Posted: September 13th, 2017

project duration and the critical path

project duration and the critical path

This is an individual assignment – complete both tasks 1 and 2
Background: The assignment is intended to bring out the benefits and limitations

of different approaches to project planning and control by relating these to the

circumstances in the cases outlined. It is also intended to allow students to

demonstrate their learning and competence in respect of the management of

resources generally, but in particular elements of scope, schedule, quality, and

cost.
Case 1: Vobien Ltd is an organisation which provides consultancy advice to the

service sector. Consultancy the company provides includes advising upon: process

and product innovation, automation of work design, and selection and use of

social media. As part of your job as the Vobien Ltd special projects manager you

have produced a list of activities that need to be addressed to source a

technological solution for monitoring access and egress within a local

authorities library service. The details are shown in the table provided. Please

note: You must use the methodology detailed above table 1 headed “essential

methodology”.
Task 1 (40% marks)
1)    Draw the network diagram (use activity on the node). (8 marks)
2)    Explain how you determined the timing of activities and the total float.

(6 marks)
3)    Explain how you determined the project duration and the critical path.

(6 marks)
4)    If the project
, what is the earliest date it can be completed using a 5 day working week?

Assume no other holidays (explain how you calculated the figure). (4 marks)
5)    If the following happened what would be the effect on the duration of

the whole project? Explain the reasons. (6 marks)
a)    Activity E is delayed 1 day.
b)    Activity P is delayed 2 days.
c)    Activity Q is completed 1 day early
6)    Explain the limitations of Network diagrams. (10 marks)

Essential methodology (activity on the node):
•    All the timings (i.e. earliest start, earliest finish, latest start,

latest finish, total float, duration and activity) must be included within each

node of your diagram. This essential methodology is detailed in the text:

Project Management, Field and Keller  (2007. p. 197,p.198 &  p. 391)
•    All timings must be in days – not dates
•    To complete your network diagram assume that:
o    If task A has a duration of 4 days (task A, earliest finish would be day

4), therefore, task B earliest start time will be day 4.
•    This essential methodology is detailed in the text: Project Management,

Field and Keller (2007. p. 197,p.198 &  p. 391),
Table 1

Activity (Tasks)
Duration (Days)    Preceded By
A    4    –
B    3    A
C    7    B
D    2                         B
E    5    B
F    3    C, D, E
G    9    F
H    3    F
I    2    F
J    3    F
K    3    G, H, I, J
L    5    K
M    3    L
N    3    M
O    5    N
P    2    N
Q    2    O,P
R    3    Q

Case 2: Dennis Ltd is a consultancy company specialising in the sport and

physical activity sector. The organisations they are commissioned by includes:

local authorities, charities, and private sector organisations. The company was

founded in 1999 and has shown steady growth over the past thirteen years. They

trade from office accommodation (80 square metres) in a major city in England.

At present the company employs 1 General Manager, 5 Lead Consultants, 3

Administration staff, and 2 Marketing Officers.
Dennis Ltd has provided a project manager – to a local authority – relating to a

one off special project. This project is concerned with the ensuring the initial

opening and operational requirements of the new leisure facility are identified.

Please note this new leisure facility will already be built to a 21st Century

standard. The provision includes: swimming pool, sports hall, dry and wet

changing facilities, two dance studios with additional health and fitness

provision in the form of a state of the art fitness centre.
Task 2 (60% marks)
As Project Manager you are responsible for the ensuring the initial opening and

operational requirements of the new facility are identified. You are required to

prepare a report concerning the main issues to be addressed from a project

management perspective (2,000 words). From a project management perspective

outline the activities required to successfully implement this new initiative,

ensuring that it can open on-time, and within budget. Again you should note that

you are taking possession of a purpose built building and have to address the

issues that would allow the building to be operated by your client. You should

note that the emphasis should be concerned with you communicating your knowledge

of project management.
The analysis should include the skills and competencies required by the Project

Manager, along with the project management process. Use examples of the

concerns, stages, processes, leadership, administration and control problems

associated with managing the lifecycle of this major project.
Assignment presentation and assessment
The answers to both tasks are independent and should be addressed separately.
Task 1 (i.e. the network diagram information – (600 words) – completed as an

individual task
Task 2 a report that is produced for task two (2000 words) – completed as an

individual task
For your convenience both tasks should be submitted as one document, which

contains both individual tasks.
The criteria for assessing the first task – the network diagram tasks – are

detailed on page 6.

The criteria for assessing the task two report will be:
Report presentation (20%) (12 marks)
The extent to which the assignment represents an effective report. This will be

judged on:
Appearance: Is a word count included at the end of the report? Is it within the

specified amount? Is the text double spaced?
Structure: Does the report follow the conventions of the format? Does it have a

clear introduction, explaining how it answers the questions? Do the sections of

the report develop ideas in a logical sequence? Are diagrams or other subsidiary

information shown in appendices?
Spelling and grammar: Are all words spelled correctly and is the meaning of

sentences clear?
Referencing: Have appropriate references been included in the report. Has a

recognised referencing system been used for notation? (see relevant section in

the Guide to Basic Study Skills)
Use of relevant theory (40%) (24 marks)
Has the right theoretical content been chosen as the basis for answering the

questions? Is there evidence of the use of course notes and books? Is the theory

that is selected significant to the questions?
Analysis (40%) (24 marks)

This measures the extent to which students develop a structured argument for the

points they make, by combining relevant theory with the information provided in

the questions.
Any work submitted is subject to the University’s rules and procedures governing

infringement of assessment regulations.

SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 2013/14)

Task 1

1.    8 marks. 1 points to be taken off for each wrong node.
A maximum of 5 wrong nodes, after which the student gets 0 for the question.
Marks will be deducted for poor presentation.

Please note: Marks are only awarded  if the methodology for Activity on the Node

– detailed in Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p.

391) is used.
Please note; Marks are only awarded if the timings are in days – not dates
2.    3 marks for  explaining how the timings were determined .
3 marks for explaining how the float was determined.

Please note:  Marks are only awarded if timings for all activities are included

on the network diagram, and the explanation given. This approach is detailed in

Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p. 391)

3.    3 marks for correct project duration and explanation.
3 marks for correct critical path and explanation.

4.    4 marks for correct earliest date (and explain how the figure was

calculated).

5.    a)    1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the

duration of the whole project, 1 mark for right reason
b)    1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the duration of

the whole project, 1 mark for right reason
c)    1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the duration of

the whole project, 1 mark for right reason

6.    10 marks for the discussion concerning the limitations of network

diagrams
Up to 2 marks awarded (per limitation) for the identification and explanation of

five limitations

Total: 40 marks
SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 20012/13)
Task 2
Criteria    70% +    60-69%    50-59%    40-49%    <40%
Use of relevant theory

Indicative weighting = 40% of 60 mark
(24 marks)    The report identifies all the relevant theories to answer to

complete the task. The theories used are described in detail. There is clear

evidence that course notes, books and other sources are used. Theories used are

significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a

major project.     The report identifies most of the relevant theories to answer to

complete the task. On the whole, the theories used are described in detail.

There is clear evidence that course notes and books are used. Theories used are

largely significant in listing the activities required to successfully plan and

manage a major project.    On the whole, the report identifies the relevant

theories required to answer to complete the task. The theories used are

sometimes described in detail. Overall, there is clear evidence that course

notes and books are used. Theories used are significant in listing the

activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.    The

report identifies some of the relevant theories to answer to complete the task.

The theories used are partly described. There is some evidence that course

notes, and books are used. Theories used are sometimes significant in listing

the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.

The report fails to identify the relevant theories to answer to complete the

task. The theories used are not described. There is no evidence that course

notes, books or other sources are used. Theories used are not significant in

listing the activities required to successfully plan and manage a major project.
Analysis

Indicative weighting = 40% of 60 mark
(24 marks)    There is evidence of extensive research from a variety of

sources to provide better understanding to the background of the task. A

structured argument is taken for the points made by combining relevant theories

with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions are clear

and link into the requirements of the task.    There is evidence of some

extensive research from a variety of sources to provide better understanding to

the background of the task. A structured argument is taken for the points made,

often by combining relevant theories with information researched or provided in

the task. The conclusions on the whole are clear and link into the requirements

of the task.    There is evidence of some research to provide better

understanding to the background of the task but sources are not extensive. There

is some structured argument taken for the points made. The relevant theories are

not always combined with information researched or provided in the task. The

conclusions are not clear and have only limited linkages into the requirements

of the task.
There is evidence of limited research being conducted to provide better

understanding to the background of the task but sources are not extensive. There

is limited structured argument taken for the points made. There are only limited

combinations of the relevant theories with information researched or provided in

the task. The conclusions are descriptive and do not link into the requirements

of the task.    There is no evidence of research from a variety of sources to

provide better understanding to the background of the task. There is no

structured argument taken for the points made. The relevant theories are not

combined with information researched or provided in the task. The conclusions

are unclear and only descriptive. Conclusions also do not link into the

requirements of the task.

Presentation and Structure

Indicative weighting = 20% of 60 mark
(12 marks)    The presentation is clear. There are no or few spelling or

grammatical errors. The report has been referenced correctly, using the Harvard

style of referencing. A word count is provided at the end of the report and is

within the limit of 2000 words. The report is text double-spaced.

The structure of the project is clear, cohesive and logical. Each section has

been clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and these follow a

logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are shown in

the appendices and properly referenced. Appendices are relevant and are able to

provide a better understanding to the report.    The presentation is on the whole

clear, there are no or few spelling or grammatical errors. The project has been

referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is

provided at the end of the report and is within the limit of 2000 words. The

report is text double-spaced.

The structure of the project is on the whole clear, cohesive and logical. Each

chapter has been clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and these on

the whole follow a logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary

information are shown in the appendices and properly referenced. Appendices are

mostly relevant and are able to provide a better understanding to the report.

The presentation is partially clear. There are occasional spelling and or

grammatical errors. The project has not always been referenced correctly, using

the Harvard style of referencing. A word count is provided at the end of the

report but is not within the limit of 2000 words. The report is text double-

spaced.

The structure of the project is not entirely clear, cohesive or logical. Each

section has partially been clearly structured using some sub-headings

(signposts) but it is difficult to follow. Additional diagrams and other

subsidiary information are sometimes shown in the appendices but not always

properly referenced. Appendices are occasionally relevant and are at times able

to provide a better understanding to the report.
The clarity of the presentation of the project is limited. There are

spelling and or grammatical errors. The project has not been referenced

correctly, using the Harvard style of referencing. The layout is loose and was

difficult to follow.

The structure of the project is not clear, cohesive or logical. Each chapter has

been limited structured using some or no sub-headings (signposts), which made it

very difficult to follow. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information

are not shown in the appendices and not properly referenced. Appendices are

irrelevant and are not able to provide a better understanding to the report.

The presentation is unclear. There numerous spelling or grammatical errors. The

report has not been referenced correctly, using the Harvard style of

referencing. A word count is not provided at the end of the report and is not

within the limit of 2000 words. The report is not text double-spaced.

The structure of the project is unclear, inconsistent and illogical. Sections

are not clearly structured using sub-headings (signposts) and do not follow a

logical order. Additional diagrams and other subsidiary information are not

shown in the appendices and not properly referenced. Appendices are irrelevant

and are not able to provide a better understanding to the report.

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