Practical Operations Management
Practical Operations Management
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9781939297136
Author: Simpson
Publisher: HERCHER PUBLISHING,INCORPORATED
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 7, Problem 31P

a

Summary Introduction

Interpretation:

Critical path of this network.

Concept Introduction: The critical path is the arrangement of project activities which gives an estimated time duration under which the project will be completed. The project activities may include float activities which can be delayed focusing on the shortest time duration.

a

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Project network diagram for given information:

The below image shows the project network with the early start, early finish, late start and late finish:

  Practical Operations Management, Chapter 7, Problem 31P

The critical path in the project network:

The paths in the given project network are as follows:

A-E-J

A-C-F

B-D-G-I-J

B-D-H-I-J

There are four paths in the project network.

Out of the above mentioned path, the path that has the equal early start and late start at the same time early finish and late finish are the critical path.

Here two paths are satisfying the above condition, which are as follows:

A-C-F

B-D-H-I-J

When the network has more than one critical path, the path, which has the maximum project completion time, should be selected.

Hence, the critical path is B-D-H-I-J.

b

Summary Introduction

Interpretation:

Completion time of the project.

Concept Introduction: Early start time: The rule for the early start time of a task is that it is equal to the largest early finish time of the task’s immediate predecessors.

Early finish time: The early finish time of a task is the addition of both task time and early start time of the task.

b

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

When the network has more than one critical path, the path, which has the maximum project completion time, should be selected.

A-C-F

B-D-H-I-J

Hence, the critical path is B-D-H-I-J.

As the critical path is determined as B-D-H-I-J, the project completion time is 11 days.

c

Summary Introduction

Interpretation:

The slack of activity A.

Concept Introduction: The critical path is the arrangement of project activities which gives an estimated time duration under which the project will be completed. The project activities may include float activities which can be delayed focusing on the shortest time duration.

c

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

The slack of the activity is calculated by subtracting the early start from the late finish.

  Slackoftheactivity=Latefinish-Earlyfinish=1-1=0

Hence, the slack of activity A is 0.

d

Summary Introduction

Interpretation:

Task to be crashed and its cost.

Concept Introduction: The critical path is the arrangement of project activities which gives an estimated time duration under which the project will be completed. The project activities may include float activities which can be delayed focusing on the shortest time duration.

d

Expert Solution
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

The cost of crashing.

It is given that the paths should be crashed and the total time of the path should not exceed 8 days. The cost to crash Activity B is $500 per crash, Activity H is $200 per crash, and all eligible activities are $100 per crash.

Use the following steps to crash the activities:

The paths and the total task time to complete the path within 8 days is shown below:

Path A-E-J:

Total task time is calculated by adding the duration of all the activities in the path.

  Totaltasktime=DurationofActivityA+DurationofActivityE+DurationofActivityJ=1day+7days+1day=9days

Hence, the total task time is 9 days. It exceeds 8 days. Thus, the path should be crashed. Activity A and Activity J cannot be crashed as the duration is 1. Activity E should be crashed from 7 days to 6 days.

  Modifiedtotaltasktime=(DurationofactivityA+DurationofactivityE+DurationofactivityJ)

  =1day+2days+1day=4days

Hence, the total task time is 4 days. It does not exceed 8 days. Thus, the path cannot be crashed.

Path B-D-G-I-J:

Total task time is calculated by adding the duration of all activities in the path.

  Totaltasktime=(DurationofactivityB+DurationofactivityD+DurationofactivityG+DurationofactivityI+DurationofactivityJ)

  =4days+2days+2days+1day+1day=10days

Hence, the total task time is 10 days. It exceeds 8 days. Thus, the path should be crashed. However, it costs $500 to crash one day of Activity B. Thus, Activity D and Activity G can be crashed from 2 days to 1 day.

  ModifiedTotaltasktime=(DurationofactivityB+DurationofactivityD+DurationofactivityG+DurationofactivityI+DurationofactivityJ)

  =4days+1day+1day+1day+1day=8days

The cost for crashing is $200 as the crashing was done for two days in Activity D and Activity G. It is given that the activities except for Activity B and H cost $100 per day.

Path B-D-H-I-J

Total task time is calculated by adding the duration of all the activities in the path.

  Totaltasktime=(DurationofactivityB+DurationofactivityD+DurationofactivityH+DurationofactivityI+DurationofactivityJ)

  =4days+1day+3days+1day+1day=10days

Hence, the total task time is 10 days. It exceeds 8 days. Thus, the path should be crashed. Activity I, Activity D (crashed in the previous step), Activity J cannot be crashed as the duration is 1 day. Activity B can be crashed. However, it costs $500 to crash one day of Activity B. Thus, Activity H can be crashed from 3 days to 2 days.

  Modifiedtotaltasktime=(DurationofactivityB+DurationofactivityD+DurationofactivityG+DurationofactivityI+DurationofactivityJ)

  =4days+1day+1day+1day+1day=8days

The cost for crashing is $400 as the crashing was done for two days in Activity H. It is given Activity H costs $100 per day.

Total crashing cost:

Total crashing cost is calculated by adding all the crashing cost done in the previous steps.

  Totalcrashingcost=(CrashingccostofpathAEJ+CrashingcostofpathBDGIJ+CrashingcostofpathBDHIJ)

  =$100+$200+$400=$700

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Agree or disagree with post On the surface, the numbers in financial statements do present a snapshot of a company's financial position and performance. However, just looking at the raw numbers often doesn't tell the whole story or reveal underlying trends and relationships that are crucial for making informed decisions. Think of it like looking at individual pieces of a puzzle. Each number is a piece, providing some information. But to see the complete picture – the company's overall financial health, its performance over time, how it compares to its peers, and its potential future – you need to assemble those pieces using different analytical tools.  For example: Horizontal analysis helps us understand how specific financial statement items have changed over multiple periods. Is revenue growing? Are expenses increasing at a faster rate than sales? This reveals trends that a single year's numbers wouldn't show. Vertical analysis allows us to see the relative size of each item within…
What can you do in response to an insulting offer?
Agree or disagree with post  If someone hits you with an insulting offer, the first thing to do is not take it personally. It’s normal to feel a little offended, but blowing up or shutting down won’t help your case. Better move is to stay calm and treat it like a misunderstanding or just the first step in the conversation. That way, you keep things respectful but still let them know the offer doesn’t sit right with you. It also helps to back up your response with facts. Bring in things like your experience, numbers, or any specific results you delivered. That can shift the conversation away from feelings and toward the value you bring. Agree or disagree with post
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Operations Management
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, operations-management and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Practical Management Science
Operations Management
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:Cengage,
Text book image
Principles of Management
Management
ISBN:9780998625768
Author:OpenStax
Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
MARKETING 2018
Marketing
ISBN:9780357033753
Author:Pride
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Inventory Management | Concepts, Examples and Solved Problems; Author: Dr. Bharatendra Rai;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n9NLZTIlz8;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY