# Project network

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Diagram showing the order of activities

"Network chart" redirects here. For the 1980s and early 1990s British radio show, see [The Network Chart Show](/source/The_Network_Chart_Show).

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A **project network diagram**, also known an **activity network diagram** (**AND**) is a [graph](/source/Information_graphics) that displays the order in which a project’s activities are to be completed. Derived from the [work breakdown structure](/source/Work_breakdown_structure), the [terminal elements](/source/Work_breakdown_structure#Terminal_element) of a project are organized sequentially based on the relationship among them. It is typically drawn from left to right to reflect project chronology.[1]

Activity-on-Node Diagram

## Techniques

### Activity-on-Node

The Activity-on-Node (AON) technique uses nodes to represent individual project activities and path arrows to designate the sequence of activity completion.[2] Nodes are labelled using information pertaining to the activity. According to Project Management, nodes should at least display the following information:[3]

- Identifier

- Descriptive label

- Activity duration

- Early start time

- Early finish time

- Late start time

- Late finish time

- Activity float (slack)

Activity Node Labels

Start and finish times are used to determine the [critical path](/source/Critical_path_method) of a project. [Activity float](/source/Float_(project_management)), or slack, time is used in project crashing.

## Other techniques

The condition for a valid project network is that it doesn't contain any [circular references](/source/Circular_reference).

Project dependencies can also be depicted by a predecessor table. Although such a form is very inconvenient for human analysis, [project management software](/source/Project_management_software) often offers such a view for data entry.

An alternative way of showing and analyzing the sequence of project work is the design structure matrix or [dependency structure matrix](/source/Dependency_structure_matrix).

## See also

- [Bar chart](/source/Bar_chart)

- [Float (project management)](/source/Float_(project_management))

- [Gantt chart](/source/Gantt_chart)

- [Project management](/source/Project_management)

- [Project planning](/source/Project_planning)

- [Program evaluation and review technique](/source/Program_evaluation_and_review_technique)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Project Network Diagram"](http://www.projectauditors.com/Dictionary2/1.8/index.php/term/,62555d9cae535f6f685560ac5b5d.xhtml). projectauditors.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kramer, S. W. & Jenkins, J. L. (2006). Understanding the basics of CPM calculations: what is scheduling software really telling you? Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2006—North America, Seattle, WA. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Pinto, Jeffrey K. (2019). *Project management : achieving competitive advantage* (Fifth ed.). New York, NY. pp. 316–319. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-13-473033-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-13-473033-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1007502136](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1007502136).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

## External links

- [Critical Path Mapping with Activity Network Diagrams](http://www.pmhut.com/critical-path-mapping-with-activity-network-diagrams)

- [Understand how scheduling tools works-Draw network diagram yourself](http://www.planningengineer.net/understand-scheduling-tools-worksdraw-network-diagram/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Project network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_network) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_network?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.