Time (Weeks) Cost (Rs)
Activity
Normal Crash Normal Crash
1-2 9 4 1300 2400
1-3 15 13 1000 1380
2-3 7 4 7000 1540
2-4 7 3 1200 1920
2-5 12 6 1700 2240
3-6 12 11 600 700
4-5 6 2 1000 1600
5-6 9 6 900 1200
a) Draw the project network diagram
b) Calculate the length and variance of the critical path
c) What is the probability that the jobs on the critical path can be completed in 41 days?
SOLUTION
a) Network diagram
3
15 12
7
12 9
9 2 5 6
1
7 6
4
b) Calculate the length and variance of the critical path
To determine the critical path, first the earliest, latest and slack time for each activities
needs to be calculated as follows: -
Earliest Starting (ES) = earliest finishing (longest) time of preceding activities
Earliest Finishing (EF) = ES + duration of the activity
Latest Finishing (LF) = LS (shortest) times of succeeding activities
Latest Starting (LS) = LF minus the activity’s duration
Slack/delay Time = LF-EF or LS-ES
Earliest time Latest time
Slack/delay
Activity Normal Start Finish Start Finish
time
time (ES) (EF) (LS) (LF)
1-2 9 0 9 0 9 0
1-3 15 0 15 4 19 4
2-3 7 9 16 12 19 3
2-4 7 9 16 9 16 0
2-5 12 9 21 10 22 1
3-6 12 16 28 19 31 3
4-5 6 16 22 16 22 0
5-6 9 22 31 22 31 0
The critical path of the project is as outlined in the red marked path and the duration is 31
weeks.
3
15 12
7
12 9
9 2 5 6
1
7 6
4
Variance of the critical path = Sum of variances of all activities on the critical path
s2critical = Σ(s2activity)
Normal time−Crash time 2
For each activity variance is= s2 = ( )
6
Time (Weeks)
Activity Variance (s2)
Normal Crash
1-2 9 4 0.69
2-4 7 3 0.44
4-5 6 2 0.44
5-6 9 6 0.25
Sum 1.82
C) What is the probability that the jobs on the critical path can be completed in 41 days
Using the standard score (Z-score): Z= X- µ/s
Where: - X= target completion time (41 days= 5.86 weeks)
µ= Expected duration of the critical path (31 weeks)
s= standard deviation of the critical path (1.35 weeks= √1.82)
Z= (5.86-31)/1.35= -18.62
Reading from the normal distribution table the probability is almost close to 0%.
A national conference is planned in a college. The activities are listed down along with their predecessors and time taken. Prepare a network
diagram and determine the critical activities.
Immediate Duration ES EF LS LF Slack
Activity Description
predecessor (days) time
A Confirm lead speaker and topic - 5 0 5 20 25 20
B Prepare brochure - 1 0 1 0 1 0
C Send letters to other speakers B 2 1 3 1 3 0
D Get confirmation from speakers C 5 3 8 3 8 0
E Send letters to participants C,D 2 8 10 23 25 15
Obtain travel plans from 8 10 8 10 0
F D 2
speakers
Arrange for accommodation for 10 11 13 14 3
G F 1
speakers
H Get handouts from speakers F 4 10 14 10 14 0
I Finalize registrations G,H 10 14 24 14 24 0
J Arrange hall and AV I 1 24 25 24 25 0
K Conduct of programme J 1 25 26 25 26 0
Project duration= 26 days, with critical activities of: B-C-D-F-H-I-J-K
A
G
F
Start C I J K End
D
H
B E
