Chapter $3$: Managing Systems Projects

Note to Students: After you complete the Practice Tasks, click here to view the sample

answers and check your work. Your answers might vary from these examples and still be

correct. The intent is to give you a sample to guide you and serve as a reference. When

you complete the Practice Tasks and review the sample answers, please return to this

page and complete the Challenge Tasks.

Background

The IT group at Game Technology received approval to add a new entry$-$level systems analyst

position. You will help set up the hiring timetable and create a task list to handle the interviewing

logistics$.$ After checking with several people in the IT department, you identified seven specific

tasks, estimated their duration, and determined the order in which they should be performed.

Now you need to create a work breakdown structure and a PERT chart that shows the task

pattern and a critical path.

Practice Tasks

Using your notes, you write up the following statement: First, review the applications $(2$ days$).$

Then start three tasks: notify the IT team $(2$ days$),$ reserve a conference room $(1$ day$),$ and set up

an interview schedule $(5$ days$).$ When the team has been notified and the conference room

reserved, prepare a set of interview questions $(2$ days$).$ When the questions are ready and the

interview schedule has been developed, conduct the interviews $(5$ days$).$ After the interviews are

done, meet with the hiring committee to select a candidate $(1$ day$).$

Task $1.$ Prepare a work breakdown structure showing tasks, durations, and predecessor tasks.

Task $2.$ Calculate the start and finish date for each task, and determine the critical path

Challenge Tasks

After you complete the Practice tasks, you learn about new developments at Game Technology.

The hiring committee made a job offer to Sharon Adams, and she accepted. She will start her

new job in three weeks. As IT department intern, you were asked to set up an orientation for her,

including meetings with human resources, users, and the IT team. She also would go on a tour of

the company, and confirm a security clearance. After thinking about this, you come up with a

suggested orientation schedule, as follows:

First, Sharon would meet with human resources to learn about company benefits and policies $(3$

hours$).$ When that meeting is over, she could handle three tasks at once: she could tour the

company offices $(4$ hours$),$ meet with users $(3$ hours$),$ and work on the necessary paperwork $(2$

hours$).$ After the tour and user meetings, she could meet with the IT managers $(1$ hour$).$ Then,

after meeting the IT managers and with all the paperwork completed, she would meet with the

entire IT team for a brief introduction $(1$ hour$).$

Task $1.$ Prepare a work breakdown structure showing tasks, durations, and predecessor tasks.

Task $2.$ Calculate the start and finish date for each task, and determine the critical path.

Critical Thinking Challenge: Tasks Page

Chapter $3$: Managing Systems Projects

Note to Students: After you complete the Practice Tasks and review the sample

answers, please click here to return to the Tasks page and complete the Challenge Tasks.

Background

The IT group at Game Technology received approval to add a new entry$-$level systems analyst

position. You will help set up the hiring timetable and create a task list to handle the interviewing

logistics$.$ After checking with several people in the IT department, you identified seven specific

tasks, estimated their duration, and determined the order in which they should be performed.

Now you need to create a work breakdown structure and a PERT chart that shows the task

pattern and a critical path.

Using your notes, you write up the following statement: First, review the applications $(2$

days$).$ Then start three tasks: notify the IT team $(2$ days$),$ reserve a conference room $(1$ day$),$ and

set up an interview schedule $(5$ days$).$ When the team has been notified and the conference room

reserved, prepare a set of interview questions $(2$ days$).$ When the questions are ready and the

interview schedule has been developed, conduct the interviews $(5$ days$).$ After the interviews are

done, meet with the hiring committee to select a candidate $(1$ day$).$

Sample Answers

Task $1.$ Prepare a work breakdown structure showing tasks, durations, and predecessor tasks.

Task $2.$ Calculate the start and finish date for each task, and determine the critical path