Project Data

Project Activities (all times in weeks)

Activity	Precedence	To	Tm	Tp
Start	-	-	0	-
CONS		1.0	2.0	4.0
IPR	CONS	4.0	6.0	9.0
SCOP	CONS	5.0	8.0	10.5
FIN	CONS	2.0	4.0	6.0
DES1	SCOP	3.5	4.0	7.5
RES	FIN, SCOP	1.0	2.0	3.0
SUP	IPR, RES	3.0	5.0	7.0
DES2	RES, DES1	1.0	4.0	8.0
BLD	DES2, SUP	8.0	12.0	16.0
TST	SUP, BLD	2.0	3.0	5.0
DOC	TST, DES2	1.0	2.0	3.0
Finish	DOC	-	0	-

Table 1

See Next Page.

Questions

1

1) AoA Networks [10%]

Create AoA networks for the following project activity dependencies. (Note: Duration, EET and LET entries will be left blank, but all other standard diagram formats and rules should be followed).

1. a) A1 is initial activity; A2 depends on A1; A3 depends on A1; A4 depends on A2; A5

   depends on A2; A6 depends on A4; A7 depends on A5; A8 depends on A3 and A5; A9 depends on A6; A10 depends on A7 and A9; A11 depends on A8; A12 depends on A10 and A11. [5]

2. b) A is initial activity; B, C and D depend on A; E depends on B; F depends on D; G depends on E; H depends on C; I depends on G and H; J depends on C and F; K depends on I and J. [5]

2) AoN and PERT and Management of Uncertainty [25%]

1. a) Provide a completed PERT input table using details from Table 1, working to two decimal places. [4]

2. b) Provide an AoN diagram for the project, based on the PERT expected durations. What is the estimated project duration, the probability of achieving this duration, project variance and standard deviation? [10]

3. c) Calculate the probability of the project being completed within the overall duration that results from using the most likely (Tm) activity durations. Comment briefly on relevance of this result, and why PERT is a useful technique for project managers and organisations. [6]

4. d) Calculate the probability that the project will finish within +/- 10% of the estimated project duration from Q2b. [5]

3) Systems Engineering: Functional/Physical Mapping [50%]

User Requirement: A system to automatically produce a selection of hot drinks on demand for a busy restaurant.

1. a) Complete a basic functional decomposition corresponding to this top-level user requirement (up to 20 functional descriptors). Provide additional commentary as required to explain your breakdown and assumptions. [20]

2. b) Choose and present ONE specific solution which you believe can fully address your functional decomposition (focus on the most important elements up to 25 components). Provide additional commentary as required to describe your choice. [20]

3. c) Verify your specific solution in part 3b, against your requirements in part 3a, by providing a mapping between your functional and physical decomposition, including additional commentary for non-obvious relationships. [10]

4) Impact of Organisational Structure on Projects [10%]:

Describe the key differences between Functional and Project-based organisations. In this context, explain the advantages of matrix organisational structures. [250 word limit]. [10]