Final Project Total Points 300 Purpose And Scope

Final Projecttotal Points 300 Purpose and Scope: you Have Been Asked To

You have been asked to create a comprehensive schedule report to present to the UT System for an Office Building to be built on a university campus in Austin, Texas. The schedule will be used in the presentation for a negotiated CM AT RISK contract. The project involves constructing a 4-story office building with glass and metal curtain wall and reinforced concrete frame, starting October 15, 2021, and concluding December 20, 2024. The project site is located in a crowded area along MLK Jr. Blvd.

The scope includes developing a detailed CPM schedule that coordinates all project activities, aligns with the owner's specifications, and identifies major milestones through project completion. The schedule must be maintained and updated regularly throughout the pre-construction and construction phases. You are to utilize MS Project, plan for a 5-day work week with scheduled holidays, and incorporate activities for general conditions, mobilization, and final cleanup/occupancy, besides those provided in the cost estimate.

The schedule will be part of a presentation to the owner and must be highly communicative, visually impressive, and show activities' early positions, floats, and milestones clearly. The schedule should include bar charts, network logic diagrams, weekly cash flow histograms, and an early start “S-curve” for cost analysis. Additionally, you will prepare two reports: a comprehensive project schedule visualized as a bar chart and logic diagram, and a milestone-specific schedule highlighting critical activities.

Following the scheduling, you will analyze the project timeline, providing specific suggestions to ensure completion on the scheduled date, and identify critical months requiring maximum funding to aid in financial planning. The final submission must be professional, organized, and include the project description, assumptions, and supporting documentation such as meeting minutes and RFIs.

Paper For Above instruction

The successful completion of construction projects hinges on meticulous scheduling, which encompasses not only the logical progression of activities but also the strategic allocation of resources and costs over time. In the case of the proposed office building on the UT campus in Austin, Texas, constructing a 4-story structure with glass and metal curtain walls, the importance of a well-prepared project schedule cannot be overstated. The process involves developing a comprehensive critical path method (CPM) schedule that coordinates all project phases, integrates various stakeholders’ inputs, and aligns with the owner’s expectations for timely delivery and budget adherence.

First and foremost, the development of the CPM schedule requires a detailed understanding of the project's scope, activities, and dependencies. Given the project’s start date of October 15, 2021, and completion date of December 20, 2024, the schedule must span over three years, requiring careful planning to manage overlapping activities, resource availability, and potential delays. Utilizing MS Project as the scheduling tool allows for dynamic updates and visual clarity, essential for stakeholder communication and decision-making.

The schedule must incorporate all relevant activities, including those specified in the cost estimate, as well as additional activities such as general conditions, mobilization, and final clean-up and occupancy. These latter activities are crucial for a comprehensive plan, ensuring no critical task is overlooked. The plan should consider the typical 5-day workweek with scheduled holidays, reflecting real-world constraints and labor availability.

To facilitate effective project tracking and management, the schedule will feature multiple visual tools. The bar chart, optimized to show activities across floors and wings, will display early start activities, float, and critical paths, providing an intuitive overview of the project's timeline. The owner-specific milestone chart will highlight key construction activities of particular interest, identifying those critical to the project's success and those with flexible timing. The network logic diagram will graphically represent task dependencies, offering insight into the sequence and timing of activities.

Furthermore, the project’s financial management will be supported by weekly cash flow histograms and a detailed "S-curve" illustrating cumulative costs over time. These tools facilitate early detection of potential cash shortages and enable proactive financial planning, ensuring resources are available when needed without causing delays.

The project report must also contain a thorough analysis section. This includes identifying strategies to adhere to the scheduled timeline, such as optimizing resource allocation, accelerating critical path activities, or adjusting sequencing where feasible. Additionally, it requires pinpointing months when funding requirements peak, ensuring appropriate financial reserves and cash flow management to prevent project delays caused by funding shortfalls.

Overall, the objective is to produce a highly professional, detailed, and visually compelling project schedule that meets the owner’s requirements, adheres to the project’s scope and timeline, and provides strategic insights for successful project delivery.

References

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