A project scheduling methodology derivedas an analogue of digital circuit technology

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach for modeling project activitiesand networks of project activities based on a digital circuit metaphor upon which a projectscheduling tool could be built. Each activity is represented by one or more digital circuitelements where the inputs to the elements are the requirements that must be satisfied beforethat activity can begin. We demonstrate that our model has all the capabilities of traditionalmodels such as PERT/CPM. We then extend our model to incorporate additional featuresnot currently supported by most traditional models. We illustrate the use of AND, OR,NAND, NOR, and XOR gates in the creation of a project network and show how combina-tionsof these elements can be used to represent arbitrarily complex activity requirements.Finally, we discuss how our model could be used to create an open, flexible, extendible anddistributable project planning tool that supports continuous process improvement. The paperpresents the model and how it was developed as an analogue of digital circuit design. Thus,it serves two audiences: those interested in the modeling process and those interested in anovel approach to project scheduling. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1998