PERTanalüüsi

PERTanalüüsi, also known as PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), is a project management tool used to analyze and represent the tasks involved in completing a project. Developed in the 1950s by the U.S. Navy's Polaris missile project in collaboration with the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, PERT aims to facilitate planning, scheduling, and coordinating complex projects.

The core of PERT involves creating a project network diagram that visually maps out the sequence of activities and their dependencies. Each activity is associated with three time estimates: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic durations. These estimates are used to compute the expected time for each activity, providing a probabilistic view of project duration. The technique allows project managers to identify the critical path—the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project completion time—and to determine associated slack or float times.

PERT is especially useful in projects where activity durations are uncertain, helping managers assess risks and make informed decisions. It also enables resource allocation optimization and progress tracking. Over time, PERT has been complemented and integrated with other project management tools like the Critical Path Method (CPM), although it remains valuable for its emphasis on uncertainty and probabilistic analysis.

While PERT has been widely adopted in industries such as defense, construction, and research and development, its reliance on accurate estimations can be a challenge. Nonetheless, it remains a fundamental technique in project management, particularly for large or complex projects with significant uncertainty.