Public Administration Mains 2017 : Model Question and Answer - 46
Public Administration Mains 2017 : Model Question and Answer
(Public Administration Paper I / Chapter: Techniques of Administrative Improvement)
(Important) Question :
Do you think Techniques like PERT and CPM help in effective office management ?
(20 Marks/250 Words)
Model Answer :
Programme Evaluation and Review Technique and Critical Path Method are tools that can be integrated into office management to ensure timely completion of projects with efficient use of resources. Both these tools create a network outlay of the different activities and events that an office engages in and helps to provide a holistic picture of the tasks at hand.
PERT quantifies the time required for the different activities based on an arithmetic formula. PERT helps to adopt a forward looking approach in order to complete all activities on time. It does not however capture the cost element in its estimation. CPM on the other hand focuses on the shortest path in order to complete the project and tries to eliminate all potential delays and bottlenecks. It also ensures optimum utilization of resources and facilities. The use of both techniques facilitates a structured planning framework for the organization, enabling the necessary co-ordination for all the different activities. It has its limitations though, due to non applicability on routine tasks and uncertainty in the time estimated for activities without provisioning for unforeseen delays. (Total Words- 245)
(Linkages : PERT/CPM and Office Management, PERT/CPM and Network Outlay, PERT/CPM and Structured Planning)