Case Study

Richards Bay is a medium$-$sized municipality that has grown rapidly. As a result, the demand for town services has also increased. Richards Bay currently owns $90$ vehicles $($police cars, sanitation and fire trucks, and other vehicles that are assigned to some employees$)$ that are maintained by the town's equipment department. The maintenance budget has increased drastically in the past few years, and people are asking whether the town should continue to perform its own maintenance or outsource it to private firms. In the first part of the case, you planned a preliminary investigation for a new information system that would cut costs and improve maintenance efficiency. Based on your investigation, Drake wants to move forward, and he has requested your help to present a budget request at the next Town Council meeting. He suggested the following to$-$do list:

First, double$-$check the cost and benefit data we will need for the proposal $(4$ days$).$

Then, start two tasks at the same time: e$-$mail the Town Council requesting that the proposal be placed on the agenda $(1$ day$),$ and develop the proposal, including all necessary documents and charts $(6$ days$).$

As soon as the proposal is complete, start work on two tasks at once: print copies of handout material for the meeting $(2$ days$)$ and develop a PowerPoint presentation $(4$ days$).$

When the presentation is ready, conduct a rehearsal for the Council meeting $(2$ days$).$

Finally, when the rehearsal is done and the handout material is ready, help Drake deliver the presentation $(1$ day$).$

Prepare a list showing all tasks and their durations. Use the table below.

$\backslash$table$[[$Task No$.,$Task Name,Task Duration$]]$

Analyze the fact situation carefully to identify any tasks that are dependent on other tasks. Use the table below to complete this question.

$\backslash$table$[[$Task No$.,$Task Name,Predecessors$],[,,]]$

Create a PERT chart for this project. Below is an example of a PERT chart.

a$)$ Identify the critical path for this project?

b$)$ How does one identify the critical path?