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2. In the following table, task durations are given in weeks. The estimates were

ID: 345566 • Letter: 2

Question

2. In the following table, task durations are given in weeks. The estimates were made at the 95 percent level. Answer the following questions Activity Predecessor Optimistic Normal Pessimistic 10 E BC 4 5 a. Draw the AOA network diagram (5 pts) b. Find the expected time and variance for each task (15 pts) c. Find the critical path and critical time (5 pts) d. Find the probability that the critical path will be completed in 22 weeks (15 pts) e. What is the probability that the entire network/project will be completed in 22 weeks? (10 pts)

Explanation / Answer

The expected durations and variances of each activity are presented in tabular form :

Activity

Optimistic

Most likely

Pessimistic

Expected duration

Variance

A

2

4

6

4.00

0.44

B

3

5

9

5.33

1.00

C

4

5

7

5.17

0.25

D

5

6

10

6.50

0.69

E

4

5

7

5.17

0.25

F

3

4

8

4.50

0.69

G

3

6

8

5.83

0.69

Following may be noted :

Expected duration = ( Optimistic + 4 x Most Likely + Pessimistic )/6

Variance of each activity = ( Pessimistic duration – Optimistic Duration)^2 / 36

The precedence diagram of activities as follows :

                                                                                         A

                                     B

                                                        D

                                         C

                                                        F

                                                                                        E

                                                                                       G

The alternative paths and their expected durations as follows :

A-D-F = 4 + 6.5 + 4.5 = 15 weeks

A-C-E-G = 4 + 5.17 + 5.17 + 5.83 = 20.17 weeks

B-E-G = 5.33 + 5.17 + 5.83 = 16.33 weeks

Since A-C-E-G has the longest duration, it forms the critical path .

The expected duration of   the critical path = 20.17 weeks

CRITICAL PATH = A-C-E-G

CRITICAL TIME = 20.17 WEEKS

Variance of the critical path

= Sum of variances of A, C, E and G

= 0.44 + 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.69

= 1.63

Standard deviation of the critical path = Square root ( Variance ) = Square root ( 1.63 ) = 1.276

Let,

Z value corresponding to the probability that the project will be completed in 22 weeks = Z1

Therefore ,

Expected duration of critical path + Z1 x Standard deviation of critical path = 22

Or, 20.17 + 1.63.Z1 = 22

Or, 1.63.Z1 = 22 – 20.17

Or, 1.63.Z1 = 1.83

Or, Z1 = 1.83/1.63

Or, Z1 = 1.12

Probability corresponding to Z = 1.12 as derived from standard normal table will be 0.86864

Therefore, probability that the critical path will be completed in 22 weeks = 0.86864

PROBABILITY THAT THE CRITICAL PATH WILL BE COMPLETED IN 22 WEEKS = 0.86864

The variance of the duration of path A-D-F

= Variance of A + Variance of D + Variance of F

= 0.44 + 0.69 + 0.69

= 1.82

Standard deviation of duration of A-D-F = Square root ( 1.82 ) = 1.25

Expected duration of A-D-F = 15

Let Z value that of the probability that this path will be completed in 22 days = Z1

Therefore .

15 + 1.25,Z1 = 22

Or, 1.25.Z1 = 7

Or, Z1 = 7/1.25 = 5.6

Corresponding probability for Z = 5.6 is approx. 1

The variance of duration of path B-E-G is 16.33 weeks

Variance of the path B-E-G = Sum of variances of B , E and G = 1 + 0.25 + 0.69 = 1.94

Standard deviation of duration of critical path = Square root ( 1.94) = 1.39

Let z value for probability that project will be completed in 22 weeks is Z2

Therefore,

Expected duration of B-E-G + Z2 x Standard deviation of duration of B-E-G = 22

Or , 16.33 + 1.39.Z2 = 22

Or, 1.39.Z2 = 5.67

Or, Z2 = 5.67/1.39

Or, Z2 = 4.08

Corresponding value of probability for Z = 4.08 is approx. 1

To summarise,

The probability values of three parallel paths of the project are

1 ( path : A-D-F ), 0.86864 ( path A-C-E-G ) and 1 ( path : B-E-G )

Since the least probability is 0.86864, we can conclude that probability that entire project will be completed in 22 weeks is 0.86864

Activity

Optimistic

Most likely

Pessimistic

Expected duration

Variance

A

2

4

6

4.00

0.44

B

3

5

9

5.33

1.00

C

4

5

7

5.17

0.25

D

5

6

10

6.50

0.69

E

4

5

7

5.17

0.25

F

3

4

8

4.50

0.69

G

3

6

8

5.83

0.69

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