Total float management for delay analysis

Current delay analysis techniques provide a trade-off between accuracy and expense. The less expensive techniques, such as: 'impacted as-planned' tend to be less accurate. However, the more accurate but expensive techniques, such as: 'windows' can be less expensive by following systematic approaches and using computers. One such technique: the total float management technique for delay analysis is described in this article. It apportions ownership of total floats to the various project participants, at the start of the project. All network wide changes in the total floats, as they occur day-by-day, are recorded and credited or debited to the party that caused the change. The responsibility of delays to the successor activities, are then assigned to the party that reduced the total float of the successor activities. This article outlines a step-by-step algorithm to compute the project wide impacts of delays. Concurrent delays, pacing delays, and related issues are addressed. An expert system is being developed to compute liquidated damages, contractor damage claims; and any delay in project completion, using the total float management system for delay analysis. This article is reprinted from the 2005 AACE International Transactions, where it was manuscript CDR.16.