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 AACE International Recommended Practice No. 24R-03

DEVELOPING ACTIVITY LOGIC

TCM Framework: 7.2 – Schedule Planning and Development

Acknowledgments:
Jennifer Bates, CCE Katrina D. Knight
Steven G. J. Boeschoten Philip D. Larson, CCE
Larry R. Dysert, CCC Wesley R. Querns, CCE
H. Ernest Hani Dr. Randy R. Rapp, PE CCE
Christian Heller Richard A. Selg CCE
John K. Hollmann, PE CCE Kul B. Uppal, PE

Copyright 2004 AACE, Inc. AACE International Recommended Practices

AACE International Recommended Practice No. 24R-03
DEVELOPING ACTIVITY LOGIC
TCM Framework: 7.2 – Schedule Planning and Development

March 26, 2004

PURPOSE

This recommended practice is intended to provide a guideline, not establish a standard. This is not a
how-to on any particular methodology.

As a recommended practice of AACE International, development of activity logic (also called network
logic) in planning and scheduling provides guidelines for the sequencing of activities in a logical way
generally before duration estimating can be performed. Logic is generally determined before durations
are considered. Logic development methods include precedence diagramming, or arrow diagramming
methods. Logic is the set of activities and dependency relationships between them. Logic dictates the
planned sequencing of activities. A network diagram is often used to illustrate the logic.

Planning and scheduling are not the same. Planning is determining how the work will be done, while
scheduling is the analysis and calculation of start and finish dates.

Logic enables the combination of activities to be arranged in one of the aforementioned formats so that a
completion date can be established. Logic also enables backward passes to arrive at optimal overall
schedule duration.

This recommended practice is for use by project team members involved in planning process, a
continuation of activity identification process (reference TCM Framework section 7.2). As in identification
of activities, many individuals contribute to the development of activity logic. Having an experienced
planner coordinate the process improves final quality, and adds value to the planning process.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICE

Who Develops Logic

Better planning results from the involvement of key team members facilitated by the project planner. For
example, on a large construction project key members involved in this process might include a project
manager, construction manager, estimator, procurement manager, design manager, owner
representative, operations representative, and scheduler.

A planner has strong working knowledge of how the work is performed (i.e., how the activities inter-
relate). A scheduler takes the plan, and performs analytical functions to create the actual project
schedule such as estimation of time durations. One individual may serve as both the planner and
scheduler, or at other times may be different people.

A team meeting or workshop is an excellent means to develop activity logic. This may be combined with
the workshop to identify activities.

When Should You Develop Logic

Logic development is an iterative planning process. Initial logic development is begun after identification
of activities, and before the scheduling process step occurs. This process is further refined during
schedule development and optimization.

Copyright 2004 AACE International, Inc. AACE International Recommended Practices

Developing Activity Logic 2 of 4

March 26, 2004

How To Develop Logic

Generally, logic development starts with an activity list. Related business and project requirements must
also be considered such as project specific logic constraints. Other useful information for logic
development includes pre-existing logic templates, and historical references such as past project plans,
schedules, or parts thereof.

One method often used at the beginning of logic development is to write each activity on a separate card,
and place them on a wall. In a team process, the cards can be arranged to create a basic sequencing of
activities. Some sequencing is obvious such as forming before placing concrete. Other relationships
require flexibility and creativity in achieving planned objectives. Some activities may be concurrent, while
others may be sequential. This needs to be done in consideration of the dependency relationships
described below. Once set, the activity sequence information may be entered into a scheduling software
application

What Are the Logic Relationships

Each activity has a start and a finish. A single logic relationship describes the interdependency of starts
and finishes between two activities. There are four possible relationships between an activity’s start and
finish, and those of other activities.

The most commonly used relationship between two activities is finish-to-start (FS), wherein the first
activity must finish before the second activity can start. A second type is finish-to-finish (FF), where two
activities must complete at the same time. The third type is start-to-start (SS), where two activities start at
the same time (regardless of their finish dates). The fourth is start-to-finish (SF), where an activity must
start before a second activity can finish.

Additionally, lag time can be applied to all four relationship types. Lags are timing applied to logic; they
consume time, but are not activities per se. For example, lags can be used to define that footing
formwork needs to remain in place until concrete is properly cured.

Activities can be linked with hard logic (i.e., sequence of each activity is predetermined, such as footing A
before footing B), or soft logic wherein related activities may be combined and accomplished in a different
order as determined at the time of execution. There are also physical hard logic relationships where soft
logic does not normally apply, such as footing formwork must be in place before concrete can be placed.

What Are Logic Diagramming Methods

There are two common diagramming methods. One, precedence diagramming method (PDM), is known
as “activities on node.” In this method, each activity is represented by a node with connecting lines
representing relationships between activities. Each preceding activity (predecessor) controls the start or
finish of succeeding activities (successors). The PDM method can use all four-relationship types.

Copyright 2004 AACE International, Inc. AACE International Recommended Practices

Developing Activity Logic 3 of 4

March 26, 2004

Figure 1. Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) – “Activity on Node”

The second, arrow diagramming method (ADM), is known as “activity-on-arrow”. In this method, each
activity is represented by an arrow between nodes. In this case, the nodes are merely symbols
representing connection points. In the ADM method, only finish-start relationships are used.

Figure 2. Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) – “Activity on Arrow”

The PDM method is the most commonly used because it provides greater flexibility due to the availability
of more relationship types.

Before beginning schedule analysis, the logic network diagram should have a single start node or point,
and a single finish point or node. Every activity between the overall start and finish must have both a start
and a finish relationship.

Copyright 2004 AACE International, Inc. AACE International Recommended Practices

Developing Activity Logic 4 of 4

March 26, 2004

Figure 3. Precedence Diagramming

What’s Next

Development of activity logic is a pure planning step where relationships are established regardless of the
dates on which activities fall. The next step in the planning and scheduling process is to consider other
factors such as time, resources, and milestones to achieve project objectives.

CONTRIBUTORS

Jennifer Bates, CCE

Steven G. J. Boeschoten
Larry R. Dysert, CCC
H. Ernest Hani
Christian Heller
John K. Hollmann, PE CCE
Katrina D. Knight
Philip D. Larson, CCE
Wesley R. Querns, CCE
Dr. Randy R. Rapp, PE CCE
Richard A. Selg CCE
Kul B. Uppal, PE

Copyright 2004 AACE International, Inc. AACE International Recommended Practices