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A buffer control method for top-down project control

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  • Martens, Annelies
  • Vanhoucke, Mario

Abstract

Timely completion of projects is an important factor for project success. However, projects often exceed their predefined deadline, which results in a late project delivery and an increase in the total project cost. In order to increase the probability of timely completion, a project buffer can be planned at the end of a project. During project execution, an assessment of the total buffer consumption at the project completion date can be made in order to periodically monitor the project progress. When the expected buffer consumption is higher than 100%, the project deadline is expected to be exceeded and the project manager should take corrective actions to get the project back on track.

Suggested Citation

  • Martens, Annelies & Vanhoucke, Mario, 2017. "A buffer control method for top-down project control," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(1), pages 274-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:262:y:2017:i:1:p:274-286
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2017.03.034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bowman, R. Alan, 2006. "Developing activity duration specification limits for effective project control," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(2), pages 1191-1204, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martens, Annelies & Vanhoucke, Mario, 2019. "The impact of applying effort to reduce activity variability on the project time and cost performance," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 277(2), pages 442-453.
    2. Song, Jie & Martens, Annelies & Vanhoucke, Mario, 2022. "Using Earned Value Management and Schedule Risk Analysis with resource constraints for project control," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 297(2), pages 451-466.
    3. Song, Jie & Martens, Annelies & Vanhoucke, Mario, 2020. "The impact of a limited budget on the corrective action taking process," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 286(3), pages 1070-1086.

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