The chairperson responsible for running an annual professional development seminar wants to avoid the last minute rush that always seems to occur. The summary report is as follows:
The first step is to convince people to serve on the committee, which usually takes three weeks to accomplish. When the committee is formed, the seminar theme and major session topics must be selected, which also takes three weeks. When the theme and topics are selected, three different activities can begin: (1) finding a keynote speaker (which usually takes five weeks), (2) finding a place to hold the meeting (which takes three weeks), and (3) finding speakers for each of the sessions (which takes six weeks).
When all the speakers (both keynote and session) are determined, arrangements can be made for audio-visual equipment. This takes one week. The brochure can be designed when all speakers are determined and a place has been found to hold the meeting. Brochure design, checking, and final approval is one task that requires six weeks. Once approved, the brochure can be printed and mailed. This takes two weeks. The seminar will take place five weeks after the brochures are mailed.
The publicity chairman wants at least 12 weeks between the time the location of the meeting is set and the date of the meeting. This long lead time is needed to get announcements into newsletters and newspapers.
a. How long before the meeting starts should the chairman begin getting people to serve on the committee?
b. One year it took eight weeks to find a keynote speaker. If the chairman wants to avoid the problems caused by such a delay, how many weeks earlier should it begin?
c. Construct the project network diagram.