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HISTORY OF PLANNING/SCHEDULING

33 replies [Last post]
Mon, 2005-10-24 03:30
Sen Moc
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Hi all,

For the sake of discussion,

When did planning/scheduling began?

Who were the first planners/schedulers?

Who were the best and real planners of all time?

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Replies

Wed, 2006-05-24 10:27
#1
Gwen Blair
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Steve,

Reading this backlog? Any feed back from your conference?
Would you send it to me?
Cheers
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Mon, 2005-11-07 02:44
#2
Patrick Weaver
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Hi,

I am the person referenced by Steve developing an article on the History of Critical Path Scheduling for the myPrimavera conference (a bit more limited then the history of planning).

The paper will most certainly be available after the conference for Steve to post, as well as on my website at www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Resources.html (we have a whole bunch of past papers available for download).

My hypothesis is that the development of modern project management was driven by the need to do something useful with all this ‘stuff’ the schedulers were producing..... and the profession is fast approaching its 50th anniversary (either in 2006 or 2007)

What would be really appreciated is any hard data on the very early days of CPM, between 1955 and 1960 – the one fact I am seriously missing is the year (or preferably month) Kelly and Walker (and/or the PERT people) actually started developing their systems.

Thanking you for your help.

Pat
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Sun, 2005-11-06 22:46
#3
Alex Wong
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Steve

That sounds good.

Dear All,

Should we set up the criterions first??

We plan everything in life some are instantaneous some are well thought
Some in accordance to the plan and some don’t.
Some plan on small projects, some don’t plan on big projects. How to identify the earliest planner??

So in a way, every human being is a planner. Some achieve a bigger project, some achieve in a much smaller scale. Nevertheless we are all planner. Do you all agreed??

In order to draw a line of trace of well planned project, we should start by asking what is the condition / criterions as a qualifier in order to qualified to contest with the time elements (Earliest)

Agreed??

Alex
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Sun, 2005-11-06 20:36
#4
Steve Keys
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I will be sure to request that the speaker makes the full paper available and will post a link to download it. The conference is not until April 06, but if I can get access to it any sooner, you will be the first to know.

Steve
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Sun, 2005-11-06 05:05
#5
Mohammed Abo El Magd
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Sen Moc, sorry for being delayed to replay. I am saying it was one of the reasons not the only one. I will phrase it in another words. The ancient Egyptian wants the people to be busy all the year. So, they wont have time to fight during the Nile flood. He made the idea of National Project (Pharaoh Eternity Home). The result was, People were busy with sacred mission during the vacancy time.

Oh by the way, Steve, I am joining Sen Moc in the same request.

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Fri, 2005-11-04 06:36
#6
Andy McLean-Reid
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So we’re back to God again ;-)
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Fri, 2005-11-04 06:02
#7
Clive Randall
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Did you know the word architect is derived from the word carpenter
Now i reckon carpenters were probably the first planners and given a chance still can be.
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Fri, 2005-11-04 14:46
#8
Philip Jonker
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Hi andy,

What makes you relate all this to god?
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Thu, 2005-11-03 13:42
#9
Philip Jonker
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Hi David,
Planning is a mindset, and for practicioners of the game, it is a way of thinking. The earliest reference to planning is in fact to be found in "The Art of War" by Tsun Tsu. And it sums the practice of planning up perfectly.

Regards
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Thu, 2005-11-03 03:25
#10
Chris Oggham
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David,

Have you considered researching something like Hadrian’s Wall? Hadrian designed this and his own villa at Lucarno, and while you may be sceptical of architects as planners, Hadrian was also a military man noted for the meticulous planning of his campaigns. Might be worth a shot.

In the same area, when on a protracted campaign, the Romans used to carry with them pre-fabricated fortresses, built to a standard design, which could be assembled very quickly. This certainly shows evidence of fairly detailed planning.

I don’t have any more information than this, but it might give you a starting point for planning before Gantt and Taylor.

Chris Oggham
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Thu, 2005-11-03 03:02
#11
Gwen Blair
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The power of historical slant usually lies with the author.

Archeological evidence may suggest otherwise.

Another basic premise for a good Planner.

Never believe everything you read.

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Wed, 2005-11-02 09:53
#12
David Bordoli
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Oh...

and, following an earlier message I researched ’Imhotep’.

One of the articles said:

"Imhotep is comsidered to be the earliest known named architect"

... and we all know what good planners/schedulers architects make :-)

David
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Wed, 2005-11-02 09:48
#13
David Bordoli
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Hi

I run a planning and programming course and my introduction includes ‘a brief history of time’ (hmmmm, classy title, maybe I should write the book...). But my extensive researches haven’t been able to find anything formal before Gantt and the rest of the Scientific Management guys.

Or maybe I have got the wrong end of the stick. In this forum when I talk about planning I am thinking about prior documentation of activities, durations, logic and sequences... not merely the decision to construct something. I think ’planning’, as in deciding on the layout, construction, design etc of something is different to the planning I am thinking about.

There is documented evidence of ’quantity surveying’ type activities from Roman times but I have found nothing other than ’there must have been or how did they get built’ type thoughts on pre 20th century stuff.

Any help gratefully received!

Regards

David
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Tue, 2005-11-01 23:37
#14
Sen Moc
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Thanks for the information, Steve.

But for the benefit of those who can’t/won’t personally attend, we would appreciate if you could share to us, later after the conference, a copy of the paper related to history of scheduling.

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Tue, 2005-11-01 22:40
#15
Steve Keys
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I reckon you guys should come to a conference being run in Australia next year. One of the speakers is due to present on "a brief history of scheduling" - check http://www.myprimavera.com.au/06/process.asp.

Judging by the threaded discussion here I would love to see the "lively" post-presentation Q&A session!
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Tue, 2005-11-01 20:32
#16
Sen Moc
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Mohammed, you’re saying that the pyramids where built because the people were bored during flood season in the Nile?... and they went to the desert instead and decided to build the pyramids? How did the pyramids solved their problems on war and flood?
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Tue, 2005-11-01 14:04
#17
Philip Jonker
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I still believe the the Zigurats were the first high rise structures, and was built out of clay and re-inforced with straw, this is evident if you guys are willing to do some research, obviosly somebody was doing the planning for them.
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Tue, 2005-11-01 08:48
#18
Mohammed Abo El Magd
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In Egypt we have from 90-100 pyramid from Abo Rowash (Giza) to Hwara (Fayoom)
All of them built on the same line. With different shapes. The three famous pyramids was the result of all these trials to enhance the pyramid shape. The pyramids was not just Built for the Pharaohs, it was a social solution also to a major problem by that time. The majority of people were working in Agriculture, but in the time of Nile flood they were with out something to do. So, the problems increased and also wars between them. Upon that the decision made, all people should share in the construction of pyramid during the flood time to prevent these problems.
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Tue, 2005-11-01 07:02
#19
Gordon Blair
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Gwen, not sure if settlements would count, as you could debate whether they were planned, or just sort of sprung up and evolved. It was probably a good millenia or so after Skarra Brae (sp?), before people realised they could really bugger things up by planning their towns :o).

I think to qualify, you’d have to say it was some sort of engineering project that had some design behind it (solar tracking, for the henges, or getting something nice and big and waterproof built in time for the rainy season for Noah and his boat)

Just a thought...
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Tue, 2005-11-01 06:54
#20
Gwen Blair
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Skara Brae, dating back 3100 - 2600BC, was a settlement in the Orkneys, a small group of islands which lie about twenty miles north of the Scottish mainland.

It was discovered in 1850 after a violent storm had struck the island, ripping away the turf and sand dunes. The settlement was exposed to daylight for the first time in nearly four and a half thousand years.
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Tue, 2005-11-01 06:07
#21
Chris Oggham
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Andy,

Stonehenge?
Good example!
Started 2950 BC continued on and off for 1400 years in three phases, the third phase having three distinct stages. The design was changed a number of times during the building; don’t know what you think, but sometimes history seems to repeat itself.

Chris Oggham
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Mon, 2005-10-31 08:51
#22
Andy McLean-Reid
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Stonehenge?

Before that there was Strawhenge and Woodhenge but the big, bad wolf............

(now who did I pinch that from??)
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Sun, 2005-10-30 13:51
#23
Philip Jonker
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In fact you are wrong jihad, the Zigurats was built before that
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Sat, 2005-10-29 05:26
#24
Gwen Blair
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Nixt!

I think the present day Orcadians would have you on that.
Subterranian structures, tombs, villages, workshops, stone furniture linked in the stone structures to mark the obersation of the sun.
Pre dates even the structures south of Giza. They are relatively recent predating the Saquarra not sure how to spell it Pyramid. The stone one deteriorating badly a days drive south of giza.
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Sat, 2005-10-29 05:03
#25
Jihad Daniel
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The first "human" planning engineer to be known by name and achievement was Imhotep, who planned & built the Step Pyramid at Saqqarah, Egypt, probably in about 2550 BC.

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Tue, 2005-10-25 06:17
#26
Bill Guthrie
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Sen Moc San

OUTSTANDING and you do know your history. Thanks for the details. found it interesting.

As far as noah. Man there is nothing tangable to qualify his big Bass Fishing Boat. And any dude that lives 750 years is too feeble to plan ha ha. However one can go visit the pyrimids today.

have a wonderiful day. Bill
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Tue, 2005-10-25 05:29
#27
Christian Adrian ...
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How about Noah??

Didn’t he plan to build a big ship? Isn’t he considered as one of the greatest planner (human)?

Cheers!

Christian
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Tue, 2005-10-25 05:07
#28
Sen Moc
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Agree, Bill. The Great Pyramid can be considered as a result of one of the great planning done in the ancient times. It was built during the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. It has been believed that it took 20 years to build it. The site was first prepared, and around 200 million blocks of stones (about 2500 kgs/each) were transported and placed. When it was built, it stood 146m high (around 30 storey bldg) and remained the tallest structure built on earth for more than 43 centuries until the 19th century A.D…..and the great Pharaoh Kufu had never bothered to utilize a planning software in getting the job done : -).

Next, I think we should consider the planners for the building of the Great Wall of China.
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Tue, 2005-10-25 03:28
#29
Bill Guthrie
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THanks Larry, love it.

And in reply to your question, one must assume the builders of the pyrimids was really a great planner.First or not one does not know but he had to plan or the darn thing would fall down.

cheers bill
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Tue, 2005-10-25 01:07
#30
Sen Moc
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Guys,

Well, that answers the question. No doubt about it and is undebatable, God, the Supreme Being, is the greatest Planner of all.

So let’s narrow down the question to:

Who were the first HUMAN planners/schedulers?

Who were the best and real HUMAN planners of all time?
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Mon, 2005-10-24 14:52
#31
Larry Blankenship
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one of my favorite poems goes:

God made the world in 6 days flat
On the seventh, he said "I’ll rest."
So he set the thing in orbit’s swing
to give it a dry run test.

A hundred million years went by
and he checked on the whirling blob
his spirits fell
his shoulders shrugged
and he said "Oh well, it was only a six day job."


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Mon, 2005-10-24 14:39
#32
Philip Jonker
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Well said Bill
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Mon, 2005-10-24 06:44
#33
Bill Guthrie
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And in 7 days God made the world

and this was the start of planning

cheers bill


remember, he who fails to plan, plans to fail.
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