SIM335 Managing Projects - Task 1
Question 1: Network diagram (activity on node)
‘The network diagram is defined as a graphical presentation of the project’s activities shows the planned sequence of work’ Burke (2003, p.131). It is also called as precedence diagramming method (PDM). ‘It is a method of constructing a project schedule network diagram that uses boxes or rectangles, which referred to as nodes, to represent activities and connects them with arrows that show the dependencies’ The Project Management Book of knowledge (PMBOK) (2004, p. 132). The network diagram (Appendix 1.0) has been drawn out accordingly to the table 1 for Jashol Ltd in order to show activities and period it takes to customise luxury cars for its customers.
Question 2: Determine timing of activities and total floats
To determine the timing of activity A to activity R are using forward and backward pass through the network diagram (Appendix 1). A forward pass is begin from the left to the right which is using the earliest start time(EST) and earliest finish time(EFT) of each activity. While, backward pass is using the activity latest start time(LST), latest finish time(LFT) and total float(TF) that are proceed from right to left. Meanwhile, duration is presented in the activity data. The calculation of timing for each activity has been drawn out clearly in a table form (Appendix 1.1).
Question 3: Determine the project duration and critical paths
The duration for the project is 70 days for completion, which is using LST to add up together with the duration of the activity. PMBOK (2004, p.145) defines critical paths have either a zero or negative total float. Therefore, for the critical paths of this project are activity A→B→F→G→J→K→N→O→Q→R (Task 1 - Appendix 1.0 and 1.2). The zero float showed in the activities are indicate as the critical path or critical activities.
Question 4: The earliest date to complete the project
If the project starts on 5th