Review Problems of Chapter 17

1. For the following network diagram, determine both the critical path and the expected
project duration. The numbers on the arrows represent expected activity times.

Solution:

Expected
Path Path Time
124689 41
125689 48
125789 55*
13789 40

2. Chris received new word processing software for her birthday. She also received a
check, with which she intends to purchase a new computer. Chriss college instructor
assigned a paper due next week. Chris decided that she will prepare the paper on the
new computer. She made a list of the activities she will need to do and their estimated
times.

a. Arrange the activities into two logical sequences.

b. Construct an AON diagram.
c. Determine the critical path and the expected duration time.
d. What are some possible reasons for the project to take longer than the
expected duration?
 Solution:

2. a. Choose topic Shop

Library res. Select
Outline Install

Write Paper
Grammar ck
Submit paper
b. AON diagram

Choose Library Outline

Start Write Grammar Submit End

Shop Select Install

c. 7.5 Shop, Select, Install, Write, Grammar, Submit

d. Parallel paths, probabilistic activity durations.

3. For problem 1, determine the following quantities for each activity: the earliest start
time, latest start time, earliest finish time, latest finish time, and slack time. List the
critical activities, and determine the expected duration of the project.

Solution:
 Summary:
Activity ES EF LS LF Slack
1 0 5 0 5 0
2 5 23 5 23 0
3 5 18 20 33 15
4 23 26 37 40 14
5 23 33 23 33 0
6 33 37 40 44 7
7 33 44 33 44 0
8 44 53 44 53 0
9 53 55 53 55 0

LS LF
ES EF
37 40
23 26

4 40 44
5 23 33 37
5 23 3

2 23 33 6
18 23 33 4
0 5
0 5
44 53 53 55
5
10 44 53 53 55

5
1 20 33
5 18
33 44 89 92
33 44

13
3 11

4. The project manager of a task force planning the construction of a domed stadium had
hoped to be able to complete construction prior to the start of the next college football
season. After reviewing construction time estimates, it now appears that a certain
amount of crashing will be needed to ensure project completion before the season
opener. Given the following time and cost estimates, determine a minimum-cost
crashing schedule that will shave five weeks off the project length. Note: No activity
can be crashed more than two weeks.
Solution: B
14
A K
12 9
Start
End

C M
10 G 3
D 15 N
P 8
17 11
E
H
18
F 8
12 J
I 12
7

Length after crashing N weeks

Path N: 0 1 2 3 4 5
ABK 35
CEHP 44 43 42 42 42 40
CDGM 45 44 43 43
CEHN 47 46 45 45 45 44
CFIJP 49 48 47 46 45 44

Activity c c f f e,p
Crashed
Cost $5,000 5,000 12,000 15,000 36,000
Cum. Cost $5,000 10,000 22,000 37,000 73,000

5. A construction project has indirect costs totaling $40,000 per week. Major activities in
the project and their expected times are shown in this precedence diagram:

Crashing costs for each activity are

a. Determine the optimum time-cost crashing plan.
b. Plot the total-cost curve that describes the least expensive crashing schedule
that will reduce the project length by six weeks.
Solution:
Weeks Crashed
Activity 1st week 2nd week 3rd week 1 2 3 4 5 6
12 $18 [2] $22 [6] $18 $22
25 24 25 25
57 30 30 35
711 15 [1] 20 [3] 15 20
1113 30 [4] 33 [5] 36 30 33
13 12 [6] 24 26 12
38
811 40 40 40
39 3 10 12
912 2 7 10
1213 26
14 10 [5] 15 25 10
46 8 [4] 13 8
610 5 [3] 12 [6] 5 12
1012 14 15
$15 $18 $25 $38 $43 $46

Weeks Crashed
Path 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
12571113 35 wk. 34 33 32 31 30 29
1381113 32 32 31 30 29
1391213 20
146101213 33 33 32 31 30 29

Summary:
Project Cum. wk. Cum. Crash Indirect Costs Total Cost
Length Shortened Costs ($0000) ($000) ($000)
35 0 0 35(40) = 1,400 1,400
34 1 15 34(40) = 1,360 1,375
33 2 33 33(40) = 1,320 1,353
32 3 58 32(40) = 1,280 1,338
31 4 96 31(40) = 1,240 1,336
30 5 139 30(40) = 1,200 1,339
29 6 185 29(40) = 1,160 1,345
 1,400
Total
Cost
($000)

1,300

0 30 31 32 33 34 35
Product Length
(wk)
6. Chucks Custom Boats (CCB) builds luxury yachts to customer order. CCB has landed a
contract with a mysterious New York lawyer (Mr. T). Relevant data are shown below.
The complication is that Mr. T wants delivery in 32 weeks or he will impose a penalty
of $375 for each week his yacht is late. Note: No activity can be crashed more than
two weeks.

Develop a crashing schedule.

 Solution:

7 4 8 6
L M P Z
Start 9 125, - 300, 350 5 -, - 7 90, - En
K Q Y d
410, 415 5 6 200, 225 85, 90
N J
45, 45 50,-
Project duration = 39 wk
Project Shorten Crash
length activity cost
39 wk 0
38 Z 90
37 N, L 170 = (125 + 45)
36 Q 200
35 Q 225
34 M, N 345
Stop here; additional crashing will cost more than the $375 weekly penalty.

7. Given the accompanying network diagram, with times shown in days,

a. Determine the expected duration of the project.
b. Compute the probability that the project will take at least 18 days.

Solution: a. 18.5 (See table in part b.)

b.

Path Expected Duration Standard Z17 Probability

Deviation
1-2-4-6 5+8.17 +5.33 = 18.5 1.17 .43 .3336
1-3-5-6 8.33 + 3 + 3.83 = 1.12 2.54 .9945
15.16
1 .3336 = .67.