INSTRUCTIONS
When preparing for your discussion post on this case, it is recommended that you read it several times.
Read it the first time to familiarize yourself with the case.
On the second reading, consider your assigned role in the situation, and let that guide your perspective. Look deeper at the details: facts, problems, organizational goals, objectives, policies, strategies.
Next, consider the concepts, theories, tools, and research you need to use to address the issues presented.
Then, complete any research, analysis, calculations, or graphing to support your decisions and make recommendations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In this module, you will focus on process improvement and project management. In the article, Trade-off between robustness of a construction schedule and project completion time (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., the authors are searching for a best measure of robustness of schedule (Jaskowski, Biruk & Kowalski, 2011). Projects experience delays for a variety of reasons. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to predict a schedule more accurately - yielding a robust schedule? You are the Project Manager for a mass transit project in Dhaka, Bangladesh. You have just received the draft schedule from your lead planner as shown in Figure 1.
Draft Project Schedule. This chart shows a sample draft project schedule. Step A through Step F which leads to Step G. Each step gives the time needed to complete, both the average time and median time. The steps needed are as follows: Step A: (Average time to complete - 12 hours, median time 10 hours) Arrow points right to next step. Step B: (Average time to complete - 8 hours, median time 11 hours) Arrow points right to step D. Step C (next to step B) (Average time to complete - 5 hours, median time 5 hours. Step D: (Average time to complete - 8 hours, median time 11 hours. Arrow points right to next step. Step E: (Average time to complete - 25 hours, median time 22 hours. Arrow points right, joins with Step F and points to Step G. Step F: (Average time to complete - 10 hours, median time 11 hours. Step G: (Average time to complete - 3 hours, median time 2.5 hours)
Figure 1. Draft Project Schedule.
This discussion addresses the following Module Outcome:
Develop potential solutions to improve project completion time for a business process that has activities with random activity times. (CO2, CO3)
DISCUSSION PROMPT
In this discussion scenario, imagine that you were presented with a draft schedule. You notice that your lead planner did not include any buffer in the draft schedule. It is time to analyze the schedule and make some project management decisions.
TASKS
1. Complete the following:
a. You have three options for buffer: project, feeding, and resource (Jaskowski et al., 2011) Choose one or more types of buffers and explain where you would place each buffer, how much buffer you would include, and a brief explanation of each of your buffers (why you chose the type of buffer, why you chose the location in the schedule, and why you chose the duration of the buffer).
b. What is the tradeoff to utilizing buffer?
c. How does the technique your lead planner used to estimate each step's duration impact your decisions regarding buffer?
2. When responding to your classmates, consider their choice of buffer(s).
a. Do you agree with their decisions? Why or why not?
b. Help your peer and provide them with a possible reason why their choice of buffer(s) is not a wise business decision. Be sure to consider the cultural aspects as part of your response (i.e. - is buffer handled the same in the U.S. as compared to Bangladesh?).
APA Style and references