented layout shows total float

Rafael Davila
User offline. Last seen 11 hours 38 min ago. Offline
Joined: 1 Mar 2004
Posts: 5229

Activites Float is calculated and displayed using activity calendar while lag shall use its own calendar not an assigned across the board by some limited rule.

Float and Lag Calendar

By the way Longest Path is composed of two activities while Zero Float Path is composed of just a single activity, good to drive crazy not only the Forensic Analyst but anyone. Guess real life is complicated.

Shah. HB
User offline. Last seen 19 weeks 2 days ago. Offline
Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 773

Many Thanks for your support Mr.Mike Testro

 

Regards

Shahul

Mike Testro
User offline. Last seen 5 weeks 6 days ago. Offline
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 4418

Hi Shahul

Unless there is something specific in the contract delay periods should be set as calendar days.

It is important that when you write your narrative any duration should be clarified as either working days or calendar days.

Another problem is that the programme software usually displays float as working days based on the task calendar so this has to be adjusted in the narrative.

Best regards

Mike T.