Assignment Charter

In this assignment, the purpose is to produce a project network diagram by designing, estimating and calculating scheduling elements to demonstrate the student$$s network scheduling skills. Answers to questions should be embedded within these instructions and submitted along with an Excel file showing the final network diagram in the D$2$L assignment area. The scenario is an analytic problem$-$solving project from start to finish as described below. You, as the Project Manager will use the network diagraming technique to include estimating task durations, critical path identification, determine task delays and calculated schedule slack. Finally, you will answer important project scheduling questions and propose corrective actions that may be needed and based on potential critical path delays. This is an individual assignment designed for the student to develop project manager network scheduling skills.

Scope

The following is a graphical depiction of the approach framework for analytic problem$-$solving including task content and sequencing of activities with definitions.

For this assignment, you will be solving a scheduling problem that requires the purchase and implementation of a high$-$performance computer $($H$/$W$)$ running a newly designed clustering analytic software $($S$/$W$)$ model as well as existing software apps as part of the total solution design. The overall objective is to produce a single host platform for analysts to use. The new analytic S$/$W model, to be designed, enables the analyst to perform clustering of both structured and non$-$structured data. The new clustering analytic model must be designed, coded, and then tested on a high$-$performance computer before integration with other existing S$/$W applications. Furthermore, the existing analytic S$/$W applications will require purchased licenses to include statistical models that perform identification of data distribution, ANOVA, multi$-$variant correlation, and regression. The licensed existing S$/$W will need to be configured and eventually installed onto the same host platform as the newly developed clustering S$/$W$.$ All software applications must be integrated with analysts trained prior to Solution Deployment.

The existing applications do not require the use of the high$-$performance computer and can be Configured and Tested prior to receiving the Purchased High$-$Performance platform. Solution Integration cannot be completed until the high$-$performance computer and all applications have been tested and validated during the development and configuration activities. All S$/$W will eventually be ported onto the high$-$performance host computer platform as part of the Solution Integration. Furthermore, Maintenance Planning can begin following the Solution Integration activity, but must be completed prior to Solution Deployment. You may also add additional activities $($tasks$)$ if you choose to better define your project. Finally, the entire project must be completed within $10$ months and durations units are to be in weeks. You are to use the following tabular activity$/$task schedule to design your network from:

Task Label Task Description Preceding Tasks Task Durations

$($Weeks$)$

A Problem Formulation None $?$

B System Solution Design A $?$

C Purchase High$-$Perf H$/$W & Analytic S$/$W B $?$

D Cluster Model Design B $?$

E Cluster Model Coding D $?$

F Cluster Model Testing C$,$ E $?$

G Existing Applications Configuration & Test C $?$

H Solution Integration F$,$ G $?$

I Solution Maintenance Planning H $?$

J Solution Pilot H $?$

K Operator Training H $?$

L Solution Deployment I, J$,$ K $?$

M Success Measurement L $?$

N Project Close L$,$ M $?$

$$

Requirements & Instructions

This is an individual assignment and therefore it must be completed by the individual student without assistance from any other person or AI agent of any type. You will use the provided single Excel file to build your network diagram showing the values as described in the first six $(6)$ steps below. For part $7,$ enter your responses to the questions into this document. Follow the instructions of the steps $($parts$)$ below in order to complete the assignment.

$$ Part $1,$ Step $1.$ Build a network diagram to include task Ids and task descriptions within the correct spaces in the network boxes to be shown in your Excel file. This network diagram will be completed in parts $2$ through $6$ as described below. Use arrows to show the sequencing of tasks $($predecessors and successors$).$ Please graphically stack parallel activities in your diagram $$ the boxes$/$activities that may be performed at the same time. See the example below that shows a final diagram as yours should be structured in your Excel file. This example is for another type of problem $($descriptions$,$ layout and values differ$)$:

$$ Part $2(1$ point$).$ In this part, you will estimate durations $($in weeks$)$ for each task and include the values in the appropriate space in the network boxes by updating the Excel file. You will use your best judgement for these durations ba