Question

Question i: Calculate the dates PI and PT for each activity. Identify the Project Critical Path. Is it posible to finish the Project in 42 weeks? [Explain your answer in slide 3]

Question ii: Imagine that Activity A actually ends in 3 weeks, the B in 12 weeks and the C in 13 weeks. Recalcula la fecha de terminación del proyecto. In what activities would you focus on to readjust the Project so that it is completed in less than 42 weeks?

3.1 Critical Path : Explain your answer

Question iii: Explain which are some of the benefits of the CPM method for Project management.

Key: Earliest Beggining G n E a 3.1 Slide: Critical Path Question i: Critical Path: [A>B>E>G>H] Question i: Calculate the dates PI and PT for each activity. Identify the Project Critical Path. Is it posible to finish the Project in 42 weeks? [Explain your answer in slide 3] (10 points) arliest termination Activity Estimated Duration Activity Number 2 10 Note: The time is in weeks. Activity B Activity E 21057 Activity A Activity D Activity G Activity H Activity C

Answer 1

Question i) Explanation of critical path.

Critical path is the sum of all those activities that add up to the longest duration in a project. For a project to complete all its activities must be completed. The shortest time possible to complete the project will be the critical path. In this case the critical path identified is A>B>E>G>H, which takes a total duration of 41 weeks. All other paths of dependent activists are: A>D>G>H takes 34 weeks and path A>C>F>H takes 35 weeks.

Since the path A>B>E>G>H has the longest duration of 41 weeks when added up, it is the critical path. The project can be completed within 42 weeks.

Question ii) If the duration for activities A, B and C are altered, the project network will have the following paths with dependant activities:

A>B>E>G>H will take 39 weeks

A>D>G>H will take 35 weeks

A>C>F>H will take 41 weeks

Since path A>C>F>H has the longest duration of 41 weeks, it is critical path. Any extension of duration in these activities could delay the project and may miss the 42 weeks deadline. Activities that are not on this critical path (B, E, D and G) can however be adjusted for any lag/ float.

P.S: The Earliest termination for Activity F should be 36, not 38 as displayed in the network diagram.

Question iii) Some if the benefits of Critical Path Method in project management are:

• CPM identifies the most important activities in a project that have dependencies.
• Gives a graphical form and helps the project manager visualise the activities of the project.
• Helps in identifying tasks that are nin-critical, wherein adjustments can be made without affecting the overall project completion date.
• CPM is a controlling technique that can be used for monitoring the activities during the implementation phase of the project. Activities missing their deadline can be flagged and reported.
• Project managers can determine the expected project completion dates and communicate the same with sponsors and other project stakeholders.
• For projects with a hard deadline, the network diagram can be plotted backward using late start and late finish dates.
• CPM can be used as an input for further project planning like resource allocation and budgeting.