Part A – Precedence Network (PERT) Diagrams
and MS Project model (25%)
Q.1 Table 1 shows a list of major tasks in a construction project of a typical house.
A house construction project
Duration
(weeks) Postprocessor
Task 1 Clear site and mark out 1 2
Task 2 Dig soakaway 1 4
Task 3 Base formwork 1 5
Task 4 Position u/g drain pipes 1 6, 22
Task 5 Pour base concrete 1 7
Task 6 Pour hard stand concrete 1 25
Task 7 Cure base concrete 5 8
Task 8
Position door
frame 1 9
Task 9 Brick walls to eaves 5 10, 11
Task 10 Fit RSJ lintel 1 12, 13
Task 11 Fit window frame 1 13
Task 12 Hang doors 1 14
Task 13 Finish brickwork 2 15
Task 14 Prime doors and windows 1 16, 17
Task 15 Cut and fit roof timbers 3 18, 19
Task 16 Glaze windows 1 20
Task 17 Paint doors 1 21
Task 18 Cap parapets 1 22
Task 19 Fit roof sheets 2 23, 24
Task 20 Paint windows 1 25
Task 21 Fit door furniture 1 25
Task 22 Fit gutters and downpipes 1 25
Task 23 Seal roof 1 25
Task 24 Install electrics 1 25
Task 25 Clear away 1
Table1: Tasks included in a house construction project
3
By using the PERT network convention:
You are required to:
1) Create a network diagram for this project manually and calculate the total project
duration.
2) Use the backward pass method, populate all the relevant information for each task,
including the total float, and identify the critical path.
Q.2 Table 2 shows a list of activities (A to W) and their durations in a big project.
TASK DURATION Postprocessor No. of workers
£120/day
A 6 B 1
B 5 C,D 1
C 3 E 1
D 3 E 2
E 2 F (+2),G,H,I 1
F 20 U 3
G 10 K (SS+6), J 2
H 4 J,K 2
I 6 J, L 1
J 5 L 1
K 8 P 1
L 14
Q, M (FF-5), N (FF5)
3
M 5 O 2
N 10 R, S 2
O 4 S 1
P 5 W 1
Q 3 R, S 2
R 4 S 2
S 6 T (-3) 1
T 2 W 1
U 5 V 2
4
V 5 W 1
W 4 1
1) Create a network diagram for this project manually and calculate the total project
duration.
2) Use the backward pass method, populate all the relevant information for each task,
including the total float, and identify the critical path.
3) Use MS Project to create a precedence network consisting of all the required
activities. Compare the MS project result to the hand calculation in terms of the
total project total duration and the critical path. Include all MS Project relevant
printouts in your report. Save the MS Project model to a file name as
‘K123456_K456789_PartA_model1’.
4) Produce a relevant Gantt chart with MS Project and include the printout in the
report. Save the MS Project Gantt chart as ‘K123456_K456789_PartA_model2’.
5) Produce a preview cost report for the project cast flow which includes the total
project cost. Include any relevant printouts in your report. Save the MS Project cost
report as ‘K123456_K456789_PartA_model3’.
Part B – Prepare a Project Initiate Document (PID)
for a project (select one from a list) (25%)
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Project choice 1 – Driverless car
5
The world of self-driving autonomous cars is only around the corner, and companies across the globe,
from car makers such as Tesla, Audi and Nissan, to tech firms like Google and Aurora are spending
millions to get the technology on the road. Amongst all the current players, a new technology firm is
also interested in investing into autonomous cars and put you in charge to produce a Project Initiate
Document to evaluate the risks and benefits.
Project choice 2 – 3D printed houses
Housing has reached a crisis level in the UK, especially in big cities such as London. This project
is to examine the feasibility and risk of using 3D printing technology to actually ‘print’ a habitable
house (as shown in the picture) in a relatively short period of time.
Select one project from the list, and perform the following tasks.
As a project manager, your role is to evaluate the feasibility of the chosen project. Your first step
will be to produce a Project Initiate Document (PID) to persuade your stake holders that the project
is profitable and technologically feasible. Your PID report should focus on the following:
ASSESSMENT DELIVERABLES
Task 1 – Prepare a clear mission statement (approx. 100 words) and design a project logo.
Task 2 – Prepare a Project Definition (approximately 700 – 1000 words). This is to outline the
“who, why, and what” part of the project. It defines all major aspects of the project and forms the
basis for its planning and management and also the assessment of overall success. It MUST
include the following:
6
Task 2 content Description
Project description and SMART
objectives
This is the most important part and majority of the
document that translates the requirements
communicated by the sponsor into specific objectives. It
explains why the project is being undertaken.
Stakeholders Anybody who can contribute to the success of the
project or influence the failure of the project.
Major Milestones Key achievements that can be used to monitor progress
throughout the project and celebrate successes. These
must include dates.
Critical success factors Measurements that will determine if key achievements
have been achieved. The most important will be used to
assess if the project can be judged a success.
Task 3 – Produce a work breakdown structure (WBS). Aim at around 30-40 activities and illustrate
the breakdown in a tree diagram format. The breakdown should have a clear logical basis,
although technical details may vary. Create your own category names as required and remember
that there can never be only one right way for a project of this nature, as long as you justify your
choice. Explain what basis you use to create the categories and work packages (tasks beneath
each category). You must make sure that the tasks are broken down into some reasonable detail.
Task 4 – Refer to web link ’39 examples of project risk at ‘http://simplicable.com/new/project-riskexamples’,
identify 10 major risks for the project, linking each risk to the overall project objectives
in Task 2. Prioritise them using a Probability Impact Risk Assessment matrix and develop
comprehensive mitigation steps for all 10 major risks.
Additional information:
You will need to conduct a significant amount research on gathering creditable information on
relevant subjects and/or similar projects.
All results, discussion, reports and screenshots must be included in one single PDF report for
the final submission.
Make sure the report has a proper cover page which shows all the contributors to this
assignment. Only one student is required to submit the final report to Canvas. The same
student will also submit all relevant MS Project model files (in Part A) in the appropriate
drop box.
Indicative marking criteria
Part A: Precedence Network diagrams and MS Project
i) Producing a correct PERT diagram for the two projects and their critical paths.
ii) Getting the correct project durations.
7
iii) Demonstration of good knowledge in using MS Project to solve the given problem.
iv) Verification of results in Q.2 when comparing the hand calculations to MS Project calculations.
v) The accuracy of the project cost report for Q.2
vi) Any addition comments/discussion could be useful.
Part B – to produce a Project Initiation Document (PID) for a given project
The marking criteria for this excise will include:
i) The amount and relevancy of the research carried out
ii) Accuracy/consistency of reference citation
iii) Quality and fluency of the discussion
iv) All the key task are completed
v) Turn-It-In similarity check
vi) Clarity of the overall PID report structure and presentation
vii) Any additional effort
It is also always a good practice to include an abstract before the content page, and an overall
conclusion at the very end.
The following marking guide shows the criteria of each marking scale:
Scale Mark band (indicative)
1 Failed, less than 45% Little effort or result was demonstrated
1.5 MF, 46-49% The work overall was just below the 50% pass mark
2 50-53% Just acceptable
2.5 54-56% A little bit close to average but still below.
3 56-58% The work overall was considered average with lots of room for
improvement
3.5 59-65% The overall work was above average but with specific weaknesses
(see detailed feedback)
4 66-72% The work generally was of good standard but still got some room for
improvement
4.5 73-78% The work was considered excellent with clear evidence of effort
5 Above 78% The work was outstanding, demonstrating excellent knowledge and
overall effort.
Best Essay Writing Services: Get Homework Done
support@smartwritingservices.com+1 (716) 748-0476
