NCJ Number
54506
Journal
EDUCATION OF THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 77-84
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A STEP-BY-STEP METHOD OF ASSESSING CASELOADS TO MAXIMIZE PROFESSIONAL EFFICIENCY AND SERVICE TO CLIENTS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE APPLICATION OF THE PROGRAM EVALUATION AND REVIEW TECHNIQUE (PERT) IS DESCRIBED AS IT IS USED IN A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED, MULTIIMPAIRED CHILDREN AND YOUTHS WITH BLINDNESS AS ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY DISABILITIES. THE COMPONENTS OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. PERT IS USED AS AN EVALUATION STRATEGY WHICH IT IS BELIEVED INSURES MAXIMUM EFFICIENT USE OF EACH STAFF MEMBERS'S TIME, WHILE WARNING OF STAFF OVEREXTENSIONS. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PERT IS INDICATED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (1) THE SUBACTIVITIES COMPRISING THE OVERALL PROJECT ARE IDENTIFIED, AND THE STARTING AND COMPLETION POINTS FOR EACH OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DEFINED; (2) THE INTERDEPENDENCIES BETWEEN ACTIVITIES ARE DETERMINED; (3) THE ACTIVITIES ARE ARRANGED IN A LOGICAL SEQUENCE WHICH REFLECTS ACTIVITY INTERDEPENDENCIES; (4) THREE TIME ESTIMATES FOR THE COMPLETION OF EACH ACTIVITY ARE MADE; (5) THE AMOUNT OF VARIANCE OR UNCERTAINTY ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLETING EACH ACTIVITY IS CALCULATED, USING THE THREE TIME ESTIMATE OBTAINED IN STEP FOUR; (6) THE PROBABILITY OF COMPLETING THE PROJECT WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME PERIOD AS A FUNCTION OF THE PLANNED STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCE INVESTMENTS IS COMPUTED; AND (7) A PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE ARRANGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED INITIATION AND COMPLETION TIMES IS DEVELOPED. THE DATA RESULTING FROM THE PERT ANALYSIS ARE THEN USED TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS. THE APPLICATION OF THE PERT SYSTEM TO THE PARTICULAR SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM DESCRIBED IS ILLUSTRATED USING ONE STAFF POSITION. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)