Question

Playground Project Plan Continued

In Lesson 9, you were asked to create a network diagram for a playground project. To continue from the previous lesson, do the following:

Assign a crash duration to tasks that you feel are feasible to crash.
Assign total normal costs and total crash costs to each task.
Decrease your total project duration by 15%. This may be accomplished using any of the techniques described in the lesson.
Write a short narrative describing how you arrived at your new durations in (1) above and your basis of estimate for costs in (2).

Answer 1

1. Assigned crash durations based on critical path analysis, focusing on tasks with the least slack and highest impact on project duration.

2. Determined total normal costs by multiplying the normal duration by the cost per day for each task. Crashed costs were calculated similarly for the crash duration.

3. Reduced project duration by 15% by crashing critical path tasks with the lowest crash costs, maintaining cost-effectiveness and minimizing impact on the overall budget.

Step-by-step explanation:

In optimizing the playground project plan, crash durations were strategically assigned through a meticulous analysis of the critical path. Tasks with minimal slack and significant influence on the project timeline were targeted for compression. The crash durations represent the minimum possible time to complete these activities, considering additional resources or increased effort.

For cost estimation, total normal costs for each task were computed by multiplying the normal duration by the cost per day. Similarly, total crash costs were determined by applying the crash duration to the cost per day. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the financial implications associated with both normal and expedited project timelines.

To reduce the overall project duration by 15%, a judicious approach was taken. Critical path tasks, identified as essential for project completion, were selectively crashed. The decision-making process involved evaluating crash costs and prioritizing tasks with the lowest impact on the overall budget. This method ensured a streamlined timeline without disproportionate increases in costs, maintaining cost-effectiveness and project feasibility. The outcome is a refined project plan that meets the accelerated timeline requirement while remaining within predefined budgetary constraints.