PRO4801/203/2018

Tutorial Letter 203/2018

Project Management (Hons)

PRO4801
Year module

Department of Operations Management

This tutorial letter contains important
information about your module.

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Dear PRO4801 student
The third assignment (ASS 03) has been returned. This brief tutorial letter contains
guidelines for the answers to assignment 03. The last tutorial letter 204 include feedback
on assignment 04 and more information on the examination in Jan/Feb 2019.

GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT 03

QUESTION 3.1

Project planning is the function of deciding what to do. If this is not correct then good leadership,
the appropriate organisational form and a skilled project team may mean nothing. During the
conception and definition phases of project management a plan is prepared specifying project
goals, tasks, budgets and schedules. Funds and other resources are released for this “project”
(project planning) and it is essential that the plan should be complete. The learning curve
experiences (successes and failures) from previous projects are also important information that
must be used during the planning process. You must base the rest of your presentation on the
information in Nicholas & Steyn (2017:155-158).

QUESTION 3.2

This question dealt with the scheduling of work elements (work packages) as crucial aspect in
planning since scheduling determines the basis for resources allocation, cost estimates and
project performance. You had to explain how the following are utilised:

 project master schedule and project activities.

 tasks schedules, Gantt charts and milestone schedules.

 network scheduling.

The first two parts of the question refer to chapter 5 with specific reference p. 156-159; 168-179.
The last part refer to chapter 6, p. 190-195.

NB – Please note: The term “project master schedule” is referred to in the 5th edition of the
textbook as the “project execution plan”.

QUESTION 3.3

You were required to explain the different planning tools and documents such as the WBS, SOW
and responsibility matrix and explain the significance of each. You must base your presentation on
the information in Nicholas & Steyn (2017:159-170).

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QUESTION 3.4

Refer to Nicholas & Steyn (2017) chapter 6 and 7 to answer this question. The solution for the
TRP project is provided in the attached annexure.

Please note that the project duration will not be affected should activity H be delayed by 9
days due to the 9 days slack (TS) available at the activity. A delay of 9 days at activity I with
8 days TS will result in a one day extension of the project duration.

The last tutorial (204) will also provide additional guidelines for the examination in February. Good
luck with the last assignment!

Yours faithfully

PRO4801 Lecturer/s

DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

UNISA

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 QUESTION 3.4 (Part 3)