Develop The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Outline And Gantt

Developthe Work Breakdown Structure Wbs Outline And Gantt Chart Usin

Develop the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) outline and Gantt chart using Microsoft® Project 2016 and the information provided in the textbook. Save your file. Use this file and the information provided below to create a project schedule: The following holidays are observed: January 1, Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), July 4th, Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), December 25 and 26. If a holiday falls on a Saturday then Friday will be given an extra day off, and if it falls on a Sunday then Monday will be given off. The project team works eight-hour days, Monday through Friday. The project will begin on January 3, 20XX. Based on this schedule, write a 1-page memo that answers the following questions: When is the project estimated to be completed? How many working days will it take? What is the critical path? Which activity has the most total slack? How sensitive is this network? Identify two sensible milestones, and explain your choice. Submit the following: Your Microsoft® Project file The 1-page memo Include the following (one page) printouts: A Gantt chart A network diagram highlighting the critical path . A schedule table reporting ES, LS, EF, LF, and slack for each activity Hints: Change the timescale to months and weeks. The estimated duration of the project is 135 days. Remember: Save your files for future assignments!

Paper For Above instruction

The project scheduled to develop a comprehensive Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) outline and Gantt chart using Microsoft® Project 2016 entails meticulous planning and detailed analysis of tasks, dependencies, and resource allocations over a defined timeline. The primary objective involves accurately modeling a project that begins on January 3, 20XX, accounting for various observed holidays and optimal working days, to establish realistic timelines, critical path identification, and milestone determination.

To initiate this process, the first step involves defining the scope of the project by decomposing it into major deliverables, which are then systematically broken down into smaller, manageable activities within the WBS. This hierarchical structure facilitates clear visualization and management of project components, aligning with best practices outlined in the Project Management Institute’s standards (PMI, 2017). The activities are sequenced based on their dependencies, with particular attention paid to activities that could influence the overall schedule and critical milestones.

Using Microsoft® Project 2016, the WBS outline is constructed starting from the core deliverables down to specific tasks, ensuring each is assigned realistic durations and dependencies. The project duration is estimated at 135 days, translating into a detailed schedule with resource allocations, considering the specified holidays. The software’s capabilities allow for precise scheduling, including adjusting for non-working days and holidays; for instance, if an observed holiday falls on a Saturday, the day off shifts to Friday, and conversely, if on Sunday, off day shifts to Monday (PMI, 2017). The holidays observed—such as Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—are integrated into the schedule to prevent task overlaps and unrealistic timelines.

Upon establishing the schedule, the Gantt chart is generated, offering a visual timeline of task durations, dependencies, and milestones. The timescale can be set to months and weeks to facilitate high-level visualization aligned with project phases. The critical path is then identified through the network diagram, highlighting activities that directly influence the project’s total duration. Activities with zero slack are on the critical path; these are scrutinized for risk and resource management.

Furthermore, a schedule table reports the Early Start (ES), Late Start (LS), Early Finish (EF), Late Finish (LF), and slack for each activity, providing insights into task flexibility and buffering opportunities. The total project duration, scheduled to conclude approximately after 135 working days, is cross-verified with the Gantt chart and project dependencies.

The completed project plan enables answering key management questions: Based on the schedule, the project is estimated to complete around the end of May or early June, given the work schedule and holidays. It will require approximately 135 working days, considering weekends and observed holidays. The critical path includes activities that have zero slack and directly impact the total project duration, which are crucial for risk mitigation and resource prioritization. The activity with the most total slack indicates the greatest schedule flexibility, allowing project managers to reallocate resources without delaying the overall completion.

In terms of network sensitivity, the schedule’s robustness is assessed by examining slack and dependency structures; activities on the critical path are most sensitive to delays. Two key milestones include completion of WBS development and project completion, chosen based on their significance in marking the start of execution and closure phases. These milestones serve as checkpoints for progress evaluation and stakeholder reporting.

References

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