SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

MSc PROJECT MANAGEMENT

GBEPM 520 – PROJECT PLANNING AND CONTROL

ASSIGNMENT FOR DISTANCE STUDENTS

NOTE: The purpose of an assignment is to ensure that the student is able to:

• Use methods of enquiry and research in a disciplined field.

• Interpret and evaluate text.
• Have a sound understanding of key principles and theories, rules and awareness.
• Solve unfamiliar problems using correct procedures as well as investigate and
critically analyse information and report thereof.
• Present and communicate information reliably and coherently.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES

Please read the following information very carefully and refer to it when completing the
assignment.

Information

1. This assignment has been set to enable you to demonstrate your ability to research,
analyse and problem solve a range of different situations. There are two (2)
questions in this assignment. Answer ALL.
2. You are expected to approach your assignment work from project planning and
control context.
3. The assignment must be typed with font size 12 Times New Roman. Use Excel for
any graphs you need to generate.
4. The quality of work submitted is more important than the number of pages.
5. Copying is a serious offence which attracts a severe penalty and must be avoided
at all costs. If any student transgresses the institution Plagiarism policy, that student
will be subjected to the penalty as per the institution Plagiarism policy.
6. Harvard Referencing to be adhered to at all times while attempting the assignments.

Submission:

Submit one file in PDF format via the Moodle LMS. Note that you convert your Word or
Excel file to pdf by ‘SaveAs’ and choosing PDF for the format.

Deadline: 29th February, 2024

Late Assignments will not be marked.

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QUESTION 1:

The Operations Department of an Electronics Firm has set up the activities for installing
and operationalising a new system. Table Q1 gives the data for this project.
Table Q1: Project Data
Activity Duration
Description Predecessor
ID (Days)
A Equipment Installation - 13
B System Development - 10
C Position Recruiting - 4
D Equipment Testing A 6
E Manual Testing C 1
F Job Training B, E 6
G Orientation D, F 7
H System Training C 3
I System Testing H 3

(a) Using the data in Table Q1, draw a network diagram (A-o-N) for the project
schedule showing ES, EF, LS, LF, and slack for each activity. Determine the project
duration and the critical path.
[25 marks]
(b) Draw a revised project network considering the following generalized precedence
relations that have been provided in addition to the data in Table Q1:

• Activity B can be started only after 2 days activity A has been started.
• Activity E can be finished only after 1 day activity B has been finished.
• Activity D can be finished only after 8 days activity F has been started.

What is the project duration and the critical path of the revised schedule?
[25 marks]

[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]

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QUESTION 2:

The Advanced Tech Company has a project to design an integrated information database
for a major bank. Data for the project are given in Table Q2 below. Indirect project costs
amount to $300 per day. The company will incur a $150 per day penalty for each day the
project lasts beyond day 14.

Table Q2: Database Design Project Data

Normal Time Crash Time Normal Cost Crash Cost
Activity Predecessor
(days) (days) ($) ($)
A - 6 5 1,000 1,200
B - 4 2 800 2,000
C A, B 3 2 600 900
D B 2 1 1,500 2,000
E C, D 6 4 900 1,200
F E 2 1 1,300 1,400
G D 4 4 900 900
H G 4 2 500 900

(a) What is the shortest time duration for this project regardless of cost?
[35 marks]
(b) What is the total cost and time of the minimum-cost schedule?
[15 marks]

[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]

END OF ASSIGNMENT

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