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Topic: Critical chain

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	Critical Chain FAQ
		Dependencies used to determine the critical chain include both logical hand-off dependencies (where the output of the predecessor task is required to start the successor), and resource dependencies (where a task has to wait for a resource to finish work on another task).
		One unique aspect of Critical Chain, regarding how it helps to address the impact of variation, is the concept of the feeding buffer, the role of which is to protect the critical chain from variation in non-critical chains of tasks, essentially to help keep the critical chain critical.
		Critical Chain Scheduling and Buffer Management (as well as the Multi-Project Management Method) is an approach that was built up not from the pieces of the PMBOK, but from the goals and common problems associated with project management, from an understanding of statistical variation, and most importantly, from an understanding of human behavior.
	www.focusedperformance.com /ccfaq.html (3633 words)

	Critical chain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		In project management, the critical chain is the sequence of both precedence- and resource-dependent terminal elements that prevents a project from being completed in a shorter time, given finite resources.
		Critical chain is used as an alternative to critical path analysis.
		The critical chain concept was developed by Eliyahu M. Goldratt as an application of his theory of constraints.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Critical_chain (500 words)

	Critical path - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		In project management, a critical path is the sequence of project network terminal elements with the longest overall duration, determining the shortest time to complete the project.
		A related concept is the critical chain, which adds resource dependencies.
		The critical path method (CPM) was invented by the DuPont corporation during the 1950's.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Critical_path (169 words)

	Supply Chain Dynamics in Indian Apparel Export Manufacturing: Critical Chain Approach
		Critical Chain is defined as the longest chain of tasks that consider both task dependencies and resource dependencies.
		Critical Path is defined as the longest chain of tasks based upon only task dependencies; this is a subtle, but important difference.
		It is important to note that critical chain completion date is always followed by project buffer, and even the order overshoots the critical chain timing the order was very much completed within buffer dates.
	techexchange.com /thelibrary/criticalchain.html (1839 words)

	Wideman Comparative Glossary of Project Management Terms v3.1
		The critical path of a project may change from time to time as activities are completed ahead of or behind schedule.
		If an activity on the critical path is delayed by one day, the entire project will be delayed by one day (unless another activity on the critical path can be accelerated by one day).
		Used in risk analysis, the criticality index represents the percentage of simulation trails that resulted in the activity being placed on the critical path.
	www.maxwideman.com /pmglossary/PMG_C13.htm (1331 words)

	#26: Critical Chain
		The critical chain is the sequence of activities—with explicit consideration of constraining resources—that determines the length of the project.
		The critical chain would be the same as the customary critical path except that some resources may be unavailable when needed.
		Remind people about when their work on critical chain activities is to begin, and ensure that this work begins promptly, has full attention, and is uninterrupted.
	www.maxvalue.com /tip026.htm (1103 words)

	CRITICAL CHAIN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
		The Critical Chain Method (CCM) is an outgrowth of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) developed by Eliyahu Goldratt to scheduling and managing manufacturing.
		The Critical Chain can then be identified as the longest chain of path and resource dependencies after resolving resource contentions.
		Critical Chain approach is perhaps the most important new development in project scheduling in the last 30 years.
	www.npd-solutions.com /critical.html (768 words)

	CIRAS - Critical Chain Project Management
		Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) acknowledges that a large part of the variation existing in projects cannot be eliminated.
		The duration of a project buffer is derived from the tasks in the Critical Chain and the buffer is placed at the end of the project.
		Feeding buffers are placed at the end of a chain of dependent tasks feeding into the Critical Chain and their durations are derived from the tasks in that chain.
	www.ciras.iastate.edu /library/toc/projectmanagement.asp (532 words)

	Critical chain (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-18)
		If resource availability is not a constraint, then a project's critical chain becomes the same as its critical path (just like Einstein's theory reduces to Newton's under conditions of low speeds and gravity).
		It is an alternative to critical path analysis.
		So far, none of the major project management software packages directly support critical chain planning and monitoring, although add-ons are available.
	knowallabout.com /c/cr/critical_chain.html (331 words)

	Critical Chain
		For years, this has been driven by PERT/ CPM (critical path method), which sought to identify and focus on the longest chain of sequential activities as the key to reducing and managing project duration.
		The first is at the end of the project, between the last task on the CC, and the project delivery date to protect the due date against uncertainty on the CC tasks.
		While Critical Chain project plans, and pipelining are significant breakthroughs, what makes CCPM work more than anything is buffer driven task priorities.
	www.tocc.com /Critical_Chain.htm (1340 words)

	Leach - Critical Chain Project Mgmt
		“Critical Chain Project Management by Lawrence P. Leach is a must-read for anyone working on a project, managing a project, or managing an organization that manages projects.
		In addition to providing a clear, understandable method to use critical chain, Leach provides a crisp, understandable method to plan the project, utilizing things like milestone sequence charts and bases of estimate.
		Providing the theory, tools and techniques you need to implement critical chain project management in your organization, you learn how to reduce stress on a project team, eliminate cost and scheduling over-runs, effectively manage project resources, and finish projects that meet or exceed expectations.
	www.scitechpub.com /leach.htm (242 words)

	Software Dioxide: What is critical chain? (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-18)
		The critical chain approach can be used for project scheduling and monitoring.
		The critical chain of tasks is identified by studying these task dependencies.
		The critical chain techniques address both individual projects and projects being executed in a multi-project organization.
	www.softwaredioxide.com /Channels/Faqview.asp?id=280 (154 words)

	Critical Chain Scheduling - TeamFrame.com
		"Critical Chain," in the largest sense, is the set of processes and practices for project management developed by the application of the Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes to the difficulties faced in delivering projects with both speed and reliability.
		Underlying the key differentiating aspects of Critical Chain-based project management are an appreciation for the impact of variation (the statistical nature of projects) and of human behaviour (people's response to how their projects are managed) on the ability of a project to move with speed and reliability.
		This selection of papers explores how critical chain theory is being applied to project management practice in order to reduce costs and improve productivity and performance.
	www.teamframe.com /web/ccs.html (290 words)

	Uranium-235 Chain Reaction
		If the reaction will sustain itself, it is said to be "critical", and the mass of U-235 required to produced the critical condition is said to be a "critical mass".
		A critical chain reaction can be achieved at low concentrations of U-235 if the neutrons from fission are moderated to lower their speed, since the probability for fission with slow neutrons is greater.
		A fission chain reaction produces intermediate mass fragments which are highly radioactive and produce further energy by their radioactive decay.
	hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu /hbase/nucene/u235chn.html (141 words)

	smcl09 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-18)
		The Critical Chain approach to the planning, scheduling and managing of projects, as developed by Dr. Goldratt, is the most beneficial and significant new development in project management in the last 40 years.
		Applying Critical Chain requires the project team to undergo several shifts from their existing paradigms around scheduling, managing, reporting and behavioural requirements; it is therefore imperative that these shifts occur before trying to schedule their project in this manner.
		Since applying Critical Chain to a project environment requires the project teams and resource managers to undergo several shifts from their existing paradigms around scheduling, managing, reporting and behavioural requirements; it is therefore imperative that these shifts occur before trying to schedule their projects and resources in this manner.
	www.solentmgtconsultants.com /smcl12.htm (4618 words)

	Theory of Constraints (TOC) - Critical Chain (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-18)
		Critical Chain Scheduling represents the first real breakthrough in project management in the last 40 years.
		Its Critical Chain scheduling features, reporting formats and portfolio management features are the best in the business.
		Critical Chain is based on rethinking what is truly critical and constraining to a project when we make decisions around up front planning as well as what is truly critical in the execution phase.
	www.thoughtwarepeople.com /eng/html/a_projman.html (318 words)

	Sciforma Corporation: PS8 Critical Chain Concepts - Introduction
		Critical Path-based project management was introduced as a cure for these problems with a goal of delivering projects within the original cost and time estimates.
		The genius of Goldratt's approach resides in his development of a new paradigm that addresses, for the first time, both the human side and the algorithmic methodology side of project management in a unified discipline.
		Importantly, Critical Chain project management is also simpler to use and requires less work for the project team in both the planning and tracking phases of projects.
	www.sciforma.com /products/ps_suite/ccIntro.htm (263 words)

	Exploiting the Best of Critical Chain and Monte Carlo Simulation
		Critical chain project management (CCPM) extends critical path analysis to the constraining resource.
		Instill a culture where an activity team is ready to begin working on its critical activity and will devote 100% of their effort to this activity for the duration.
		This function and the criticality index, 0.35, are useful in evaluating alternatives to delaying, slowing or accelerating work on this activity.
	www.decisioneering.com /articles/schuyler1.html (1999 words)

	Critical Chain
		An additional benefit was that management was presented with critical path information they could act on rather than potentially dozens of late and delayed milestones that they would have to react to after the fact.
		However, it wasn’t until we started tracking the critical path that management was given timely indications that progress delays in a specific critical path activity would potentially extend the project’s completion.
		Since the critical path relates to an overall project level rather than short-term deliverables, the objectives are in alignment with the project as a whole completing on time.
	home1.gte.net /res0hmfd/web_site/critical.htm (2193 words)

	The 360 Business & Project Management Glossary (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-18)
		Critical Chain (CC) - The critical chain, in project management, is the sequence of both precedence- and resource-dependent terminal elements that prevents a project from being completed in a shorter time, given finite resources.
		Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) - Critical Chain Method is a project scheduling and management methodology developed by Eliyahu Goldratt based on concepts from the Theory of Constraints (and described in his book Critical Chain).
		Critical Path - The term critical path means a sequence of tasks for a given project, such that a delay in any task causes a delay in the overall project.
	paradigm-360.com /WhitePapers/Glossary.html (12090 words)

	Sciforma Corporation: PS8 Critical Chain Concepts - The Human Side
		His Critical Chain methodology is based upon great insight into human nature and what happens when a project management discipline is applied to people.
		In his business novel, Critical Chain, Goldratt tells the story of what happens when a professor gives a class assignment that is due in two weeks.
		Later, we shall see how the Critical Chain method gives us a simple method for eliminating this intra-project multi-tasking with clear, concise rules for which work should be done first.
	www.sciforma.com /products/ps_suite/ccHuman.htm (1559 words)

	Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)
		CCPM (Critical Chain Project Management) is a new methodology for doing projects that allows you to complete projects with high quality deliverables in 10% to 50% less elapsed time, and/or 10% to 50% less resources (ie.
		Critical Chain Project Management (Critical Chain (CCPM)) is the first major advance in Project Management principles since the 1950's.
		Measure, communicate, train, and promote Critical Chain (CCPM) until you are ready for Critical Chain (CCPM) on 100% of all projects throughout your entire organization, and your supply chain.
	pqa.net /ProdServices/ccpm/W05001001.html (1134 words)

	Critical Chain Special Interest Page
		Critical Chain has been described as the "most significant development in project management in the last forty years" and is generating high levels of interest from project management professionals from many industries.
		Attend a workshop led by one of Goldratt UK’s qualified and experienced users of Critical Chain.
		Harris Semiconductors staggering success using Critical Chain to build a new plant.
	www.goldratt.co.uk /oa/critchpg.html (352 words)

	The Old Joel on Software Forum - Lean == critical chain ?
		Dumb question: I frequently read about the "lean"/"agile" development style on the one hand, and "critical chain" or "theory of constraints" management on the other.
		My impression is that "critical chain" starts at conventional project management and adds some flexibility, whereas "agile" is (or claims to be) a radically new approach - but I could be totally wrong on this?
		Critical chain, being a derivative of theory of constraints (TOC) thinking, generally looks at WIP as being of two different types: waste or protection.
	discuss.fogcreek.com /joelonsoftware?cmd=show&ixPost=121810 (450 words)

	Cutter Consortium :: Multiproject Critical Chain
		For more on critical chain project management, see the March 2003 issue of Cutter IT Journal, available from Cutter Consortium at +1 781 641 9876, fax +1 781 648 1950, or e-mail service@cutter.com.
		Critical chain can reduce the elapsed time for an entire set of projects by 15%-25% (and this is a conservative estimate) by eliminating bad multitasking.
		With critical chain multiproject management, using the same resources that were doing only three projects in 52 days (probably with some overtime), we can do five projects -- at no additional cost (and with lower utilization and therefore no overtime).
	www.cutter.com /research/2003/edge030610.html (1565 words)

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