Assessment Part A
For part A of the assessment you must complete the following tasks and questions. Read all the questions before you commence the tasks. The schedule is to be developed in an appropriately named Microsoft Project 2010 file (see below) and the questions are to be answered in a Word document. As stated above, any assumptions must also be listed at the beginning of the Word document.
1. Ms. Marketing has asked you to use Microsoft Project to develop the project schedule. Note that she has also asked you to include the milestones at the end of the task list in your schedule.
Based on the information in the case study description above, use Microsoft Project 2010 to produce a "Part A" schedule. Make sure that you:
a) Include the milestones at the end of the task list.
b) Include the resource allocation details on the schedule.
c) Have an appropriate project name as the top of the task list and have all other tasks below this heading.
d) Make sure that the holidays described in the "general information" are not included in the available working days for your project.
e) Use the Microsoft Project software to make sure that the critical path(s) are automatically highlighted as red bars on the Gantt chart view of your schedule.
At this point there may be resource over allocation issues. Do not attempt to resolve these before answering question 2. Save this version of your schedule in CQVideoPartA1.mpp. You will be required to submit this file as part of your assignment submission.
2. List the tasks that are on the critical path(s) of the project.
3. Create a copy of CQVideoPartA1.mpp in another file called CQVideoPartA2.mpp. If there were any resource over-allocation issues resolve these in this new CQVideoPartA2.mpp file.
Note that you must resolve any resource over-allocation issues without the addition of any additional resources. Save the "modified" version of CQVideoPartA2.mpp. You will also be required to submit this file as part of your assignment submission.
a) How did you/would you resolve any resource over-allocation issues without adding additional resources?
b) What impact did the resource constraints have on your schedule?
4. Include additional "milestones" (tasks with 0 duration) in your schedule to show the latest date when you need to contact:
a) the production manager to ensure that the facilities are booked for the first prototype build.
b) the type approval test house to ensure that the facilities are booked for the type approval.
c) According to your schedule when is the latest date that you need to contact:
- The production manager to book the facilities for the first prototype build?
- The type approval house to book the facilities for the type approval?
Note that these additional milestones should be listed at the end of the milestones list at the end of the project task list and should be highlighted in the task list in yellow using the "background colour" icon on the task ribbon. This is to allow your marker to locate them easily.
5. Write a memo to the director of product development, Mr. Product outlining:
a) the expected completion date of the project, assuming it commences at M1 (8/9/14);
b) the total duration of the project;
c) an explanation of the main factors that cause the project to require that length of time;
d) the estimated labour cost of the project after the M1 concept review. Present the costs in a table showing the costs for the following:
- Electronics
- Software
- Mechanics
- Verification
- Prototype 1 build
- Prototype 2 build
- Documentation
- Production ramp up to 50 in stock
- Total for the Project
Assume that you will send the project schedule as an attachment to the memo.
6. What should the project manager do to manage risk in this project? Provide examples of your solution. (maximum 500 words)
7. Is there any way that the overall budget of the project can be reduced without removing any tasks? (Justify your answer. Be specific and describe any tasks that you would target and what you might do that could reduce the cost of the project.) (maximum 500 words)
8. Describe what the project manager needs to do to ensure that the project runs smoothly and completes on time. Give a detailed answer describing procedures, processes and anything else that you believe is important both in general terms and specifically for this project. (maximum 500 words)
9. Are there any other project related supporting activities, plans, events or tasks that you might have overlooked? If they were overlooked describe how this could impact on the project. (Aim to identify and discuss at least two activities.) (maximum 500 words)
10. What should the project manager do to ensure product quality? (maximum 500 words)
Assessment Part B
Mr. Production reviews your project schedule and requests that build participation of one engineer from each of the following functions is required at the P1 and P2 builds: production, electronics, software and mechanics. These additional resources will not change the task durations. You will have to update your schedule as you agree with this proposal.
You are now 1 week after the M1 milestone and the Chinese mechanical servo supplier for task 1.5.3 has had to revise the delivery time. The delivery time has now greatly increased to 7 weeks, which is longer than the time required for the other components in the P1 build.
In addition the mechanical engineer has completed the mechanical specification. However, this has meant that the estimated time for the "P1 mechanical part analysis" has had to be revised. This task is now estimated to require an extra week.
Based on the additional information given above complete the following tasks:
1. Create a copy of CQVideoPartA2.mpp in another file called CQVideoPartB.mpp. Amend the project schedule in CQVideoPartB.mpp incorporating the request from Mr. Production, the change to the delivery time for the servo and the new estimated times for the software tasks.
If necessary resolve any resource over-allocation issues without adding any resources. You will also be required to submit this file (CQVideoPartB.mpp ) as part of your assignment submission.
2. Describe the impact(s) of each the following on the project schedule:
a. The additional resources required for the prototype builds.
b. The change in duration of the delivery time for the servo component.
c. The change in time for the P1 mechanical part analysis. Explain your answers.
3. Describe the impact(s) of each the following on the project budget:
a. The additional resources required for the prototype builds.
b. The change in duration of the delivery time for the servo component.
c. The change in time for the P1 mechanical part analysis. Explain your answers.
4. Project changes can influence the schedule and budget of successor tasks in a project and this can also have a large impact on other project stakeholders. What steps could the project manager take to allow a smoother transition of project changes? Provide two specific suggestions in your answer.
Attachment:- Case Study.pdf