Introduction
PM Computers is an international manufacturer of computer equipment and
software. It is going to introduce a number of new products in the coming year, and
it want to develop marketing programs to accompany the product introductions. The
marketing program includes the preparation of printed materials distributed directly
by the company and used by the company’s marketing personnel, vendors, and
representative; print advertising in regular magazines, trade journals, and
newspapers; and television commercials. The program also includes extensive
training programs for marketing personnel, vendors, and representatives about the
new products. A project management team with members from the marketing
department and manufacturing areas has developed the following list of activities for
the development of the marketing program.
Apparatus
MS Project
Figure 1: Auto-schedule Tool
Auto-Schedule Tool is used to set the Gantt chart in a proper manner.
Figure 2: Tool, Gantt Chart and Network Diagram
This tool contains a list which allows us to perform any operation like Gantt Chart,
Network Diagram or Resource Sheet.
Figure 3: Copy tool
To Copy the Network Diagram as a picture, this tool is used.
Figure 4: Column of Free Slack
Different columns can be generated by clicking the bar above such as Free Slack
and Critical
Objectives of the Office Move Project
To construct the Gantt Chart
To make the Network Diagram
To identify the critical path
Procedure
1. Start with the entering the Task Name in the given Column
Figure 5: Task Name
2. Double-Click on the Task to add predecessors as shown below
Figure 6: Predecessors
3. Add the Duration calculated from the PERT
Figure 7: PERT
4. Columns are completed with predecessors, free slack and critical activities.
Figure 8: Duration
Start: Tue 12/11/19ID: 1 Start: Tue 03/12/19ID: 3 Start: Mon 06/01/20 ID: 4 Start: Mon 03/02/20 ID: 8 Start: Mon 09/03/20ID: 12
Finish: Mon 02/12/19
Dur: 15 days Finish: Fri 03/01/20Dur: 24 days Finish: Fri 31/01/20Dur: 20 days Finish: Fri 06/03/20Dur: 25 days Finish: Tue 17/03/20
Dur: 7 days
Res: Res: Res: Res: Res:
I-Draft In-house Print Materials M-Review & print in-house materials
Start: Mon 03/02/20 ID: 9 Start: Mon 24/02/20 ID: 13
Finish: Fri 21/02/20Dur: 15 days Finish: Fri 28/02/20Dur: 5 days
Res: Res:
O-Release TV commercials to networks
Start: Mon 24/02/20ID: 15
Finish: Tue 03/03/20
Dur: 7 days
Res:
J-Develop Print Advertising Layouts K-Review Print Advertising Layouts
Start: Mon 03/02/20ID: 10 Start: Thu 05/03/20ID: 11
Finish: Wed 04/03/20
Dur: 23 days Finish: Tue 17/03/20
Dur: 9 days
Res: Res:
E-Develop Training Plan F-Design Training Course
Start: Mon 06/01/20ID: 5 Start: Thu 16/01/20ID: 6
Finish: Wed 15/01/20
Dur: 8 days Finish: Tue 04/02/20
Dur: 14 days
Res: Res:
B-Select Marketing Personnel for training G-Train Marketing Personnel
Start: Tue 12/11/19ID: 2 Start: Wed 05/02/20ID: 7
Finish: Fri 22/11/19Dur: 9 days Finish: Tue 03/03/20
Dur: 20 days
Res: Res:
ID: 4 Start: Mon 03/02/20 ID: 8 Start: Mon 09/03/20ID: 12
Dur: 20 days Finish: Fri 06/03/20Dur: 25 days Finish: Tue 17/03/20
Dur: 7 days
Res: Res: Res:
I-Draft In-house Print Materials M-Review & print in-house materials
Start: Mon 03/02/20 ID: 9 Start: Mon 24/02/20 ID: 13
Finish: Fri 21/02/20Dur: 15 days Finish: Fri 28/02/20Dur: 5 days
Res: Res:
O-Release TV commercials to networks
Start: Mon 24/02/20ID: 15
Finish: Tue 03/03/20
Dur: 7 days
Res:
J-Develop Print Advertising Layouts K-Review Print Advertising Layouts
Start: Mon 03/02/20ID: 10 Start: Thu 05/03/20ID: 11
Finish: Wed 04/03/20
Dur: 23 days Finish: Tue 17/03/20
Dur: 9 days
Res: Res:
E-Develop Training Plan F-Design Training Course
ID: 5 Start: Thu 16/01/20ID: 6
Dur: 8 days Finish: Tue 04/02/20
Dur: 14 days
Res: Res:
G-Train Marketing Personnel N-Release advertising to print media Q-Run Media Advertising, mailings
Start: Wed 05/02/20ID: 7 Start: Wed 18/03/20ID: 14 Start: Tue 24/03/20ID: 17
Finish: Tue 03/03/20
Dur: 20 days Finish: Mon 23/03/20
Dur: 4 days Finish: Tue 21/04/20
Dur: 21 days
Res: Res: Res:
P-Final Marketing Review
Start: Wed 18/03/20ID: 16
Finish: Wed 25/03/20
Dur: 6 days
Res:
Figure 9: Network Diagram
5. Network Diagram is chosen from the Button at the top left corner.
Discussions and Conclusion
MS Project is a very important tool which contains features like Gantt chart,
Resource Sheet and Network Diagram. In Problem we had to identify the critical path
of the Activities as described in the problem statement. It is very easy and simplified
tool to use all these features. Optimistic, most likely and pessimistic time durations
are given. Estimated time duration is calculated using the PERT Technique. Free
Slack is also calculated in one column, for instance 52 Days is assigned to the
Activity B which means that ‘B’ can be started after 52 Days. Critical Path is
ACDJKNQ.
References
[1] (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJLdFQuDpFM
[2] (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2u5YTEQ0c
[3] (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/ms_project/index.htm
