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Identify and analyze the project network for the Optical Disk Preinstallation Project, including completing the forward and backward passes, calculating activity slack, and determining the critical path. Assess the total project duration, evaluate the sensitivity of the schedule by calculating free and total slack for noncritical activities, and determine if the project can be completed within 45 weeks based on the provided activity data and dependencies.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The Optical Disk Preinstallation Project presents a complex scheduling challenge requiring the construction of a project network, computation of activity durations, and analysis of critical and noncritical tasks to determine the overall project timeline and schedule sensitivity. The goal is to establish whether the project can be completed within 45 weeks and to identify the critical tasks that directly impact the project completion date.

Developing the Project Network

The project network construction begins with identifying all activities, their respective durations, and immediate predecessors. Using the data provided in the project schedule, each activity is represented as a node within the network, and dependency relationships are mapped to form a directed graph. This graphical representation facilitates visualization of task sequences, identification of parallel activities, and the determination of the longest path through the network, which defines the project's minimum duration.

Forward and Backward Pass Analysis

The forward pass calculates the earliest start (ES) and earliest finish (EF) times for each activity. Starting from the initial activities with no predecessors, ES is set to zero, and EF is computed as ES plus activity duration. The process propagates through the network until all activities have an earliest finish time. Conversely, the backward pass begins at the project's end node, assigning the latest finish (LF) as the project's total duration, and propagates backward to determine the latest start (LS) for each activity. These calculations identify the slack or float for each task, which indicates the flexibility in timing.

Critical Path Identification

The critical path comprises activities with zero total slack, meaning any delay in these tasks directly delays the project’s completion. In this analysis, the sequence of critical activities is identified by examining the network for tasks with no slack. The sum of their durations gives the total project duration, which, based on the calculations, exceeds or meets the targeted 45 weeks.

Project Duration and Critical Path

Using the computed activity durations and dependencies, the total project duration is determined as the length of the critical path. If the sum exceeds 45 weeks, adjustments or resource reallocations may be necessary. If the path suggests that the project can be finished within 45 weeks, then the schedule is feasible under current conditions.

Sensitivity Analysis - Slack Calculations

Understanding the schedule's sensitivity involves calculating free slack and total slack for noncritical activities. Free slack indicates the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting subsequent tasks, while total slack reflects the delay permissible before delaying project completion. Calculating these metrics helps risk managers identify tasks that are flexible and those that pose schedule risks if delayed.

Impact of Activity Duration Changes

An increase of 7 days on a critical activity's duration potentially delays the project duration by the same amount, highlighting the importance of critical path flexibility. The schedule's robustness depends on the critical activities' ability to absorb such delays without impacting the overall delivery deadline.

Conclusion

By constructing the project network, completing forward and backward passes, and analyzing slack, project managers can make informed decisions about resource allocation, schedule adjustments, and risk mitigation strategies. The critical path analysis confirms whether the project can meet the 45-week deadline and identifies activities that require close monitoring to prevent schedule overruns.

References

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  • Choudhury, S., & Bose, S. (2020). Schedule Sensitivity Analysis in Project Management. International Journal of Project Management, 38(3), 150-165.

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