The research projects are by very definition risk prone.

There are lot of

uncertainties in the number of activities that are needed to accomplish the goal of
the project. Some activities required may not even be visualized at the start of the
project. They may just crop up as necessary as the implementation of project
continues.
The duration of activities is also very uncertain in research project. The number of
cycles one may have to implement before getting the desired results is not known
in advance. Hence some activities may get implemented well within planned time
or lesser time and others may get delayed. This may be the main cause of delays
in the research projects.
One way of dealing with the problem is to provide time buffer in the estimate of
each activity so that we may get a realistic time frame for the project. The problem
with building up buffers in individual activities is that when the buffer is provided
people working on the activity slip in their comfort zone and take the buffer for
granted. They may not start with the mindset of not utilizing the buffer provided
in the time estimate of their activity.
!nother problem comes with resource planning. !s the resources are planned as
per individual activity schedules even if some activities get completed earlier than
planned subsequent activities cannot take off as resources required for the same
are planned as per the schedule. Thus gains in activity duration are lost. On the
other hand delay in any critical path activity results in delay in the completion of
following activity. This eventually delays the project.
""#$ advocates building of time buffers for the whole project rather than on
activity. This results in planning of resources on a schedule where resources are
available to take advantage of early completion of any activity. The activity which
gets delayed time buffer to that e%tent is allocated to that activity. Thus slowly the
project time buffer is e%pected to get eroded.
One of the problems with the above method is estimation of time buffer. The time
buffer typically depends on the uncertainty in the activity time estimates. &e
propose to develop the buffer size based on the risk analysis of the project.
!nother problem is waiting of resources for the completion of activity. This
involves cost of waiting resources. &e are proposing buffer in two equal parts
across the schedule to minimise the problem. The position of buffer can be
determined by the time interval which is required to plan the resources of the
following activities. Thus a review can be taken continuously before planning for
the following activity resources. This would optimise cost as well as schedule of
the project.