Windows Half-Step Delay Analysis, Advanced Delay Analysis

SmartPM employs the Windows Half-Step methodology to perform windows style delay analysis, providing detailed insights into project delays and accelerations.

How It Works

SmartPM compares two schedule updates that define a period or “window” of the project, assessing the impact of reported progress according to the end of the window schedule against the plan of the start of the window schedule. This approach allows for the calculation of:

• Experienced Critical Path Delay (In-Period Delay): Measurable impact to the project’s end date due to deficient actual progress on driving critical path activities
• Actual Acceleration (In-Period Gains): Measures real progress achieved that improves the overall end date, distinguishing it from planned acceleration.
• Concurrency: Identifies overlapping delays affecting simultaneous critical paths.

Delays and accelerations can both occur within the same activity. For instance, if you are delayed to start an activity, but once the activity is actually started it finishes in less time than its planned duration.

Navigating the Delay Table

To access the Delay Table:

1. From the Project List, click on the desired Project.
2. From here, click Analysis from the top menu.
3. Click Delays from the left menu to open the delay table.
   
   

In the Delay Table, you can:

• Click the on the desired period’s red/green/blue bar grouping in the chart or the respective row in the table to view specific activities that caused delays or accelerations.
• Click "View Gantt" to open a Gantt chart displaying the details of the selected period.
  
  

Best Practices

• Regularly Review Delay Tables: Consistent analysis helps in identifying trends and potential issues early.
• Interpret Results in Context: Consider the broader project context when analyzing delays and accelerations.
• Utilize Gantt Charts for Visualization: Gantt charts provide a visual representation of delays and can aid in understanding the sequence of events.