Network Diagram for Consumer Market Study Project In some cases, an organization may do similar projects for different customers, and certain portions of these projects may include the same types of activities in the same sequence and dependent relationships. If so, it may be worthwhile to develop standard subnetworks for these portions of the projects. A subnetwork is a portion of a network diagram that represents a specific work package or a somewhat standard or well-established set and sequence of activities. Having standard subnetworks can save effort and time when a network diagram is developed for an overall project. Standard subnetworks should be developed for those portions of projects for which the dependent relationships among the activities have been well established through historical practice. These subnetworks may, of course, be modified as necessary for a particular project. Reinforce Your Learning 15. Referto Figure 4.9. a. When Prepare Mailing Labels and Print Questionnaire are finished, what activity can be started? b. In order to start Input Response Data, which activities must have been finished immediately beforehand? Finally, when the entire network diagram has been drawn, it is necessary to assign a unique activity number to each activity (box). Figure 4.9 shows a complete network diagram for the consumer market study project. Notice the inclusion of the person responsible for each activity on this diagram. The network diagram is a roadmap that displays how all the specific activities fit together to accomplish the project work scope. It also is a communication tool for the project team because it shows who is responsible for each activity and how each persons work fits into the overall project. REAL WORLD PROJECT MANAGEMENT Building Abroad Projects are guided by unique circumstances, especially if they are in foreign countries. Ales Ertis, senior project manager at Alfa Tech, notes that issues in India are different than Singapore and both are different than other countries. One thing that is constant, however, is relationship is king. You have to be comfortable with your local representative. You cant be cavalier about contracts. If you think they carry the same weight as they do in the U.S., youre wrong. Reinforce Your Learning 16. Referto Figure 4.9. a. In order to start Test Software, which activities must have been completed immediately beforehand? b. True or false: Once Print Questionnaire is finished, Mail Questionnaire & Get Responses can start immediately. Ertis advises other project managers about the critical steps and considerations when planning a construction project outside the United States. The project scope is the critical first step. The subsequent critical steps are dependent upon the project scope and dictate the project planning. Protocols for following government regulations define quality requirements to ensure the proper infrastructure. All construction projects require detailed due diligence on the building process to meet regulations and entitlement and are dependent upon having a strong in-country advocate and foreign team. Although the critical steps sound similar to U.S.-based construction projects, Ertis reinforces that plans for quality, responsibility, and activity sequence are subject to the quality standards and the speed of construction. Some fast growing economies have alarming rates and minor changes may be made without formal design review and approval. A clean set of plans and a conscious decision of responsibility for change approvals are necessary to help mitigate later risks once the project is started. Requirements such as immigration implications, regulations, submission processes, and substitutions all impact project quality. Ertis cautions project managers to develop procedures to have an in-country advocate inspect materials and processes to ensure each is adequate and correct for the project requirements. The same goes for contractors on the project. Hiring an international firm quite possibly will result in paying higher rates, similar to union rates in the United States, for contracted labor in the country. Often, these international firms will hire lower cost contractors as subcontractors to complete the work. A local partner could help assign the responsibility of the tasks to the small- and medium-sized contractors who would be subcontractors to other international firms and save significant costs of construction. The preconstruction effort is necessary to define the roles and responsibilities in a clear and explicit manner. If the level of definition for the project scope, quality, responsibilities, and activity sequence is not maximized in detail, the potential for failures related to time, budget, and quality are increased. Something as simple as having a permit could have lagging impacts if not acquired in the correct time frame. Assignment of responsibility to an in-country partner is a means of improving the likelihood of meeting deadlines and having a successful project outcome.