Analytics Exercise $4-2($Problem $4-18($Static$)$

The following CPM network has estimates of the normal time in weeks listed for the activities:

$$

a$.$ Identify the critical path.

multiple choice $1$

A$-$C$-$D$-$F$-$G

A$-$C$-$D$-$E$-$G

A$-$B$-$D$-$E$-$G

A$-$B$-$D$-$F$-$G

b$.$ What is the length of time to complete the project?

$$

$$

c$.$ Which activities have slack, and how much?

multiple choice $2$

B$,2$ weeks; E$,2$ weeks.

C$,2$ weeks; F$,3$ weeks.

D$,1$ week; E$,2$ weeks.

C$,1$ week; E$,2$ weeks.

$$

Here is a table of normal and crash times and costs.

$$

ACTIVITYNORMAL TIMECRASH TIMENORMAL

COSTCRASH

COSTA$76$$$7,000$$$8,000$B$215,0007,000$C$439,00010,200$D$543,0004,500$E$212,0003,000$F$424,0007,000$G$545,0008,000$

$$

d$-1.$ Which activities would you shorten to cut two weeks from the schedule in a rational fashion?

multiple choice $3$

A$,$ E

B$,$ C

A$,$ C

B$,$ D

$$

d$-2.$ What would be the total incremental cost?

$$

$$

d$-3.$ Is the critical path changed?

multiple choice $4$

Yes

No

$)$

You work for a company that makes cell phones and have been made project manager for the design of a new cell phone. Your supervisors have already scoped the project, so you have a list showing the work breakdown structure, and this includes major project activities. You must plan the project schedule and calculate project duration. Your boss wants the schedule on his desk tomorrow morning!

$$ You have been given the information in Exhibit $4\mathrm{.}13.$ It includes all the activities required in the project and the duration of each activity. Also, dependencies between the activities have been identified. Remember that the preceding activity must be fully completed before work on the following activity can be started.

$$ Your project is divided into five major subprojects. Subproject $$P$$ involves developing specifications for the new cell phone. Here, decisions related to such things as battery life, size of the phone, and features need to be made. These details are based on how a customer uses the cell phone. These user specifications are redefined in terms that have meaning to the subcontractors that will actually make the new cell phone in subproject $$S$$ supplier specifications. These involve engineering details for how the product will perform.

$$ The individual components that make up the product are the focus of subproject $$D$.$ Subproject $$I$$ brings all the components together, and a working prototype is built and tested.

$$ Finally, in subproject $$V$,$ suppliers are selected and contracts are negotiated.

Exhibit $4\mathrm{.}13$: Work Breakdown Structure and Activities for the Cell Phone Design Project

$$

MAJOR SUBPROJECTS$/$ACTIVITIESACTIVITY IDENTIFICATIONDEPENDENCYDURATION $($WEEKS$)$Product Specifications $($P$)$Market researchP$12$Overall product specificationsP$2$P$14$HardwareP$3$P$25$SoftwareP$4$P$35$Supplier specifications $($S$)$HardwareS$1$P$42$SoftwareS$2$P$46$Product design $($D$)$BatteryD$1$S$11$DisplayD$2$S$15$CameraD$3$S$11$Outer coverD$4$D$1,$ D$2,$ D$34$Product integration $($I$)$HardwareI$1$D$43$User interfaceI$2$D$23$Software codingI$3$I$24$Prototype testingI$4$I$1,$ I$34$Subcontracting $($V$)$Suppliers selectionV$1$S$1,$S$210$Contract negotiationV$2$I$4,$ V$12$

$$

a$.$ Calculate the start and finish times for each activity. $($Leave no cells blank $-$ be certain to enter $"0"$ wherever required.$)$

$$

b$.$ Determine the minimum number of weeks for completing the project.

$$

c$.$ Find the activities that are on the critical path for completing the project in the shortest time.

$$

multiple choice

P$1-$P$2-$P$3-$P$4-$S$1-$D$3-$D$4-$I$1-$I$4-$V$2$

P$1-$P$2-$P$3-$P$4-$S$1-$D$1-$D$4-$I$1-$I$4-$V$2$

P$1-$P$2-$P$3-$P$4-$S$1-$D$2-$I$2-$I$3-$I$4-$V$2$ Correct

P$1-$P$2-$P$3-$P$4-$S$1-$D$2-$D$4-$I$1-$I$4-$V$2$