10-Week Online Course: Planning and Scheduling

This is a 10-week course that runs from June 26 - September 3, 2023. Planning and scheduling is a primary technical skill all successful construction supervisors and project managers need to effectively engage and utilize their teams, resources, and manage the job. This project management construction online course will teach how to use: 

• The bar chart Precedence diagramming 
• The arrow diagram 
• The critical path 
• Using networks 
• Using the project schedule 
• Maintaining the project schedule 
• Applying the project schedule

Students will learn how to plan, prepare and update construction project schedules in this project management construction online course. We will study construction planning and will practice preparing a project plan.

Through the use of case studies, we will show you how to define construction activities, determine activity duration, and assemble the activities into a logical construction schedule. Also, we will learn to create and use bar charts and critical path schedules.

Methods for communication of the project plan will be applied in workshop-type activities. We will study the use of software in construction scheduling and investigate some of the popular scheduling programs currently in use. Other topics to be studied will include: assigning constraints, inputting resources, formatting options, sorting and filtering. Updating the schedule and the use of short interval production schedules will be stressed. Applying scheduling information to change orders, payment schedules and acceleration situations will be studied.

Learning Objectives: 

• Become familiar with the process of project planning and the efficiencies derived from planning
• Know how to sequence the activities for logical project flow
• Be able to prepare a bar chart schedule and use it properly
• Be familiar computerized scheduling and understand both its limitations and advantages
• Understand what resources are and how they can be coordinated with the schedule
• Be able to apply methods for monitoring, comparing and updating the project schedule
• Learn about schedule acceleration methods and how to apply them
• Be able to define schedule activities and assign reasonable durations to the activities
• Be able to prepare a short procurement schedule
• Learn about schedule float and understand how float can be used to delay or lengthen activities and to smooth manpower requirements
• Be able to apply constraints, sorts and filters to a computer generated schedule
• Know how to use the schedule as a resource for crew and manpower assignments
• Understand how to use the short-term schedule as a communication tool
• Learn how the schedule is used as documentation for changes and disputes

It is important that the student keep up with the class and not fall behind. Course modules will be made available to students on Sunday of each week. Class work must be completed before the following Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead of the class although reading assignments will be made available in advance. 

Students are responsible for purchasing the textbook. The cost of each hardcopy textbook is approximately $156 plus shipping and handling. It is also available in Kindle edition. Order here: STP Unit 3: Planning and Scheduling - Participant

If you order a used book be sure you are getting the correct edition. If ordering the hardcopy, allow at least 5 working days between ordering the book and receiving it by the least expensive shipping.  Students outside of the United States should allow at least 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. 

The deadline to receive a refund for event registration is (7) seven business days before the event. Cancellations received after the stated deadline will not be eligible for a refund.