Project management assignment

Name/ Ghada Mehana

Class no/ 71 v

Under supervision/ Dr Emad Elwy

Project (1):
Answer:
 A.Drawing the Project Network Diagram

To effectively visualize the sequence and dependencies of project

activities, a project network diagram is essential. This diagram, often
referred to as a precedence diagram or activity-on-node diagram, is
constructed by following these steps:

1. Node Representation: Each individual activity within the project is

represented by a distinct node.

2. Dependency Connections: Arrows are drawn between nodes to

illustrate the predecessor-successor relationships.These arrows
indicate which activities must be completed before others can
commence.

3. Activity Sequence: Based on the provided activity table, the

following sequence is established as the following diagram

o Activity A initiates the project as it has no preceding activities.

o Activities B, C, and D follow directly from Activity A.

o Activity E is dependent on both Activities A and B.

o Activities F predecessors Activity B.

 o Activity G predecessors Activity C.

o Activity H is also a successor to Activity C.

o Activity I predecessors are Activities D and E.

o Activities J and K both predecessor Activity E.

o Activity L is dependent on Activities F, G, and H.

o Activity M predecessors Activities I, J, and K.

o Activity N concludes the project, following Activities L and M.

b.Identifying All Paths and Their Lengths

To evaluate the potential project durations and identify critical paths, it is

necessary to enumerate all feasible paths from the project's inception
(Activity A) to its completion (Activity N). Each path represents a sequence of
activities that can be executed to achieve the project's objectives.

By listing the activities that connect from A to N for each path, we can
visualize the different routes available.Subsequently, the duration of each
activity within a path can be summed to determine the total time required
for that particular sequence.

Path 1: A-B-F-L-N=24 (4+3+7+5+5)=24

Path 2: A-C-G-L-N=27 (4+7+6+5+5)=27

Path 3: A-C-H-L-N=34 (4+7+13+5+5)=34

Path 4: A-D-I-M-N=26 (4+9+4+4+5)=26

Path 5: A-E-I-M-N-=25 (4+8+4+4+5)=25

Path 6: A-E-J-M-N=33 (4+8+12+4+5)=33

Path 7: A-E-K-M-N=22 (4+8+1+4+5)=22

c.Identifying Critical Path(s) and Project Duration

The critical path within a project network diagram represents the sequence
of activities that, when executed, determine the overall project duration. It is
characterized by having the longest cumulative duration among all possible
paths. Any delay in activities on the critical path will inevitably result in a
project delay, as there is no available slack or float to compensate for such
disruptions.

 Crtical path =(A-C-H-L-N)=34 path 3 in the previous answer for

question b
 While identifying all possible paths and their durations provides
valuable insights, the critical path can also be determined directly by
calculating specific activity times. These times include the Early Start
(ES), Early Finish (EF), Late Start (LS),Late Finish (LF), and slack values.
 By completing a table with these values, we can systematically
analyze each activity's time constraints and identify the critical
path. The critical path is distinguished by having zero slack, indicating
that any delay in these activities will directly impact the overall project
completion time.

SLACK
Duratio (ls-es) Critical
Activity n ES EF LS LF (lf-ef) path
A 4 0 4 0 4 0 yes
B 3 4 7 14 17 10 none
C 7 4 11 4 11 0 yes
D 9 4 13 12 21 8 none
E 8 4 12 5 13 1 none
F 7 7 14 17 24 10 none
G 6 11 17 18 24 7 none
H 13 11 24 11 24 0 yes
I 4 13 17 21 25 8 none
J 12 12 24 13 25 1 none
K 1 12 13 24 25 12 none
L 5 24 29 24 29 0 yes
M 4 24 28 25 29 1 none
N 5 29 34 29 34 0 yes
so, based on the previous excel table I identified the critical path by
selecting the highest EF value from the project and activing N showing 34
highest EF value so the critical path is (A-C-H-L-N) and the project duration
will be (34).

d. Explanation of Why Activities A and N Are Critical

Given the predecessor relationships and project paths, it is evident that
Activities A and N hold critical importance to the project's timeline.

Activity A, as the initial activity, directly influences the commencement of

subsequent activities. Any delay in Activity A will inevitably cause a
postponement in the entire project's execution.

Conversely, Activity N, being the final activity, represents the project's

culmination. Until Activity N is completed, the project cannot be considered
finished.

By conducting forward and backward pass calculations to determine early

start, early finish, late start, and late finish times, it becomes apparent that
these two activities are crucial to the project's overall duration and
successful completion.

e. Crashing the Project

To expedite the completion of a project, a strategy known as "crashing" can

be employed. Crashing involves expediting activities on the critical path, the
sequence of tasks that determines the project's overall duration. By reducing
the duration of these critical activities, the project's timeline can be
shortened. However, it's important to note that crashing activities often
incurs additional costs per day due to the measures required to accelerate
their completion.
The provided table outlines the activities that are amenable to crashing and
their associated costs. To make informed decisions regarding the extent of
crashing and the specific activities to target, the following factors should be
carefully considered:

1. Project Delay Costs: The daily cost of project delays, estimated at

$3,500 in this case.

2. Crashing Costs: The incremental costs incurred for crashing each

activity per day. For example, crashing Activity C costs $1,000 per day.

3. Activity Prioritization: Activities on the critical path, the sequence of

tasks that determines the project's duration,should be prioritized for
crashing. Furthermore, activities with the lowest crashing cost per day
should be considered first to minimize overall expenses.
 By meticulously evaluating these factors, organizations can effectively
determine the optimal level of crashing and select the most cost-effective
activities to expedite project completion while minimizing additional
expenditures.

** so by crashing the activities in the attached table we can make calculation

for how much cost we can save highest amount of cost on the critical path.

Activity C
can be crashed for 3 days at total cost $1,000 per day
total crash cost will be (3*1,000)= $3,000 , the company saves 3 days at
$3,500 per day = $10,500 saved.
Net savings = $10,500 - $3,000 = $7,500.
So the project can be reduced by more three days.

So total saving for the project is activity C on the critical path with the
highest saving cost of $7,500 per three days and total new project duration
will be shorter by 3 days from the original project duration (34-3)=31 days
for new project length.

Project (2):
1. Identify the critical path and its activities for Rockfest. How long
does the project take?
To determine the project's timeline, we must identify the critical path, which
represents the longest sequence of activities.By analyzing the project's
tasks, we found that the critical path includes the following critical path
activities:

Path 1# A-B-D-E-F-G-O = (7+3+5+6+4+2+7)=34

Path 2# A-B-H-I-J = (7+3+4+4+10)=28
Path 3# A-B-D-L-M = (7+3+5+3+8)=26
Path 4# A-C-K-L-M = (7+3+2+3+8)=23
Path 5# A-C-N = (7+3+6)=16
Path 6# A-T-U-X-S = (7+4+6+8+3)=28
Path 7# A-T-V-W = (7+4+7+4)=22
Path 8# A-B-Q-R-O = (7+3+4+4+7)=25
Path 9# A-B-P = (7+3+20)=30
Path 10# A-B-Y-Z = (7+3+6+6)=22

So the critical path is the longest path wich is path 1# A-B-D-E-F-G-O=34

week.
Total project duration is 34 week.

2. Which activities have a slack time of 8 weeks or more?

Tasks that can be delayed without affecting the project's overall timeline are
known as tasks with slack. Those with a slack period of eight weeks or more
are typically not on the critical path, either due to their longer duration or
less stringent dependencies.
By analyzing the project schedule found that:

Given the timeline outlined in the chart, tasks like "(Q) hire sponsor
coordinator" (4 weeks) and "(R) finaliz sponsors" (4 weeks) have
inherent flexibility due to their extended durations. This slack can potentially
accommodate scheduling adjustments without compromising the project's
critical path.

3. Identify five major challenges a project manager faces in events

such as this one.

Managing a massive event like Rockfest is akin to navigating a

minefield, with challenges lurking at every turn. 1. Time mamangement
(Time is the enemy), as deadlines loom large and unexpected
setbacks, like those Tomasso encountered, can derail even the most
meticulously planned timeline. 2. Resource allocation (Resources are
scarce), and allocating them efficiently, particularly for long-term
commitments like talent and staff accommodations, is a delicate balancing
act. 3. Stakeholders coordination (Stakeholders are
demanding), each with their own unique needs and expectations, making
communication and coordination a constant juggling act. 4. Uncertainty
and risk management (The unexpected is inevitable), from traffic jams
to artist delays, requiring contingency plans that are as flexible as they are
robust. And 5. Budget control (budget constraints) are a constant
threat, made even more challenging by last-minute
changes and unforeseen expenses. As Tomasso aptly noted, project
management software like Microsoft Project is essential for tracking
both time and money, ensuring that the project stays on course and within
budget.

4. Why is a work breakdown structure useful in a project such as

this? Take the 26 activities and break them into what you think
should be level-2, level-3, and level-4 tasks.

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is indispensable for complex projects like

Rockfest. By breaking down the project into smaller, more manageable
components, a WBS provides clear milestones, facilitates progress
tracking, and optimizes resource allocation. This hierarchical structure also
helps mitigate the risk of overlooking critical dependencies.
The WBS for Rockfest can be structured into four levels:

Level 2 activities ( major phases ):

 Event Setup and Venue Management

 Entertainment Coordination
 Marketing and Promotion
 Security and Safety Arrangements
 Staff and Logistical Support

Level 3 activities ( subdivisions for each phase ):

 Contracts and Permits

 Production Management and Accommodations
 Talent Acquisition
 TV Production Planning
 Merchandise and Ticket Sales online.

Level 4 activities ( granular tasks for each subdivison ):

 Talent Booking and Travel

 On-Site Ticketing
 Technical Production (sound & staging)
 Security Plans (fire&police)
 Full Facilities Management ( stage credentials,power,plumbing and A/C
services )
By breaking down the project in this manner, each team can clearly
understand their roles, responsibilities, and timelines,leading to more
efficient project management.