1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE PROBLEMS

Use Microsoft Project to do the following two problems. Submit (e-mail) a Project file and a brief Word narrative for each problem.

Problem 1 (Project 2010 version). Enter the data below into an MS Project file. This is a project for thehypothetical creation of a new credit-card product (and one which illustrates how little I know about thisbusiness). The ID number does not need to be entered—this is the number of the line in the task file inMS Project, and it is supplied here because the line number is used to indicate predecessor tasks in theright column. The data to enter are the task names, durations, and predecessors; enter them by column tosee several effects suggested below. Use the first of next month as the starting date for the project.

ID Name Duration Predecessors Resources1 Concept Development & Assessment 5.2 wks Developer2 Concept Design 3.2 wks 1 Designer3 Telemarketing Plan & Prep. 7.3 wks 1 Marketer4 Plastics Design 2 wks 2 Planner5 Concept Validation, Focus Groups 4.2 wks 2 Researcher6 Plastics Production 4.8 wks 4 Producer7 Operations Planning 3 wks 3 Operations8 Customer Service & Collections Setup 2 wks 3 Service Mgr9 Operations Testing 4.2 wks 7,8 Tester10 Advertising & Promotional Plan & Preparation 5.8 wks 5,6 Promoter11 Launch 0 wks 9,10

a What happens when you enter “w” for duration times? Then try “d” or “h.”

b When the name and duration data are entered, look at the Gantt chart which is created in the panelto the right of the data table. What happens when the predecessor column is entered?

c Format the Gantt Chart to show the critical path in red (Format > click Critical Tasks button). Then go to the Predecessors column—what happens when you delete one predecessor at a time?

d Insert a new task named “Start” at the top of the file (Task tab > Task button) of length zero, and make that a predecessor to Concept Development & Assessment. What happens?

e Restore the data to the original values, and add the resources in the “Resources” column of the data sheet. What can you do to shorten the completion time? (Hint: right-click on a task name, select “Task Information,” then select the Resources tab. You will see the resource name with 100% applied—double this and observe the effect.)

f Play around—insert one or more new tasks under one of the existing tasks (just make something up) and observe the effect. Change the level of indenture of several tasks and note what happens. Move a task to a new location by selecting its line and then dragging and dropping to a new placein the file. Use online help liberally—it is an excellent resource.

This problem gives you the basic skills needed to create a basic MS Project 2010 file, identify the critical path, and make adjustments to control the progress of work toward a desired completion date.Problem 1 (Version for Project 2007 and earlier, and OPenProj). Enter the data below into an MS Project file. This is a project for the hypothetical creation of a new credit-card product (and one which illustrates how little I know about this business). The ID number does not need to be entered—this is the number of the line in the task file in MS Project, and it is supplied here because the line number is used toindicate predecessor tasks in the right column. The data to enter are the task names, durations, and

predecessors; enter them by column to see several effects suggested below. Use the first of next month asthe starting date for the project.

ID Name Duration Predecessors Resources1 Concept Development & Assessment 5.2 wks Developer2 Concept Design 3.2 wks 1 Designer3 Telemarketing Plan & Prep. 7.3 wks 1 Marketer4 Plastics Design 2 wks 2 Planner5 Concept Validation, Focus Groups 4.2 wks 2 Researcher6 Plastics Production 4.8 wks 4 Producer7 Operations Planning 3 wks 3 Operations8 Customer Service & Collections Setup 2 wks 3 Service Mgr9 Operations Testing 4.2 wks 7,8 Tester10 Advertising & Promotional Plan & Preparation 5.8 wks 5,6 Promoter11 Launch 0 wks 9,10

a What happens when you enter “w” for duration times? Then try “d” or “h.”

b When the name and duration data are entered, look at the Gantt chart which is created in the panelto the right of the data table. What happens when the predecessor column is entered?

c Format the Gantt Chart to show the critical path in red (Format > Gantt Chart Wizard > Critical Path, take all defaults). Then go to the Predecessors column—what happens when you delete onepredecessor at a time?

d Insert a new task named “Start” at the top of the file (Insert > New Task) of length zero, and makethat a predecessor to Concept Development & Assessment. What happens?

e Restore the data to the original values, and add the resources in the “Resources” column of the data sheet. What can you do to shorten the completion time? (Hint: right-click on a task name, select “Task Information,” then select the Resources tab. You will see the resource name with 100% applied—double this and observe the effect.)

f Play around—insert one or more new tasks under one of the existing tasks (just make something up) and observe the effect. Change the level of indenture of several tasks and note what happens. Move a task to a new location by selecting its line and then dragging and dropping to a new placein the file. Use online help liberally—it is an excellent resource.

This problem gives you the basic skills needed to create a basic MS Project 2007 file (this and earlier versions are still widely used in industry), identify the critical path, and make adjustments to control the progress of work toward a desired completion date.

Problem 2 (Project 2010 version). Urinegood Company planned to completely upgrade its operating IT system. The following table shows the major steps in this project. Use this information to do parts (a) through (f) below, and submit the final MS Project file and a brief written response to the questions below.

Times (weeks)Task Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic Predecessor(s)

1. Assess current users 8 10 13 —2. Prepare transition plan 5 6 8 13. Approve plan (go/nogo) 0 0 0 24. Code new system 13 15 21 35. Design new system config. 10 12 14 1, 36. Test and debug 11 20 30 47. Beta user test 14 15 18 58. Install new hardware 2 3 4 69. Parallel system operation 4 6 10 7, 810. Validate new system 2 3 4 911. Launch 0 0 0 10

a. Make an MS Project file using the information above as follows: Use Excel to enter the data above into columns A, B, and C. In column D, enter the formula +((Aline + 4*Bline + Cline)/6). Then copy the calculated results in column D into the Duration column of Project. Give the project a start date of October 1, 2006, by clicking the “Project” tab, selecting the “Project Information” button, and entering the project start date. Next, enter the predecessors—what is theeffect of the zero durations? (Hint: these are called milestones, and let you mark critical points in the project without affecting the time required to do the work.)

b. Right-click the timeline at the top of the Gantt chart panel, select Zoom, and click Entire Project. Format the Gantt chart to show the critical path (called critical tasks in MSP 2010). When is the project to be completed?

c. Using the task information dialog box, examine the information for task 2. When is it scheduled to begin and end?

d. Enter an actual start date for task 2 that is four (4) weeks later than the one computed. When doestask 2 end with this delay? What effect does this have on the completion of the project?

e. Experiment with assignment of resources, addition of milestones, and other items of interest.

This is a very simple version of a Gantt chart, but shows how to use a few tools to allow for different estimates of task durations to be used to compute a single weighted time estimate for completion of each task. As a planning tool, this is quite valuable. Once completed, this file can be saved as a baseline plan against which progress can be measured with respect to time, amount of work, and project cost.

Problem 2 (Version for Project 2007 and earlier, and OpenProj). Urinegood Company planned to completely upgrade its operating IT system. The following table shows the major steps in this project. Use this information to do parts (a) through (f) below, and submit the final MS Project file and a brief written response to the questions below.

Times (weeks)Task Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic Predecessor(s)

1. Assess current users 8 10 13 —2. Prepare transition plan 5 6 8 13. Approve plan (go/nogo) 0 0 0 24. Code new system 13 15 21 35. Design new system config. 10 12 14 1, 36. Test and debug 11 20 30 47. Beta user test 14 15 18 58. Install new hardware 2 3 4 69. Parallel system operation 4 6 10 7, 810. Validate new system 2 3 4 911. Launch 0 0 0 10

a. Make an MS Project file using the information above as follows: Select View > More Views > Table: PA_PERT Entry, enter the data into each row, and click the Calculate PERT button. Then select View > Gantt Chart, and observe the calculated times in the Duration column. Give the project a start date of October 1, 2006. Next, enter the predecessors—what is the effect of the zero durations? (Hint: these are called milestones, and let you mark critical points in the project without affecting the time required to do the work.)

b. Right-click the timeline at the top of the Gantt panel, select Zoom, and click Entire Project. Format the Gantt chart to show the critical path. When is the project to be completed?

c. Using the task information dialog box, examine the information for task 2. When is it scheduled to begin and end?

d. Enter an actual start date for task 2 that is four (4) weeks later than the one computed. When doestask 2 end with this delay? What effect does this have on the completion of the project?

e. Experiment with assignment of resources, addition of milestones, and other items of interest.

This is a very simple version of a Gantt chart, but shows how to use a few tools to allow for different estimates of task durations to be used to compute a single weighted time estimate for completion of each task. As a planning tool, this is quite valuable. Once completed, this file can be saved as a baseline plan against which progress can be measured with respect to time, amount of work, and project cost.