Excel Case Review 5 - Week 7

Question 1 (16 Points) On the tab labeled "CPM Network", you will find a skeleton AON network model for Case 15.3.  The layout includes the activities required to complete the project discussed in the case.  Based on the reading of the problem, enter the arcs (lines) to connect the activities according to the problem.  In the model you will note I left a single arc (line) for you.  You may copy/paste this as many times as required to assemble your model.  You can adjust the slope and length of the line as required by clicking your mouse on the line itself.  Do not change any other formatting in the CPM Network tab, just enter the arcs according to the statement of the problem.  In the network model I have provided on the CPM Network tab, what do the lines you entered represent?

Question 2 (16 Points) On the tab labeled "CPM Calculation" you will find a matrix where I have listed the activities for the project.  By reading the problem carefully, enter the predecessors and the associated durations (Days Required) for each task.  Do not change the predecessors I have entered for the "Finish" activity.  What is the definition of a predecessor?

Question 3 (16 Points) On the tab labeled "CPM Calculation" complete the calculations necessary to show the early start (EST) and early finish (EFT) times for each activity.  Please note the spreadsheet is not set up with formulas for calculations; you must manually complete these calculations and enter the appropriate values in the spreadsheet.  What is the duration of the project? 

Question 4 (16 Points) On the tab labeled "CPM Calculation" complete the calculations necessary to show the late finish (LFT) and late start (LST) times for each activity.  Please note the spreadsheet is not set up with formulas for calculations; you must manually complete these calculations and enter the appropriate values in the spreadsheet.  Does the duration of the project differ from the duration found in the forward pass?

Question 5 (16 Points) After completing Questions 3 and 4, go back to the "CPM Calculation" tab and in the Critical Path column (column J), compute the slack for each activity.  What activities are on the critical path?  Using the information you have assembled in the "CPM Calculation" tab, enter this information in Microsoft Project.  On Line 1 of your Project file, title this summary task as Case 15.3 Duration and ensure all subsequent tasks are entered as subtasks (indented).  Do the critical path and duration match what you calculated here in the Excel file?