1. Based on the data below:
(a) Draw a network diagram for the project, highlight the "normal" critical path
(b) Calculate the earliest start and finish times, the latest start and finish times and the slack days for each activity based on normal durations
(c) If indirect costs of £375 per day could be saved by reducing the overall duration of the project, what is the minimum cost for the project?
(d) What practical factors should be considered before an activity is crashed?
(e) Describe a practical approach to monitoring the progress of a project like this one.
|
Activity
|
Preceded by
|
Normal days
|
Crash days
|
Normal cost (£)
|
Crash Cost (£)
|
|
A
|
-
|
4
|
3
|
800
|
900
|
|
B
|
-
|
6
|
3
|
1000
|
1600
|
|
C
|
-
|
4
|
3
|
900
|
1200
|
|
D
|
A
|
5
|
3
|
700
|
1200
|
|
E
|
B,C
|
4
|
3
|
600
|
750
|
|
F
|
D,E
|
3
|
3
|
400
|
400
|
|
G
|
F
|
4
|
3
|
800
|
850
|
|
H
|
F
|
8
|
3
|
1200
|
3200
|
|
I
|
G,H
|
9
|
3
|
1200
|
3300
|
|
J
|
H
|
3
|
3
|
600
|
600
|
|
K
|
J
|
5
|
3
|
2000
|
2800
|
|
L
|
I,K
|
7
|
3
|
6500
|
5000
|
2. Based on the data below calculate the probability that the project will be completed in 20 days or less and discuss the practical considerations that would be relevant if a company doing this project faced a penalty for completion in more than 20 days. What action could be taken to improve the chances of completion within a 20 day period?
|
Activity
|
Preceded by
|
Optimistic days
|
Most likely days
|
Pessimistic days
|
|
A
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
B
|
-
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
|
C
|
A,B
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
|
D
|
A,B
|
4
|
5
|
12
|
|
E
|
C,D
|
3
|
5
|
7
|