This is the Case Study there is no additional information. Case: The Research Of
ID: 363613 • Letter: T
Question
This is the Case Study there is no additional information.
Case: The Research Office Moves Jeannette, the senior administrative assistant, has just When the packing supplies arrive, Jeannette distributes learned that she is in charge of the upcoming move of them to each individual so that packing can be done. It the research office at Southwest University. She has normally takes a week to sort and distribute supplies. coordinated several such moves before and immedi Individuals pack their office items and tag their office ately begins organizing her thoughts. Determining what furniture that is to be moved. They are expected to needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and who complete their packing in two weeks. needs to do it are critical to a successful move. From Afer ordering the furniture, Jeannette makes arrange- past moves, Jeannette knows the first step is having the ments for the movers to move the items, the telecom- management team allocate the offices available to the munications office to move or install telephones, and different departments. She knows that each depart- computer services to provide Internet hookups. The mov ment manager fights for the best office of the politics, Jeannette expects this activity to take single day. The phone installers demand two weeks notice three weeks. space. Bec ause ers require three weeks notice but move the items in a but complete the work in one day. The computer services After the management team finalizes departmental technicians require four weeks notice and complete the allocations, each department manager allocates office hookups in one day. The final activity is moving day. All space to individuals within the department. This is also three of these groups-the movers, the phone installers, quite political and typically takes two weeks. Individuals and the computer technicians-are there on the same often take the office space allocations personally, and date to minimize office disruption and minimize the time each manager needs time to smooth any ruffled feath- the office is unable to provide customer service. ers. The allocation decisions are returned to Jeannette I past moves, Jeannette has had trouble making so that she can develop an overall layout for the move. sure that everything flows smoothly. She believes that She normally does this in about four weeks. During the there must be a method available to help her manage first week of this phase, Jeannette sends each individ- this office move. ual a printout of the floor space he or she will have and (a) Why are office allocations so difficult? What fac- requests that individuals determine how the furniture is tors must be considered when planning an office to be arranged. Individuals inform her of any additiona ayout? or replacement office furniture needs. They indicate (b) Offer Jeannette a method for monitoring the office where phone jacks and computer hookups should be. move. Explain why this method or approach would Each individual requests the packing supplies needed be reasonable. to pack up his or her office items. These requests are (c) How long should it take from the day the decision returned in three weeks. is made to move until the move is completed? When Jeannette receives the individual requests,Employees only work Monday through Friday. All she consolidates the requests to form lists of packingof Jeannettes activity time estimates assume a five- supplies and furniture. She orders the supplies from the day work week. university-approved supplier, and the supplies arrive in (d) What are the critical activities for the timely com- two weeks. She chooses among three approved office pletion of this office move? furniture suppliers and selects and orders the office (e) What recommendations could you make to Jean- furniture, which is scheduled to arrive in six weeks. nette to make this easier in the future?Explanation / Answer
Answer (a) Office allocation is difficult process because a lot of politics is involved and people take it personally.
The following factors must be considered when planning an office layout : How furniture will be arranged,where phone jacks and computer hooks would be,the packing supplies etc.'
Answer (b) I would suggest critical path method (CPM) for this move. It would be reasonable as this will allow Jeanette to reduce the total time of the project by focusing on critical activities.
Answer (c) Office Allocation to different departments = 3 weeks
Office Allocation to different individuals = 2 week
Overall layout of the move = 4 weeks
Arrival of packing supplies = 2 weeks
Distribution of packing supplies = 2 weeks
Complete packing = 2 weeks
Notice time = 4 weeks
The movers, phone installers and computer technicians = 1 day
Total time = 19 weeks 1 day
Answer (d) All the activities are critical activities except the notice period delay
Answer (e) To send notice while earlier activities are in progress to save time.
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