--- title: "Planning, scheduling; linked bar chart" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 3 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:planning-scheduling-linked-bar-chart" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/planning-scheduling-linked-bar-chart site: BCT Engineering --- # Planning, scheduling; linked bar chart Project Engineering · Chapter 3: Project Planning and Scheduling - Asked in: 2072 Chaitra, 2+4 marks - Video: [How to Draw a Gantt Chart - Example #1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5IUNGnM2Fo) — Engineer4Free - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/planning-scheduling-linked-bar-chart - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-3 ## Question Define planning and scheduling. Prepare a linked bar chart for a construction project with at least 10 activities. ## Short answer Planning defines what, how, and who; scheduling assigns when activities occur. The linked bar chart for a house project with 10 activities shows sequential and parallel work, with dependencies and 24-week project duration. ## Answer #### Planning and scheduling - **Planning** decides *what* work is to be done, *how* (method and sequence), by *whom* and with *what resources*, to achieve the project objectives. It answers what, how, who. - **Scheduling** puts the planned activities on a time scale. It fixes the start and finish date of each activity, the project duration and the float, answering *when*. Planning comes first; scheduling follows from it. #### Linked bar chart: construction of a house (10 activities) | Code | Activity | Duration (weeks) | Predecessor | |---|---|---|---| | A | Site clearing and layout | 1 | - | | B | Excavation | 2 | A | | C | Foundation (PCC and footing) | 3 | B | | D | Plinth beam and DPC | 2 | C | | E | Columns and brick walls | 5 | D | | F | Roof slab | 3 | E | | G | Plumbing and electrical conduits | 3 | E | | H | Plastering | 3 | F, G | | I | Flooring, doors and windows | 3 | H | | J | Painting and finishing | 2 | I | Linked bar chart (time in weeks; `>` shows the link from the finish of a predecessor to the start of the successor): ```text 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 (wk) +------------------------ A Site clearing |#> B Excavation | ##> C Foundation | ###> D Plinth beam | ##> E Walls+columns | #####> F Roof slab | ###> G Plumb/electric| ###> H Plastering | ###> I Floor,doors | ###> J Painting | ## +------------------------ ``` Start times: A 0, B 1, C 3, D 6, E 8, F 13, G 13, H 16, I 19, J 22. Project duration = 22 + 2 = **24 weeks**. Activities F and G are done in parallel; all others are in a series, so the chain A-B-C-D-E-F(or G)-H-I-J controls the completion. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which question does scheduling answer? A. What work is to be done B. When each activity starts and finishes C. Who will do the work D. Which method is cheapest Answer: B. Scheduling puts planned activities on a time scale and fixes dates, duration and float; planning answers what, how and who. (Key point: Planning vs scheduling) 2. How are planning and scheduling related? A. Planning comes first and scheduling follows from it B. Scheduling comes first and planning follows C. They are the same activity D. Planning only begins after the project ends Answer: A. Activities must be decided before they can be placed on a time scale. (Key point: Order) 3. In the 10-activity house example, what is the project duration? A. 22 weeks B. 19 weeks C. 24 weeks D. 30 weeks Answer: C. J starts at week 22 and lasts 2 weeks, so duration = 24 weeks. (Key point: Project duration) 4. Which activities run in parallel in the example? A. Excavation (B) and foundation (C) B. Plastering (H) and flooring (I) C. Site clearing (A) and painting (J) D. Roof slab (F) and plumbing (G) Answer: D. F and G both follow E and both precede H; all others are in series. (Key point: Parallel activities) ## Related in Project Engineering - [Planning in dynamic environment; linked bar chart](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aplanning-necessary-dynamic-linked-bar) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Bar chart of irrigation project with milestones](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Abar-chart-irrigation-milestones) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Planning need, tools, bar chart limitations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aplanning-necessary-tools-bar-chart-limits) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [When to use bar chart, CPM, PERT](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Abar-chart-cpm-pert-situations) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Planning tools, milestone chart, WBS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aplanning-tools-milestone-wbs) — Project Engineering, chapter 3 - [Bar chart advantages and limitations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Abar-chart-advantages-limitations) — Project Engineering, chapter 3, asked 2× ## Related in other subjects - [Bar chart vs CPM/PERT as planning tool](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aplanning-tool-choice) — Construction Management, chapter 2, asked 3× - [TCTO numerical with time-cost chart (five activities)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atcto-2079-jestha) — Construction Management, chapter 2 - [Planned maintenance, planning and scheduling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aplanned-maintenance-scheduling) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 2× - [Importance and steps of planning and scheduling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aplanning-importance-steps) — Construction Management, chapter 2