Posted: May 14th, 2015

PERT/CPM Techniques

Competency 309.3.2: PERT/CPM Techniques – The graduate correctly applies PERT/CPM techniques to project management tasks.

Introduction:

This task requires candidates to prepare a program evaluation and review technique (PERT) chart and apply critical path method (CPM) techniques.

Scenario:

Company A is installing a web-based customer feedback system to meet customer needs for quick response when rolling out new products. A new product line is rolling out in 48 weeks, and the customer feedback system must be installed and running in time for the new product launch. Table 1.1 in the attached “QAT1 Task 4 Spreadsheet” shows three estimates of the time it will take Company A to complete each of the project activities in the customer feedback system project: optimistic, probable, and pessimistic.

Company B is installing a similar feedback system to accompany a new product line and just announced that its new product line is ahead of schedule and will be launched in 45 weeks. Because the web-based customer feedback system must be installed and running in time for the revised date of the product launch in 45 weeks, something must be done to shorten implementation time required for the customer feedback system project. Refer to Table 1.2 in the attached “QAT1 Task 4 Spreadsheet” that lists the time it will take to complete the activities using normal resources (normal time), the expected time it will take to complete the activities if shortened as much as possible (crash time), the cost to complete the activity using normal resources (normal cost), and the cost of completing the activity on an accelerated basis (crash cost).

Requirements:

Note: When the files opens, enter your name and student ID as they appear in Taskstream into the respective boxes so the task questions and problems will populate the worksheet. If the attached template does not open or is missing information, please contact Ecare for assistance with opening the file.

A. Determine the following using the estimates for Company A in Table 1.1 from the attached “QAT1 Task 4 Spreadsheet”:
1. Determine the expected completion time for each of the nine project activities.
a. Include all your answers for part A1 in Table 1.1, showing all of your work for one activity.
2. Determine the variance for each of the nine project activities.
a. Include all your answers for part A2 in Table 1.1, showing all of your work for one activity.
3. Develop a PERT chart showing the network diagram with the activities and their expected times.
a. Identify the critical path.

Note: Any additional numbers (e.g. start and finish times) included in the PERT chart will not be evaluated for correctness.

Note: If you don’t have software to build a PERT chart, use text boxes and lines with arrows in a word processing program or a spreadsheet program.

4. Determine the value of each of the following:
a. Determine the expected duration of the entire project, showing all of your work or reasoning.
b. Determine the slack for project Activity E, showing all of your work or reasoning.
c. Determine the slack for project Activity C, showing all of your work or reasoning.
d. Determine the earliest week project Activity F is scheduled to start, showing all of your work or reasoning.
e. Determine the latest week project Activity G is scheduled to finish, showing all of your work or reasoning.

Note: Work or reasoning must be included along with each response for credit. Referencing a value in the PERT chart is not considered showing work. Please explain how each value was determined.

5. Determine the probability of completing this project in time for the product launch in 48 weeks, showing all of your work.

Note: If needed, you may use the “Cumulative Normal Table,” listed in the web links section.

B. Determine the following using the data for Company B in Table 1.2 from the attached “QAT1 Task 4 Spreadsheet”:
1. Determine the maximum reduction in time for each of the ten project activities.
a. Include your answers for part B1 in Table 1.2, showing all of your work for one activity.
2. Determine the crash cost per week for each of the ten project activities.
a. Include your answers for part B2 in Table 1.2, showing all of your work for one activity.

C. Determine the following by using your results from part B:
1. Identify the activities, considering all paths, to be crashed to meet the following criteria:
• completion of the project within 22 weeks
• achievement of the lowest possible cost
2. Determine the number of weeks each of the activities identified in part C1 should be crashed.
3. Determine the sum of the individual costs of crashing each activity identified in part C1.

D. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: To reduce unnecessary matches select ignore “small matches <20 words” and “bibliography.”

Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section.

Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in an assessment, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the assessment.

Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from outside sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the APA Guidelines section.

Evaluation Rubric:

Export to Word link opens in new window
value: 0.00 value: 1.00 value: 2.00 Score/Level
Articulation of Response (clarity, organization, mechanics)

The candidate provides unsatisfactory articulation of response.
The candidate provides weak articulation of response.
The candidate provides adequate articulation of response.

A1. Expected Completion Time

The candidate does not accurately determine the expected completion time for any project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the expected completion time for 1–8 of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the expected completion time for each of the 9 project activities.

A1a. Answers for Part A1

The candidate does not provide all answers for part A1 in Table 1.1.
The candidate provides, with insufficient support, all answers for part A1 in Table 1.1.
The candidate provides, with sufficient support, all answers for part A1 in Table 1.1.

A2. Variance

The candidate does not accurately determine the variance for any project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the variance for 1–8 of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the variance for each of the 9 project activities.

A2a. Answers for Part A2

The candidate does not provide all answers for part A2 in Table 1.1.
The candidate provides, with insufficient support, all answers for part A2 in Table 1.1.
The candidate provides, with sufficient support, all answers for part A2 in Table 1.1.

A3. PERT Chart

The candidate does not provide a PERT chart showing the network diagram with the activities and their expected times.
Not applicable.
The candidate provides a PERT chart showing the network diagram with the activities and their expected times.

A3a. Critical Path

The candidate does not accurately identify the critical path.
Not applicable.
The candidate accurately identifies the critical path.

A4a. Expected Duration

The candidate does not accurately determine the expected duration of the entire project.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the expected duration of the entire project.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the expected duration of the entire project.

A4b. Activity E Slack

The candidate does not accurately determine the slack for project Activity E.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the slack for project Activity E.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the slack for project Activity E.

A4c. Activity C Slack

The candidate does not accurately determine the slack for project Activity C.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the slack for project Activity C.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the slack for project Activity C.

A4d. Activity F Start

The candidate does not accurately determine the earliest week project Activity F is scheduled to start.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the earliest week project Activity F is scheduled to start.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the earliest week project Activity F is scheduled to start.

A4e. Activity G Finish

The candidate does not accurately determine the latest week project Activity G is scheduled to finish.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the latest week project Activity G is scheduled to finish.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the latest week project Activity G is scheduled to finish.

A5. Probability of Completion

The candidate does not accurately determine the probability of completing this project in time for the product launch in 48 weeks.
The candidate accurately determines, with insufficient support, the probability of completing this project in time for the product launch in 48 weeks.
The candidate accurately determines, with sufficient support, the probability of completing this project in time for the product launch in 48 weeks.

B1. Maximum Reduction

The candidate does not accurately determine the maximum reduction in time for any of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the maximum reduction in time for 1–9 of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the maximum reduction in time for each of the 10 project activities.

B1a. Answers for B1

The candidate does not provide all answers for part B1 in Table 1.2.
The candidate provides, with insufficient support, all answers for part B1 in Table 1.2.
The candidate provides, with sufficient support, all answers for part B1 in Table 1.2.

B2. Crash Cost

The candidate does not accurately determine the crash cost per week for any of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the crash cost per week for 1–9 of the project activities.
The candidate accurately determines the crash cost per week for each of the 10 project activities.

B2a. Answers for B2

The candidate does not provide all answers for part B2 in Table 1.2.
The candidate provides, with insufficient support, all answers for part B2 in Table 1.2.
The candidate provides, with sufficient support, all answers for part B2 in Table 1.2.

C1. Activities to be Crashed

The candidate does not accurately identify the activities, considering all paths, to be crashed to meet the given criteria.
Not applicable.
The candidate accurately identifies the activities, considering all paths, to be crashed to meet the given criteria.

C2. Number of Weeks

The candidate does not accurately determine the number of weeks each of the activities identified in part C1 should be crashed.
Not applicable.
The candidate accurately determines the number of weeks each of the activities identified in part C1 should be crashed.

C3. Sum of Individual Costs

The candidate does not accurately determine the sum of the individual costs of crashing each activity identified in part C1.
Not applicable.
The candidate accurately determines the sum of the individual costs of crashing each activity identified in part C1.

D. Sources

When the candidate uses sources, the candidate does not provide in-text citations and references.
When the candidate uses sources, the candidate provides appropriate in-text citations and references with major deviations from APA style.
When the candidate uses sources, the candidate provides appropriate in-text citations and references accurately or with only minor deviations from APA style.

Use this link for reference:

https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~jrl/normal_cdf.pdf