OGL322 Module 7: Final Reflection | Aubrey Joyce

Part 1:
February 27th, 2022
To Museum Project Sponsors and Stakeholders,
I am contacting you in regard to the Museum Expansion project and the course of action I
would like to propose. My name is Aubrey Joyce and I have recently been assigned to oversee
the project and its correlative processes. Upon reviewing the details of this project, I would like
to relay what I understand, thus far, to address any confusion or misunderstanding. Upon taking
over the project I was informed that the project deadline has been expedited by 8 days from the
original 89-day schedule, leaving us with 81 days to turn over the project. The project scope still
consists of completing the new retails store/café/kitchen, a new lobby space, and a modern
lecture hall.
After assessing the current project schedule and information, I have determined that the
optimal solution to keep the project on schedule and deliver within the agreed upon time frame is
to crash certain tasks in order to fast track the schedule, by adding additional shifts and/or crews
to certain tasks. Based upon the remaining tasks, it would make sense to minimize the impact to
areas being worked on by not having too many crews working in the same location. I would
suggest shortening task number 17, Wood Treatment, as this task has significant difference in
float between the realistic timeframe to complete and optimistic duration of the task. I propose
reducing the total number of days for wood treatment to 6 by increasing the hours of work and
adding and additional shift for the crews. I would also propose reducing the duration for task 18,
Flooring Installation, by 2 days. By taking these measures, the project schedule will remain on
track and meet the revised deadline. With the availability of the additional budgeted funds, we
can revise the scope of the subcontractors to fast track the project’s duration(s) by working
additional shifts and/or workdays. All tasks regarding floor installations are performed by the
same subcontractor and due to their different materials can be completed simultaneously in
different areas of the project site.
I would like to take this time to address the project’s assumptions, constraints, and
contingency plan. As addressed above, the proposed solutions to reduce the total project time are
based upon the current critical path of the project. The proposed changes to the work schedules
are contingent upon the available access to the construction site buy the contractors. Should the
reductions in tasks 17 and 18 prove to be inadequate to shortening the project’s schedule, then I
suggest that we address task numbers 23 and 24 as buffers and shorten their durations, one day
each. I would also look to bring the cleaning crews into the areas that are complete sooner in
order to allow the owners to begin their inspection and punch walk 3 days earlier. If you have
any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to further discuss the project.
Sincerely,
Aubrey Joyce
480-749-3427
Project Manager
 OGL322 Module 7: Final Reflection | Aubrey Joyce

Part 2:
The teachings of OGL322 have been exceptionally beneficial in my understanding of
distinguishing a project’s tasks, subtasks, labor, or other forms of work that is needed to
complete said project with maximum value and under the requirements of the clients. In the early
stages of the course, I learned how to create a thorough and effective work breakdown structure
(WBS) with its designative WBS dictionary and Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM). I
learned the value in properly sequencing project activities and understanding the relationships
and interdependencies between various tasks. From acknowledging the activities’ relationships, I
had the tools to create accurate schedules, such as a Network Diagram and a Gantt Chart, that
would assist the average project manager in tracking a project’s progress. Although these devices
serve as recording the sequential relationship of tasks, they differ in several ways.
The Gantt chart is typically utilized to document progress tracking and reporting;
furthermore, it is more helpful in planning and organizing information during the planning stage
of a project. This tool is typically in the form of a bar chart to show how long each task will take,
given the start and end dates. The network diagram is typically utilized to observe how each task
is affected by each other via their predecessors and successors. Network diagrams can be very
vague in the information that they express but are primarily used to depict a project’s critical
path, which will help project managers and members see the tasks/activities that are necessary
for a project’s completion. As a result, network diagrams are typically used to convey any
possible flexibility that can be made to the schedule should changes be made to accommodate
new information, such as a new deadline or budget.
In learning each method of tracking a project’s progress, I gained an understanding of
how to perform various estimation techniques for estimating activity durations. Among these
methods include the three-point estimation, bottom-up, analogous, and parametric, all of which
serve their own purposes and have a different error margin. Once I determined the accurate
durations of each task, I learned how to develop a project’s schedule with the project
management plan, project documents, agreements, and organizational/enterprise assets. In
developing a project schedule, it’s important to state what makes the project succeed or fail;
establishing a definitive measure of what is expected from the project will help minimize the
stress and ensure that the project is within the client’s requirements of scope, time, and cost.
Among the several topics that I gathered information on, I learned the importance of
proper time management and how an inadequate management of time can lead to a project’s
failure, due to negligence. I believe the portion of the course that I excelled in were creating and
utilizing the network diagrams and Gantt charts. As a visual learner, I appreciated the
organizational aspect of these devices and how they would be used to properly oversee a project.
Although I understand the basics of the estimation techniques, I would like to participate in more
activities that would help further my understanding of the material. Furthermore, I would like to
create another WBS and WBS dictionary so that I can apply the proper grammar/verbiage in its
format, as I did struggle with labeling each category/task. To improve my time management
habits, I will start implementing more disciplinary actions to ensure that I stay on top of my
projects.
 OGL322 Module 7: Final Reflection | Aubrey Joyce

Part 3: Revised Network Diagram of Critical Path *Lobby*

15 days 5 days 8 days 23 days 9 days 8 days

13 16 17 18 19 23/24

15 + 5 + 8 + 23 + 9 + 8 + 12 = 80 days < 81 days

This revised network diagram depicts the changes that I would make the schedule.
*Note that my proposal suggests that the governmental inspections and cleaning services would
be done 3 days earlier (12 days instead of 15), as my timeline allows for float (inspections) in
between tasks.