Scheduling

Question 1

Part (a) Explain the term scope management.

Part (b) List and describe two breakdown structures used to communicate the scope of a project.

Part (c) Explain two reasons why the scope of the project should be baselined.

Answer 1

part a
Scope Management is concerned with all the tools and processes that ensure that enough work, but no more, is carried out to produce the project deliverables. It is concerned with controlling the boundaries of the project and ensuring that all work done is related to project objectives and that any new work is subject to a formal change control process. It is also important to clearly establish what is excluded from the project scope.

1.Work Breakdown Structure
The WBS is an activity based decomposition of the work to be carried out. The project is broken down level by level. The lowest levels are called work packages or tasks and each has a defined product with an associated acceptance test to determine when it is complete. As the WBS contains all the work of the project required to produce the project deliverables it totally defines the project scope.

2.Product Breakdown Structure
The PBS breaks the project down into its constituent products and sub products. The topmost product is the “final” product or project outcome. The lowest level items, are supplied by external sources. Each higher level product is completely defined by the levels below. The PBS will generally include “intermediate” or “enabling” products or “sub-assemblies”

part c
Two reasons for a Scope Baseline.
1) To create the initial project plan: The initial scope baseline is the foundation on which the project is built. All the project sub plans such as the budget, schedule and quality plan are derived from the Scope Baseline.
2) To track changes: All projects are subject to change. Upon project completion, there must be an audit trail from the finished deliverable back to the original scope baseline.

Question 2

Part (a) Complete the following network and state:-

1) The critical path
2) The duration of the project
3) The task with the most free float
4) The task with the least free float (ignore tasks with zero float)

(diagram on exam paper page 48)

Part (b) Explain three of the following terms, including why each is important to the project manager:

Answer 2

part a
(diagram on page 49)

1)The critical path A C E H End
2)The duration of the project 19
3)The task with the most free float I (8)
4)The task with the least free float G (4)
Note: In the exam you can write the numbers on the question paper. Do not draw the network. Only the 4 answers will be marked.

Part b
1. Critical path
o The longest path through the network
o The shortest possible planned project duration
o The path with least float
It is important because it defines the overall project duration and tells the PM which activities must be completed on time to avoid project slippage.

2. Lag
   When an activity completes, if there is then a delay or wait period before the next activity starts, this is called lag and the delay is known as the Lag Time. Lag Time is the delay between two consecutive activities. It is important because not all activities can start immediately after the previous one is completed. e.g drying or setting time
3. Total float
   Total Float is defined as the amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the end date of the project. It is important because it tells the PM which activities can be delayed without affecting the end date. This can be useful when activities have resource problems.