Given The Following Information, Answer The Questions ✓ Solved

Given the following information, answer the questions about this

1. Draw the network as a Gantt chart.

2. What is the critical path? Which activities have slack time?

3. What would happen if activities B and D each took 5 extra days to complete instead of the expected duration? How would the critical path change?

Paper For Above Instructions

In project management, understanding task dependencies and durations play a crucial role in successful project execution. The project with the specified tasks requires systematic analysis using network diagrams and Gantt charts for better visualization. This paper will answer the assigned questions regarding the project’s schedule.

1. Gantt Chart of Project Activities

A Gantt chart visualizes project timelines, illustrating when project tasks are scheduled to start and finish. Based on the provided durations and dependencies of the activities, here is a description of how the Gantt chart would look:

  • Activity A: Day 1 to Day 4
  • Activity B: Day 5 to Day 13 (starts after A)
  • Activity C: Day 5 to Day 15 (starts after A)
  • Activity D: Day 14 to Day 18 (starts after B)
  • Activity E: Day 14 to Day 16 (starts after B)
  • Activity F: Day 16 to Day 22 (starts after C)
  • Activity G: Day 23 to Day 25 (starts after D and F)
  • Activity H: Day 26 to Day 27 (starts after E and G)
  • Activity I: Day 28 to Day 28 (starts after H)

While I cannot depict the graphically detailed Gantt chart directly in this text, software tools such as Microsoft Project or online tools like GanttProject offer functionalities to create such charts intuitively.

2. Identifying the Critical Path and Slack Time Activities

The critical path is defined as the longest sequence of activities from start to finish that must be completed on time for the project to finish on schedule. The activities involved, along with their durations, are:

  • A (4 days)
  • B (9 days)
  • D (5 days)
  • G (3 days)
  • H (2 days)
  • I (1 day)

By evaluating the above tasks, the critical path for this project is A → B → D → G → H → I, which totals to 24 days. Activities C, E, and F have slack time since they do not affect the project duration on the critical path. Specifically:

  • Activity C: Slack time = 0 days.
  • Activity E: Slack time = 2 days.
  • Activity F: Slack time = 2 days.

The slack time indicates that these tasks can be delayed without affecting the subsequent tasks or the project completion date.

3. Impact of Extended Durations for Activities B and D

Now, let's analyze the scenario where activities B and D each take an additional 5 days to complete.

  • New duration of B: 14 days (from 9 days)
  • New duration of D: 10 days (from 5 days)

This adjustment affects the project schedule, leading to the following new durations:

  • Activity B: Day 5 to Day 18
  • Activity D: Day 19 to Day 28

Consequently, the revised critical path becomes A → B → D → G → H → I, extending the critical path total to 30 days from the previous 24 days. This further implies an increase in project lead time and potential delays in deliverables.

Conclusion

Through this exercise, we have illustrated how to draw a Gantt chart, identified the critical path, discovered activities with slack time, and analyzed the ramifications of increased duration on selected project tasks. Efficient time management and maintaining the critical path are vital for completing projects within the established timelines. Understanding these principles enables project managers to navigate complexities effectively.

References

  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
  • Lock, D. (2021). Project Management. Gower Publishing, Ltd.
  • Schwalbe, K. (2019). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2017). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
  • PMI (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). Project Management Institute.
  • Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2018). Project Management: The Managerial Process. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Pinto, J. K. (2020). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage. Pearson.
  • Heagney, J. (2016). Fundamentals of Project Management. AMACOM.
  • Tonn, B. (2018). Gantt Charts: A Tool for Project Management. Dorrance Publishing Co.
  • YourProjectManager.com. (2021). Understanding the Critical Path Method. Retrieved from [YourProjectManager.com]

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