ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, JODHPUR

COLLEGE OF NURSING

SEMINAR ON

TOPIC - PROGRAMME EVALUATION AND REVIEW TECHNIQUE

(PERT)

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Ms. Sanjeeta Dara Mam Vikash Kumar
Assistant professor M.Sc. Nursing 2nd year
College of Nursing College of Nursing
AIIMS Jodhpur AIIMS Jodhpur

Date of submission:
Date of presentation:
 PROGRAMME EVALUATION AND REVIEW TECHNIQUE (PERT)

Defining PERT
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a method used to examine the tasks in a
schedule and determine a Critical Path Method variation (CPM). It analyzes the time required to
complete each task and its associated dependencies to determine the minimum time to complete
a project. It estimates the shortest possible time each activity will take, the most likely length of
time, and the longest time that might be taken if the activity takes longer than expected. The US
Navy developed the method in 1957 on the Polaris nuclear submarine project to evaluate the
resources and time required to manage a project.

Definition: A Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) is used to depict a project’s

timeline, estimate the duration of tasks, identify task dependencies, and determine the project’s
critical path.
The program evaluation and review technique is a refined version of the original Gantt chart. It
is the most advanced and recent technique for logistics (planning, scheduling, and controlling) of
program/project-type activities. This technique has replaced the traditional flowchart method for
budgeting activities about time.

TECHNIQUE
PERT is a model to analyze and represent the tasks/ events involved in the completion of a given
program. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. developed PERT in 1958. PERT is a refined milestone
budgeting. Milestones are identifiable and controllable pieces of a task and form. A PERT/time-
event network is a network of many signs and time showing to complete each sign.

Purposes of PERT
 To minimize the time and cost of completing a program
 To minimize idle resources
 To improve communication and coordination among different management levels
 To identify issues and obstacles
 To monitor the work progress
 To complete the project so as to minimize time.

Features of PERT
PERT is a task-oriented technique.
 It may contain hundreds or thousands of events.
 It identifies critical activities.
 It identifies events (tasks/activities).
 The graph shows the relationship between events.
 It specifies the time required to complete each identified event/task/activity.
  It calculates the minimum time for project completion. It allows uncertainty in the
duration of tasks/activities.
 It includes uncertainty in scheduling time estimates measured by three parameters:
1. Time estimation based on the assumption that everything will go according to plan
(optimistic time)
2. An estimate of time based on whether the time manager thinks that it is necessary to
complete the task (most likely time)
3. An estimate of time based on the assumption that some problem may occur (pessimistic
time).
6Steps to the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
The six steps below provide a more detailed breakdown of the Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT). Follow the six steps

 Identify Activities: The first step is to determine what needs to be done to finish the job.
Each task should be clear, measurable, and have a set amount of time. In a construction
job, for example, activities could include laying the foundation, building the frame,
installing the electricity, etc.
 Figure Out Dependencies: Figure out how the tasks depend on each other. Some things
must be done in order, while others can work simultaneously. This step helps you
determine how different tasks relate to each other and how they affect the project
schedule.
 Estimate Durations: Guess how long it will take to finish each task. This can be done by
talking to experts in the field, using data from the past, or using scientific methods. To
figure out the whole project schedule, you need accurate estimates of how long things will
take.
 Make a network diagram. Make a network diagram that shows how the tasks work
together and how they depend on each other. This diagram usually uses nodes to show
actions and arrows to show the flow and order. It helps you understand the key path and
figure out which tasks can be moved up or pushed back without changing the date the
project will be done.
 Find the critical path: Find the critical path, the longest chain of interdependent tasks
that determines how long the whole job will take. Any delay in actions on the critical path
will directly affect when the project is done. It helps set priorities and decide how to use
resources.
 Schedule and Control: Make a schedule using the expected times and the results of the
critical path analysis. The schedule shows how the job will be done and makes tracking
and managing progress possible. Regular tracking, monitoring, and changes are
Operational Definitions
 Program: A program comprises many tasks/events.
 Activity: An activity designates a task or a subproject of the total project. It is an action
that goes on between the event with which an operation begins and the event with which
it concludes.
 Event: An event is "to start," "to finish," "to order," and "to receive." Usually, it terminates
one activity and simultaneously represents the beginning of another event.
 A PERT event: A PERT event represents the beginning or completion of a task or more
tasks.
  A predecessor event: An event that comes immediately before another event.
 A successor event: An event that occurs quickly after another event.
 A PERT activity: Refers to a task that requires a fixed schedule and resources to carry
out.
 Critical path: A complete path to finish a program from the start to reach the final point.
It is the total scheduled time to carry out all activities.
 Critical activity: An activity that has no slack time.
 Slack: A time is taken to complete an event either on schedule (zero slack), ahead of
schedule (positive slack), or behind schedule (negative slack).
 Expected time of activity (T): A predicted time required to complete a given task, based
on the assumption that everything will go to plan.
 Expected time: It is the average time needed for a task if repeated.

Program Evaluation and Review Technique

(PERT) Chart
How to Conduct a Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT)Analysis

There are two main steps when determining the

PERT Estimate. These two steps are:

 Step 1: Determine optimistic,

pessimistic, and most likely
estimates
 Step 2: Calculate PERT Estimate
using the PERT Formula

Step 1: Determine optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates

To conduct PERT Analysis, three-time estimates are obtained (optimistic, pessimistic, and most
likely) for every activity along the Critical Path.

 Optimistic Time (O): the minimum possible time required to accomplish a task,
assuming everything proceeds better than is normally expected.
 Pessimistic Time (P): the maximum possible time required to accomplish a task,
assuming everything goes wrong (excluding major catastrophes).
 Most likely Time (M): the best estimate of the time required to accomplish a task,
assuming everything proceeds as normal.
Step 2: Calculate PERT Estimate
After completing Step 1, use the (optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely) estimates in the
formula below to calculate the PERT estimate for the project.

Formula: (P+4M+O)/6

Example: (8 + 4(14)+20)/6 = 14 Weeks

Advantages
 It is simple, comprehensive, and the most accessible tool for organizational planning and
management development, acquisition and installation of a system, and development of
projects and programs.
 It is an essential means to improve communication and coordination among different
management levels.
 It is a helpful technique to identify various issues and problems during the process.
 It provides grounds for monitoring the continuous and timely progress of the project. It
provides a base for evaluation and control systems.
Limitations
 There is a chance to omit the necessary steps at the time of project planning.
 Uncertainty is attached to the time estimate.
 The number of resources available is a significant restriction.
 All activities may not be progressing on schedule.
 Lack of trained staff to adopt PERT/CPM techniques.

PERT IN NURSING
 This model helps in judging the time required to complete an activity.
 Nurse administrators can use this model to delegate and assign the work schedule to the
nurses in a hospital.
 It not only evidences the cost-effectiveness of nursing care but also has a great impact on
reducing the expenditure by the patient.
 This model helps to reduce the patient’s hospital stay by judging beforehand the actual
care time, manpower, money, and the material required.

Summary
Today we have discussed PERT and different aspects of PERT purpose, steps and advantages,
limitations, and nurse's implications.
Conclusion
The program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is a statistical tool used in project
management, which was designed to analyze and represent the tasks involved in completing a
given project.
References

 Vati Jogindra: Principles & Practice of Nursing Management & Administration Jaypee
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 Basavanthappa BT. Nursing administration. Jaypee brothers; New Delhi: 2000
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 Available from: http://www.scholarshipeasy.com/tags/critical-
 path-method-CPM-pert.html. [Accessed on 20.01.2019].
 Krajewski LJ, Ritzman LP. Operations Management: Strategy, and Analysis, 5th edition.
Indian Reprint. Addison Wesley (Pearson Education); 2002.
 West JD, Ferdinand KL. A Management Guide to PERT/CPM, 2nd edition. Prentice-
Hall, NJ: Englewood Cliffs; 1977.