Developing schedules, activity network diagrams, and determining the
critical path are important for successful projects. This assignment
allows you to work through creating diagrams, identifying critical
paths, determine which tasks to crash, as well as identify resource
constraints.
Click here to download the Microsoft Excel template to use for this Assignment.
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Activity Network Diagram. Using the data provided in
the Excel template develop an activity network diagram. Note an example
is created for you in Excel that you can alter. -
Critical Path. Using the data provided in the Excel
template, determine the critical path by doing a forward and backwards
pass. Then identify the critical path and the longest duration. -
Project Crashing. You are considering the decision of
whether or not to crash your project. After asking your operations
manager to conduct an analysis, you have determined the “precrash” and
“postcrash” activity durations and costs, as provided in the Excel
template. Compute the per day costs for crashing each activity and
determine what are the top two candidates for crashing. -
Resource Loading. Review the resource-loading chart
provided in the Excel template. Suppose that you can commit a maximum of
eight resource hours per day. What are the dates on which the project
resources are overallocated? How could you reconfigure to correct the
overallocation?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
This assignment focuses on project management techniques such as developing activity network diagrams, identifying critical paths, and determining task crashing options along with resource constraints. Students will work with Microsoft Excel templates to complete this assignment.
1. Activity Network Diagram:
To complete the activity network diagram, students must use the data provided in the Microsoft Excel template to create a visual representation of the sequencing of project activities. An example is provided for students to alter if needed.
2. Critical Path:
Using the data provided in the Microsoft Excel template, students must determine the critical path by conducting a forward and backward pass. After identifying the critical path, they must determine the longest duration.
3. Project Crashing:
After analyzing the project, students must decide whether to crash the project or not. Using the Excel template, they must compare the “precrash” and “postcrash” activity durations and costs. They must also compute the per day costs for crashing each task and determine the top two candidates for crashing.
4. Resource Loading:
Students must review the resource-loading chart provided in the Excel template and determine the dates on which the project resources become overallocated. They must then provide solutions to reconfigure and correct the overallocation issue while committing a maximum of eight resource hours per day.
In conclusion, this assignment will help students understand project management techniques and allow them to apply their knowledge to a practical scenario.
