Researching a business - analytical research - CPA, gantt charts, SWOT

Question 1

Stages of CPA

Answer 1

• identifying each activity needed to complete project
• calculating the time that will be taken by each activity
• working out which activities can be done simultaneously
• identifying which activities cannot start until others have been completed
• putting the activities in order

Question 2

CPA - advantages

Answer 2

• helps reduce the risk and cost of complex projects
• encourages careful assessment of requirements of each activity in a project
• helps identify activities with some float and could lead to reallocation (difference of time between simultaneous tasks)
• provides managers with a useful overview of a complex project

Question 3

Gantt charts - how to undertake

Answer 3

• identify each different activity
• decide how much time for activity
• decide order activities done in
• create table
• weeks/months across top and activities down left hand side
• draw rectangular box from start time to end time

Question 4

Gantt charts - advantages

Answer 4

• help managers see which tasks can be done simultaneously
• shading in activities as done helps to spot any delays before they become serious
• can be displayed on wall to inform and motivate all employees

Question 5

Gantt charts - description

Answer 5

• create table or spreadsheet
• label days, weeks or month on top
• include activity on the left
• for each activity, draw rectangular box from start time to end time
• shade in as each activity is completed

Question 6

SWOT - advantages

Answer 6

• better understand your business
• address weaknesses
• deter threats
• capitalise on opportunities
• take advantage of strengths
• develop goals and strategies for achieving them

Question 7

SWOT - disadvantages

Answer 7

• static analysis
• doesn’t prioritise issues
• doesn’t provide solutions or offer alternative decisions
• can generate too many ideas and not help choose which is best

Question 8

CPA - disadvantages

Answer 8

• reliability of CPA largely based on assumptions/estimates
• does not guarantee success of project - still must be managed properly

Question 9

Force field analysis - advantages

Answer 9

• lots of evidence used to informed decision can be made
• assets for change are included so useful to see what the organisation already has that can enable the decision
• identifying drivers and resistors allows firms to gather information

Question 10

Force field analysis - disadvantages

Answer 10

• relative strength of factors can be overestimated or underestimated
• drivers and resistors may change importance or disappear over time
• managers may ignore the factors not in the force field analysis