The Global Epicenter of Construction Project Planning and Scheduling

ICS-GLOBAL, In a Nutshell

The #2 book on construction scheduling* click here

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Keith Pickavance, Hill International, Vice President
This is a seminal work which will shape this industry for generations to come.

Chris Carson, Alpha Corporation, Corporate Director Project Controls
I told my boss that we will need to purchase a copy for every scheduling person at Alpha, due to the technical and practical accuracy and clarity.

Matt Stevens, Author, Managing a Construction Firm on 24 Hours/Day
Your book is a very strong addition to knowledge about construction contracting and project scheduling.

N. Zonneveld, Netherlands
This is by far the most interesting and comprehensive book I've ever read on project scheduling. The concept of Momentology is much more viable than Critical Chain and should really deserve more attention. Although not for the novice scheduler, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in CPM.

Keith Howard, Motorola, Corporate Director of Project Planning
The book makes some very good points that the novice or even seasoned practitioner should read.

David Kaiser, Schedule Associates, President
Just two weeks ago I was asked to recommend a quality book on scheduling practices. I suggested Murray's, even though the requestor doesn't work in construction. It's the book I turn to when I want to know the "right" way to assemble and manage a schedule as well as the reasoning behind that practice. It also provides a candid look at the weaknesses of our current processes and recommendations for an improved path forward.

MISSION STATEMENT: ICS (ICS-Global) is a one-stop resource for both consumers and providers of construction planning and scheduling products, services, and personnel. It is our commitment to expand the awareness, appreciation, and implementation of the many benefits provided by a quality construction Scheduling Practice. We pledge to continually sharpen the cutting edge of the Scheduling Practice through research, education, training, consulting, and direct implementation.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:A comprehensive array of products and services that provide powerful, affordable, much needed solutions to virtually all aspects of the construction Scheduling Practice. Seamlessly-integrated components strike a practical and functional balance between researching, educating, training, consulting, and implementing the spectrum of technological, methodological, philosophical, and cutting edge innovations in the field of Construction Planning and Scheduling.

MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Scheduling will provide project-specific planning and scheduling products and services that are guaranteed to supply the Project Manager with timely, accurate, insightful, and worthwhile information not otherwise available or accessible. All scheduling products and services (a) will exceed contract requirements, (b) will reflect an attractive cost-benefit ratio, (c) will communicate information in a readily intuitive manner, (d) will discourage disputes and foster an atmosphere of synergistic collaboration and cooperation among project participants, and (e) will aggressively facilitate the successful achievement of all time-related goals. Learn more...

And now ICS is proud to offer yet another first-of-a-kind service for the construction Scheduling Practice, the ICS SLIDE Squad -- a corps of ready-to-travel, senior-level schedulers who slide onto a new project, set up the project schedule, turn it over to the Contractor ’s scheduling staff to maintain and use, and then slide off the project. Learn more...

COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: All construction planning and scheduling services provided by ICS-Scheduling shall be in accordance with the ICS Compendium, a five-volume set of concepts, principles, standards, best practices, required operating procedures, and terminology. If either a project’s contract or its Owner’s edicts prohibit Compendium-quality products and services, ICS-Scheduling will decline the assignment. Compendium-based scheduling is characterized by (a) quicker and easier schedule development, (b) schedules that are lean and robust, and (c) schedule performance that is more coherent, relevant, and field-oriented. Scheduling under the ICS Compendium is compatible with what it calls Cognitive Project Management, a philosophy that focuses management attention on what is known and reasonably expected, and less on retrospective trending exercises.

MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Network will assemble, operate, and promote the largest and most qualified gathering of independent construction planning and scheduling consultants available anywhere in the United States with a single phone call or email. All products and services provided by ICS-Network Affiliate companies carry performance guarantees by ICS to be timely, cost-effective, thorough, and professional, and will be supervised and managed by IQ Consultants (ICS-Qualified) professionals who have been confirmed to possess the highest levels of construction planning and scheduling skill, knowledge, experience, professionalism, honesty, and integrity. Learn more...

COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: Every IQ-Consultant must survive a thorough and exhaustive Eligibility Screening that effectively eliminates all but the highest scoring, most qualified construction planning and scheduling practitioners. To become an ICS-Network Affiliate, a consulting company must pass financial, legal, and character background checks, and must have and maintain on their staff at least one IQ-Consultant. All Network Affiliates agree to: (a) pre-negotiated billing rates, (b) share business leads and opportunities, as well as joint venture, with other Network Affiliates, (c) defer to ICS-Global in disputes with Network clients over Affiliate-rendered products and services, and (d) abide by the ICS Code of Standards and Ethics.

MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Placement will deliver innovative and powerful recruitment services, for employers of construction scheduling planning and scheduling professionals, that are designed to facilitate the identification, qualification, ranking, representation, and promotion of candidates whose skills, experience, qualifications, and personal attributes most closely align with the customer's specific staffing needs. Learn more...

COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: All ICS-Placement recruiters have at least ten-years of hands-on construction planning/scheduling experience. All candidates (a) undergo a thorough vetting process that includes a 250-question, 45-minute Telephone Interview, and a two-hour, 400-question online Skills Assessment examination; (b) are assigned a competency ranking that ranges from Apprentice to Journeyman to Master; and, (c) are presented to the customer using a seven-page Applicant Profile that allows the customer to compare and contrast multiple applicants for a specific opening.

MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Training will improve the quality of construction planning and scheduling products and services provided anywhere in the world through a variety of programs, including education, training, and consulting. Learn more...

COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: Under ICS-Training, both individuals and companies can satisfy their educational and developmental needs in the area of construction planning and scheduling, through a selection of coursework, seminars, and tailored consulting.

ICS Global Future Components

	EXCERPT FROM FOREWORD BY James J. O'Brien Visionary / Consultant/ Author Considered by many as the "Father of Modern Scheduling" Author of #1 book on construction scheduling: CPM in Construction Management Murray's book is, in my opinion, "the real thing." I expect his readers to revisit this book many times as they become more experienced. It will be a useful reference. His analysis of Total Float and Free Float was outstanding!! He postulated several conclusions that I had never even considered. He has a profound understanding of what we are all about, what we are trying to accomplish, what we are doing right, what we are doing wrong, where we seem to be headed, what course adjustments we need to make, and what re-engineering we need to impose upon ourselves as a discipline to get from the discouraring state we are in to the dynamic state to which all professional schedulers aspire. I find that this book is full of ideas and concepts that are interesting and refreshing to me, a 44-year scheduler veteran, and I would suggest that it is an equally good set of guidelines for the "rookies." It is also a must read for project owners, project directors, and project managers. This text is an excellent stand-alone book, with a promise of good things to follow. It offers so much that it is worth reading once lightly, and then again with a notepad in hand. Enjoy the journey!	ICS-GLOBAL, In a Nutshell
		ICS-GLOBAL Read more The governing structure for all of the following ICS interlinked divisions and components: ICS-Scheduling (Active) Read more Offers hands-on expertise in all facets of the construction Scheduling Practice, including: direct schedule production and maintenance, consulting services, staff augmentation, preventive oversight, Scheduler's Lifeline, etc. ICS-Placement (Active) Read more Delivers innovative and powerful recruitment services, for employers of construction scheduling planning and scheduling professionals. ICS-Research (Active) Read more Will administer corporately funded and academically-performed research studies for the advancement of the Scheduling Practice. Will also operate a Think Tank and objective, third-party testing lab for examining and rating emerging technologies and methodologies. ICS-Publications (Active) Read more Will be a literary clearinghouse for reliable, correct, and useful literature on Scheduling Practice topics. ICS-Network (Summer 2010) Read more Will be an elite association for independent construction Scheduling Consultants to collaborate, share clients and work, and joint venture with confidence. ICS-Institute (Summer 2010) Read more Will operate a Construction Scheduling School to produce the next generation of construction Scheduling Apprentices. ICS-Training (Fall 2010) Read more Will offer tailored seminars, webinars, and self-study online coursework and materials for continuing education in the Scheduling Practice. ICS-Compendium (Winter '10) Read more Will stand as a one-of-a-kind desk reference that covers all essential aspects of the construction Scheduling Practice. ICS-Scoring (Summer 2011) Read more Will provide an independent evaluation of proposed and actual projects schedule, as well as their development and maintenance programs. ICS-Specifications (Summer 2011) Read more Will be an interactice software program that will generate a unique scheduling spec for each unique project. ICS-Certification (Summer '11) Read more Will offer a construction scheduling credentiali that (a) differentiates between planners and schedulers, and between apprentices, journeymen, and masters, and (b) confirms ICS Compendium understanding.
The #2 book on construction scheduling* click here Order your autographed copy today! What colleagues say about the author View Murray B. Woolf's Linked-In profile Keith Pickavance, Hill International, Vice President This is a seminal work which will shape this industry for generations to come. Chris Carson, Alpha Corporation, Corporate Director Project Controls I told my boss that we will need to purchase a copy for every scheduling person at Alpha, due to the technical and practical accuracy and clarity. Matt Stevens, Author, Managing a Construction Firm on 24 Hours/Day Your book is a very strong addition to knowledge about construction contracting and project scheduling. N. Zonneveld, Netherlands This is by far the most interesting and comprehensive book I've ever read on project scheduling. The concept of Momentology is much more viable than Critical Chain and should really deserve more attention. Although not for the novice scheduler, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in CPM. Keith Howard, Motorola, Corporate Director of Project Planning The book makes some very good points that the novice or even seasoned practitioner should read. David Kaiser, Schedule Associates, President Just two weeks ago I was asked to recommend a quality book on scheduling practices. I suggested Murray's, even though the requestor doesn't work in construction. It's the book I turn to when I want to know the "right" way to assemble and manage a schedule as well as the reasoning behind that practice. It also provides a candid look at the weaknesses of our current processes and recommendations for an improved path forward. * Amazon.com	Mike Hopkins, Fluor, Vice President Momentum Management may well be the most practical and straight-forward concept devised to date. Ted Douglas, ACTPMA, President I felt that the subject matter and style were appropriate for any scheduler who has “been in the trenches” more than a couple of times. After twenty plus years of scheduling, I was pleased to find that I was not out in a foxhole by myself. Jeff Huneycutt, US Army Corps of Engineers, Planning/ Scheduling Director I was glad to see this in print. Many people monitor a schedule strictly by float and don’t understand that there is so much more involved in the analysis of a schedule that just looking at float or even earned value. I would recommend this book to all of the classes that I teach. Craig Olsen, Scheduling Consultants, Inc., President I am just glad that I am not alone in the way I see the project controls business. I would like to buy a couple copies of the book for the staff to reads. Candace Drake, Boeing, Global Services & Support I am enjoying the book and am excited about reading it. You have already answered some of my scheduling questions and I am looking forward to finishing it the first time around. I plan to read it a second time and organizing a notebook so I can apply your teaching methods to my work. I am looking forward to future works of yours to add to my library. I have recommended your book to my daughter and her husband who are schedulers as well. It is a great work and a must for those of us who are fairly new to scheduling. This book has helped me more than any other book I have read. Thank you.
ICS-GLOBAL
MISSION STATEMENT: ICS (ICS-Global) is a one-stop resource for both consumers and providers of construction planning and scheduling products, services, and personnel. It is our commitment to expand the awareness, appreciation, and implementation of the many benefits provided by a quality construction Scheduling Practice. We pledge to continually sharpen the cutting edge of the Scheduling Practice through research, education, training, consulting, and direct implementation.		COMPANY DESCRIPTION:A comprehensive array of products and services that provide powerful, affordable, much needed solutions to virtually all aspects of the construction Scheduling Practice. Seamlessly-integrated components strike a practical and functional balance between researching, educating, training, consulting, and implementing the spectrum of technological, methodological, philosophical, and cutting edge innovations in the field of Construction Planning and Scheduling.

ICS-SCHEDULING
MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Scheduling will provide project-specific planning and scheduling products and services that are guaranteed to supply the Project Manager with timely, accurate, insightful, and worthwhile information not otherwise available or accessible. All scheduling products and services (a) will exceed contract requirements, (b) will reflect an attractive cost-benefit ratio, (c) will communicate information in a readily intuitive manner, (d) will discourage disputes and foster an atmosphere of synergistic collaboration and cooperation among project participants, and (e) will aggressively facilitate the successful achievement of all time-related goals. Learn more... And now ICS is proud to offer yet another first-of-a-kind service for the construction Scheduling Practice, the ICS SLIDE Squad -- a corps of ready-to-travel, senior-level schedulers who slide onto a new project, set up the project schedule, turn it over to the Contractor ’s scheduling staff to maintain and use, and then slide off the project. Learn more...		COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: All construction planning and scheduling services provided by ICS-Scheduling shall be in accordance with the ICS Compendium, a five-volume set of concepts, principles, standards, best practices, required operating procedures, and terminology. If either a project’s contract or its Owner’s edicts prohibit Compendium-quality products and services, ICS-Scheduling will decline the assignment. Compendium-based scheduling is characterized by (a) quicker and easier schedule development, (b) schedules that are lean and robust, and (c) schedule performance that is more coherent, relevant, and field-oriented. Scheduling under the ICS Compendium is compatible with what it calls Cognitive Project Management, a philosophy that focuses management attention on what is known and reasonably expected, and less on retrospective trending exercises.

ICS-NETWORK
MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Network will assemble, operate, and promote the largest and most qualified gathering of independent construction planning and scheduling consultants available anywhere in the United States with a single phone call or email. All products and services provided by ICS-Network Affiliate companies carry performance guarantees by ICS to be timely, cost-effective, thorough, and professional, and will be supervised and managed by IQ Consultants (ICS-Qualified) professionals who have been confirmed to possess the highest levels of construction planning and scheduling skill, knowledge, experience, professionalism, honesty, and integrity. Learn more...		COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: Every IQ-Consultant must survive a thorough and exhaustive Eligibility Screening that effectively eliminates all but the highest scoring, most qualified construction planning and scheduling practitioners. To become an ICS-Network Affiliate, a consulting company must pass financial, legal, and character background checks, and must have and maintain on their staff at least one IQ-Consultant. All Network Affiliates agree to: (a) pre-negotiated billing rates, (b) share business leads and opportunities, as well as joint venture, with other Network Affiliates, (c) defer to ICS-Global in disputes with Network clients over Affiliate-rendered products and services, and (d) abide by the ICS Code of Standards and Ethics.

ICS-PLACEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Placement will deliver innovative and powerful recruitment services, for employers of construction scheduling planning and scheduling professionals, that are designed to facilitate the identification, qualification, ranking, representation, and promotion of candidates whose skills, experience, qualifications, and personal attributes most closely align with the customer's specific staffing needs. Learn more...		COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: All ICS-Placement recruiters have at least ten-years of hands-on construction planning/scheduling experience. All candidates (a) undergo a thorough vetting process that includes a 250-question, 45-minute Telephone Interview, and a two-hour, 400-question online Skills Assessment examination; (b) are assigned a competency ranking that ranges from Apprentice to Journeyman to Master; and, (c) are presented to the customer using a seven-page Applicant Profile that allows the customer to compare and contrast multiple applicants for a specific opening.

ICS-TRAINING
MISSION STATEMENT: ICS-Training will improve the quality of construction planning and scheduling products and services provided anywhere in the world through a variety of programs, including education, training, and consulting. Learn more...		COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: Under ICS-Training, both individuals and companies can satisfy their educational and developmental needs in the area of construction planning and scheduling, through a selection of coursework, seminars, and tailored consulting.
For Owners The Straight Talk Series of seminars, directed at project owners (and their representatives), construction/project managers, and experienced scheduling practitioners, is held year-round in locations across the United States. For Project Managers The ICS-Institute operates Project Manager Boot Camp, which teaches project managers how to design, develop, maintain, and use their own schedules on projects not supported by a professional construction scheduler. For Companies ICS-Consulting provides customized corporate consulting and training, designed to support development of in-house scheduling capacity and quality.		For Experienced Schedulers ICS-Scheduling School offers a series of self-paced, online continuing education courses for practicing planners and schedulers that teaches schedule design, development, maintenance, and usage as a human endeavor (as opposed to software manipulation or claims avoidance, the two prevailing excuses for “scheduling” training). For Beginning Schedulers The ICS-Institute offers a Beginner’s Boot Camp is designed to grow the next generation of construction schedulers, by converting individuals with no prior construction, project management, or scheduling experience into hirable apprentice-level schedulers.
ICS Global Future Components
ICS-Scoring: An independent appraisal service for objectively evaluating and rating project-specific Scheduling products and services. ICS Compendium requires an ICS Score as part of each schedule baseline submission, as well as any Time Impact Analyses (TIAs) or claims for delay or acceleration. Learn more... ICS-Research: Administering corporately funded, academically-performed research studies for the advancement of the Scheduling Practice. Operates a Think Tank and objective, third-party testing lab for examining and rating emerging technologies and methodologies. Learn more... ICS-Publications: A literary clearinghouse for reliable, correct, and useful literature on Scheduling Practice topics. Also, publisher of Project Momentum, the official periodical of the International Center for Scheduling. Learn more...		ICS-Certification: Credentialing that differentiates between planners and schedulers, and between apprentices, journeymen, and masters. Learn more... ICS-Compendium: An all-encompassing treatise on the Scheduling Practice; including formulas, dictionary, roles and responsibilities, concepts, recommended policies, procedures, and practices, and more. Content is written at three different levels (and in three parallel columns), intended for Owners, Project Managers, and Scheduling Practitioners. Electronic version uses extensive hyperlinking to allow easy cross-referencing between target audiences. Written in five volumes, addressing: Doctrine, Technology, Ideology, Methodology, and Ecology, Learn more... ICS-Specifications: Interactive software that generates unique scheduling specifications for each unique project. Learn more...