Have all planning work in ONE file, under ONE layout using ONE tool.
Planning Engineers are overwhelmed with so many tools and files. They use different tools such as Primavera P6 for progress review, excel for progress analysis and PowerPoint for progress presentation. Moreover, they use many excel sheets for different purposes which may include: Variance Analysis, Breakdown Analysis, Trends, Dashboards, Progress Curves, a Progress Matrix, Gantt Charts, etc. You can apply intermediate formulas among different files but each file has its own configuration setup.
Here is what the main workflow for most planning engineers looks like.
Here are some of the problems associated with working with multiple files:
Moreover, this workflow has many problems beyond the progress report preparation. The report review doesn’t get any easier. You will probably need to import multiple XER files as necessary or navigate among different files in the report to look for the information that you need.
Working with many files causes huge friction, constraints, limitations, congestion and tasks traffic. Dealing with many planning files may help you arrive at the desired destination but you never reach your full potential. Moreover, you will also feel exhausted and unable to deliver "value". In addition, this process often produces static reporting, not interactive.
You should have all your project control work in one file under one layout using one tool only. This helps you connect all project control data easily and build interactive reports effectively. Here is what it looks like inside Power BI.
Your project control model should operate like a subway where you:
You simply have full control when you have everything available and connected in one place. While you still need scheduling software such as P6, you will definitely need a powerful data analytics processor to have everything under ONE.
Power BI provides planning engineers with great tools that help them complete most of the project control tasks on autopilot and in a seamless way. That’s the power of ONE in project control.
Regards,
Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, PMI-SP
Learn More!