Abstract
The need to develop an optimised project schedule system is critical because of the impact of project failure on society. Studies have revealed that project failure is influenced by the combination of cost, time, and scope and that structured schedule management is more effective as compared to non-structured or random schedules in project success.
This minor dissertation demonstrates how to apply structured and effective procedures in the construction of solar energy plants by using the existing data from the already-constructed solar energy plant in South Africa.
Sequel to the literature review on project failures and success, the study integrated the linear schedule method (LSM), critical path method (CPM), and statistical analysis to develop an improved and structured project schedule procedure.
The results analysis shows that LSM showcases the significant relationship between time-buffer and duration for all activities and its implication when there are changes. Furthermore, the integration of CPM and statistical analysis shows that the earliest start has a remarkable influence (of more than 60%) on the earliest finish compared to the duration of the activity. In context, the “earliest start” p-value for all activity paths is less than the p-value of the duration of the same activity.
The results indicated that the earliest start of the activities within critical paths is essential to determine the project completion time. Therefore, it is recommended that LSM should be applied to the repetitive activities, subsequently, the critical path should be calculated using CPM and afterward, the earliest start of the activities within the critical path should be objectively determined.