16.5.* Ken Johnston, the data processing manager for Stanley Morgan Bank, is pla

Question

16.5.* Ken Johnston, the data processing manager for Stanley Morgan Bank, is planning a project to install a new management information system. He now is ready to start the project and wishes to finish in 20 weeks After identifying the 14 separate activities needed to carry out this project, as well as their precedence relationships and estimated durations (in weeks), Ken has constructed the following project network Finish L. Find all the paths and path lengths through this project network. Which of these paths is a critical path? Find the earliest times, latest times, and slack for each activity. Will Ken be able to meet his deadline if no delays occur? Use the information from part b to determine which of the paths is a critical path. What does this tell Ken about which activities he should focus most of his attention on for staying on schedule? Use the information from part b to determine what the duration of the project would be if the only delay is that activity I takes 2 extra weeks. What if the only delay is that activity H takes 2 extra weeks? What if the only delay is that activity J takes 2 extra weeks? a. b. c. d.

Explanation / Answer

A-D-H-M = 6 + 4 +3 + 6 = 19 weeks

A-I-M = 6+5+6 = 17 weeks

B-E-J-M = 3 + 7 + 4 + 6 = 20 weeks

C-F-K-N = 4 + 4 + 3 +5 = 16 weeks

C-G-L-N = 4+ 6 + 5 + 5 = 20 weeks

The critical paths ( i.e. paths with longest durations ) :

Start – B – E J- M – End

Start – C-G-L-N – End

Therefore , slack for B,E,J,M,C,G,L,N = 0

Slack for activities F, K

= Duration C-G-L-N – Duration C-F-K-N

= 20 – 16 weeks

= 4 weeks

Slack for activities I

= 2 weeks

Slack for activity A, D, H

= 20 – 19 weeks

= 1 week

Slack for an activity = Latest start – Earliest start = Latest finish – Earliest finish

Refer below table for activity wise earliest times and slacks :

Activity

Earliest start

Latest start

Earliest finish

Latest finish

Since duration of critical path is 20 days which should be same as project completion time , Ken will be able to meet the deadline of finishing it by 20 weeks

Start – B – E J- M – End

Start – C-G-L-N – End

Ken should focus on activities on critical path to stay on schedule. Therefore, activities Ken should focus on to stay on schedule are: B/E/J/M/C/G/L/N

Slack value of activity I= 2 days

Therefore delay of 2 weeks in activity Iwill not affect the duration of the project

Slack for activity H =1 week

Therefore, delay in activity H by 2 extra weeks will delay the project by = 2 -1 = 1 week

Activity J has 0 slack since it lies no critical path.

Therefore delay in activity J by 2 weeks , will delay activity of the project by 2 weeks

Activity

Earliest start

Latest start

Earliest finish

Latest finish

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