Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

Techopedia explains Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

PERT was developed in 1950 by the U.S. Navy during the Cold War and is intended for large projects, which are:

• Complex
• Require a series of sequential tasks
• Performed in parallel with other projects

PERT planning usually involves the following steps:

1. Identifying Tasks and Milestones: Every project involves a series of required tasks. These tasks are listed in a table allowing additional information on sequence and timing to be added later.
2. Placing the Tasks in a Proper Sequence: The tasks are analyzed and placed in a sequence to get the desired results.
3. Network Diagramming: A network diagram is drawn using the activity sequence data showing the sequence of serial and parallel activities.
4. Time Estimating: This is the time required to carry out each activity, in three parts:
   1. Optimistic timing: The shortest time to complete an activity
   2. Most likely timing: The completion time having the highest probability
   3. Pessimistic timing: The longest time to complete an activity
   
5. Critical Path Estimating: This determines the total time required to complete a project.

PERT not only determines the time to complete a specific software development activity, but also determines the cost.