how program evaluation review technique pert charts work
a pert chart uses circles or rectangles called nodes to represent project events or milestones a chart can be made using different types of software this includes specialized computer software designed to create pert charts or even a simple program like microsoft excel 2the nodes on the pert chart are linked by vectors or lines that represent various tasks dependent tasks are items that must be performed in a specific manner for example if an arrow is drawn from task no 1 to task no 2 on a pert chart task no 1 must be completed before work on task no 2 begins 1items at the same stage of production but on different task lines within a project are referred to as parallel tasks they re independent of each other and occur at the same time 1a well constructed pert chart looks like this a project manager creates a pert chart in order to analyze all of a project s tasks while estimating the amount of time required to complete each one using this information the project manager can estimate the minimum amount of time required to complete the entire project this information also helps the manager develop a project budget and determine the resources needed to accomplish the project a pert chart may make it easier to see and track a project s critical path the critical path is the minimum time it will take to complete a project based on the longest path from start to finish 