Questions

1. Use Microsoft Project to develop the project schedule. Note that have been asked to include

the following in your schedule:

a) The project title as the overall project summary (as task 0 and WBS number 0). All

other tasks should be “indented” according to the WBS structure shown below:

Initial Meetings and consultations

Initial Project Briefing Meeting

Consultation with franchisees

Initial requirements analysis meeting

 New Programs / Changes

Update of prices – Analysis

 …. etc.

 Database Changes

Design DB changes

Modify DB

Integration and testing with s/w

Security

Security requirements document

… etc.

SOE

Analysis and documentation of requirements

… etc.

Integration and testing with SOE

NSW

… etc.

 Delivery and Training

NSW

… etc.

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b) A WBS column before the “Task Name” column and a WBS Predecessors column

after the “Task Name” column as shown below:

c) Resource allocation details. To simplify resource allocation for this assignment, there

is no need to assign resources to the initial meeting and consultation tasks. However,

the tasks must be included in the schedule. All other tasks should have the correct

resources assigned as specified in the case description.

d) Holidays. Assume that for this project you must include the following holidays:

Annual holiday: Monday 26th December 2016 – Friday 6th January 2017

e) The critical path(s) automatically displayed in red on the bars of the Gantt chart view

of your schedule.

At this point there may be resource over allocation issues. Do not attempt to resolve these

before answering question 2. Save this version of your schedule in RP_PartAQ1.mpp. You

will be required to submit this file as part of your assignment submission.

2. At this point ignore any resource over allocations. Save a copy of your RP_PartAQ1 file in

RP_PartAQ2.mpp. For the purposes of this question only you can assume that there would

be no resource constraints. You therefore ignore any resource over-allocation. Do not attempt

to resolve any resource over allocation (if any exists) at this point. Using your

RP_PartAQ2.mpp schedule:

a. Use the “view tab” filter to display only the critical tasks. Provide a screenshot showing

the task names and the Gantt chart of all the tasks on the critical path(s).

b. If you were asked to reduce the overall duration of the project by reducing the duration of

some of the tasks in the project, what tasks would you target for reduction and why?

c. In your RP_PartAQ2.mpp file, reduce the duration of the tasks as outlined in your part b

answer. Highlight the changes you have made in the file. Make sure that your changes

have reduced the project duration by 3 weeks compared to the RP_PartAQ1.mpp file.

Call this file RP_PartAQ2.mpp. You will be required to submit this file as part of your

assignment submission. This file is not to be modified/developed further.

This question relates to resource allocation and requires you to make another copy of your

original RP_PartAQ1.mpp in a file called RP_PartAQ3.mpp .

a. How can you tell if there are any resource over-allocation issues?

b. Use the software to check for any resource over-allocation in your project. Did you have

any resource over-allocation issues in your schedule? If so, describe where they

occurred. (Note that it is possible that there are no issues in your project schedule.)

c. If there was any resource over-allocation in your project, resolve it now.

d. Did this have any impact on your overall project duration? Explain. (Be specific – if there

is a change how much of a change. Explain why you do or don’t see a change iin the

overall duration.)

Continue working with this RP_PartAQ3.mpp file for the remainder of the questions in

Part A.

4. Write a memo to Mairi describing the length of the project, the expected completion date of

the project, together with an explanation of the factors that cause the project to require

that length of time. The completion date is to be the date when all franchisees will have had

the new system installed and have completed their training.

You must also include a summary of the direct labour costs for each of the resource types

working on the project. Present the costs in a table similar to the following:

Assume that you will send the project schedule as an attachment to the memo. You should

therefore refer to the attachment in your memo.

Note: there are some notes about memos provided on the course website underneath this

assignment specification.

5. Identify at least two tasks and/or costs that might have been overlooked in this project.

This requires you to think specifically about what is being accomplished in this project and

what may have been missed. 

Questions

1. Copy RP_PartAQ3.mpp to RP_PartB.mpp. In RP_PartB.mpp, amend the project schedule to

provide for the additional programs. Highlight the additional tasks in your RP_PartB mpp file. If

the addition of the extra tasks result in any resource over-allocation issues, resolve these issues

now.

2. What (if any) is the impact of adding the additional tasks to develop the additional programs to

satisfy the franchisee requirements on

a. The overall duration of the project? Explain why/why not.

b. The total direct cost of the project? Explain why/why not.

In your answers to (a) and (b) above, be very specific about the actual amounts that the duration

or costs change.

3. Given the additional requirements from the franchisees, William advises you that the design of

the database changes will require 6 weeks and it will now take 8 weeks to implement the

changes. Make these modifications to your schedule

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4. What (if any) is the impact of the additional time required for the database tasks on

a. The overall duration of the project? Explain why/why not.

b. The total direct cost of the project? Explain why/why not.

In your answers to (a) and (b) above, be very specific about the actual amounts that the duration

or costs change.

5. Jason also advises that the delivery of the SOEs is only going to take 1 week, not 4. Make this

change to your schedule. Highlight the change in your solutions

6. What (if any) is the impact of the additional time required for the database tasks on

a. The overall duration of the project? Explain why/why not.

b. The total direct cost of the project? Explain why/why not.

In your answers to (a) and (b) above, be very specific about the actual amounts that the duration

or costs change. 

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