W14_Austin_Performing Critical Path Analysis for Weekly Blog Posting

1.    Problem recognition, definition and evaluation

As the tasks within Weekly Blog Posting have links between them, they cannot all happen at the same time. Hence, critical path analysis (CPA) can be used to determine what can happen and when. The problem statement is to determine how quickly and how slowly the tasks can be performed, taking into account the sequence of tasks and the interrelationships between them.

Tasks: total duration = 2 hours – 2 hrs 10 min (130 min)

1.    Design case study (Blog Title) = 20 minutes

2.    Develop citations for case study = 30 minutes

3.    Create alternatives table = 20 minutes

4.    Arrange in a 7-steps procedure = 30 minutes

5.    Test outcome for compliance = 20 minutes

6.    Create references and index = 20 minutes

7.    Post & publish blog = 30 minutes

2.    Development of the feasible alternatives

The following feasible alternatives values need to be calculated, from network of tasks, the task's name and duration:

ES = Early Start

EF = Early Finish

LS = Late Start

LF = Late Finish

TF = Total Float

3.    Development of the outcomes and cash flows for each Alternative

Critical path analysis (CPA) is a mathematical procedure that calculates a project's schedule. Taking each task in turn, it firstly calculates how quickly the task can be accomplished – its early start and early finish dates. Once all these dates have been calculated, the project finish date can also be determined. With this finish date known, CPA can then calculate how slowly each task can be accomplished (late start and late finish dates). Once all this information is known for each task, CPA will also calculate the slack (or float) that the task possesses, as shown below.

4. Selection of the acceptable criteria

5. Analysis and Comparison of the alternatives

Early and Late start and finish dates and Floats are useful planning tools we can use to figure out how well our project (Weekly Blog Posting) is going, and to predict where our trouble spots might be.

6.    Selection of the preferred alternative

With small project as weekly blog posting, CPA easily identifies which activities are critical and which can slip by a little bit. However, with bigger projects it is economical and time saving to use Project Management software which can easily pinpoint and pay more attention to all of the activities on the critical path – those are the ones that could potentially delay the project – schedule and budget overrun.

7.    Performance Monitoring and Post Evaluation of Results

During performance monitoring and post evaluation of results, it is observed that if  our cost and schedule, activities and resources are allocated in the wrong order and sequence, there could be serious problems. Hence CPA is the only way we can figure out such mistakes and could be mitigated by paying more attention to the activity sequencing tools and techniques. 

8.    References/Bibliography

1.    Humphreys, G. C. (2011). Project Management Using Earned Value (2nd ed. Chap 8 P.163-P.187-Critical Path Method Fundamntals). Humphreys & Associates, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.humphreys-assoc.com/evms/project-management

2.    Figure out the early start and early finish

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3.    Performing critical path analysis technical tips and ... - Project Learning

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