ENGR 510

1
Engineering Project Management
Chapter 4: Project Management –
Solving Session
Dr. Rana Z. Haj Chhade
Example 1 – CPM 2
 Example 1 – Given 3
Activity Predecessor Duration (days)
A - 6
1) Draw the network diagram for the B - 4
activities given in the table. C A 3
2) For each activity, determine the ES, D A 5
E A 1
EF, LS, LF and float.
F B, C 4
3) Specify the critical paths/ critical
G B, C 2
activities. H E, F 6
4) What is the project duration? I E, F 5
J D, H 3
K G, I 5
Example 1 – Solution 4
9
6 11
D 1
0 19 22
0 6 15 5 20 1 J
A
6 13 19 20 3 23
0 6 6 6 7
H
E
14 6 20
12 1 13

0 0 0
6 9 9 13 13 18
C F I
0
6 3 9 9 4 13 13
5 18
18 23
K
5 7 18 5 23
0 4 9 11
B G
5 4 9 16 2 18
Example 1 – Solution (Cont’d) 5
Activity Predecessor Duration (days) ES EF LS LF Float
A - 6 0 6 0 6 0
B - 4 0 4 5 9 5
C A 3 6 9 6 9 0
D A 5 6 11 15 20 9
E A 1 6 7 12 13 6
F B, C 4 9 13 9 13 0
G B, C 2 9 11 16 18 7
H E, F 6 13 19 14 20 1
I E, F 5 13 18 13 18 0
J D, H 3 19 22 20 23 1
K G, I 5 18 23 18 23 0
Example 1 – Solution (Cont’d) 6
9
6 11
D 1
0 19 22
0 6 15 5 20 1 J
A
6 13 19 20 3 23
0 6 6 6 7
H
E
14 6 20
12 1 13
Critical path: A – C – F – I – K
0 0 0
6 9 9 13 13 18
C F I
0
6 3 9 9 4 13 13
5 18
18 23
K
5 7 18 5 23
0 4 9 11
B G
5 4 9 16 2 18
Project duration = 23 days
Example 2 – CPM 7
 Example 2 – Given 8

Activity Predecessor Duration (days)

1) Draw the network diagram for the A - 3
activities given in the table. B A 3
2) For each activity, determine the ES, C A 2
EF, LS, LF and float. D B 3
3) Specify the critical paths/ critical E C 7
F B, C 3
activities.
G D, E 6
4) What is the project duration?
H C 2
 Example 2 – Solution 9
3
6 9
3
D 9
6 9
3 6 9 3 12 F
B
0 6 3 9 15 3 18
0 3
A 0
0 3 3 0
0
12
G
18
3 5
C
12 6 18
5 12
E
3 2 5
5 7 12
11
5 7
H
16 2 18
Example 2 – Solution (Cont’d) 10

Activity Predecessor Duration ES EF LS LF Float

(days)
A - 3 0 3 0 3 0
B A 3 3 6 6 9 3
C A 2 3 5 3 5 0
D B 3 6 9 9 12 3
E C 7 5 12 5 12 0
F B, C 3 6 9 15 18 9
G D, E 6 12 18 12 18 0
H C 2 5 7 16 18 11
 Example 2 – Solution (Cont’d) 11
3
6 9
3
D 9
6 9
3 6 9 3 12 F
B
0 6 3 9 15 3 18
0 3
A 0 Critical path: A – C
0 3 3 0
0
12
G
18
3
C
5 –E–G
12 6 18
5 12
E
3 2 5
5 7 12 Project duration =
11 18 days
5 7
H
16 2 18
Example 3 – PERT for Dealing with
Uncertainty 12
Example 3 – Given 13

Consider the activities shown in the table below.

a) Determine the expected duration for each activity.
b) Draw the network diagram for the project.
c) Determine the critical path of the project.
d) What is the project duration at 50% reliability?
e) What is the project duration at 90% reliability?
f) What is the probability that the project will be completed within 47 days?
Example 3 – Given (Cont’d) 14
Activity Predecessor Optimistic time Most likely time Pessimistic time
(days) (days) (days)
A - 10 22 22
B - 20 20 20
C - 4 10 16
D A 2 14 32
E B, C 8 8 20
F B, C 8 14 20
G B, C 4 4 4
H C 2 12 16
I G, H 6 16 38
J D, E 2 8 14
Example 3 – Solution 15

The first step is to determine the expected duration for each activity using the following
equation:
Expected duration = (optimist + (4 × likely) + pessimist) ÷ 6

𝑡𝑜 + 4 𝑡𝑙 + 𝑡𝑝
𝑡𝑒 =
6
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 16
Activity Predecessor Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic Expected duration
time (days) time (days) time (days) (days)
A - 10 22 22 20
B - 20 20 20 20
C - 4 10 16 10
D A 2 14 32 15
E B, C 8 8 20 10
F B, C 8 14 20 14
G B, C 4 4 4 4
H C 2 12 16 11
I G, H 6 16 38 18
J D, E 2 8 14 8
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 17

The second step is drawing the network diagram and determining the critical path/ critical
activities.
 0
20 35
0
D
0 20 20 15 35 0
A
0 20 20 5
35
J
43
18
20 30 35 8 43
E
25 10 35
1 9
0 20 20 34
B F
1 20 21 29 14 43

1
4
0 10 20 24
C G
1
4 10 14 21 4 25
24 42
I
4 25 18 43
10 21
H
14 11 25
 0
20 35
0
D
0 20 20 15 35 0
A
0 20 20 5
35
J
43
19
20 30 35 8 43
E
25 10 35
1 9
0 20 20 34 Critical path: A – D – J
B F
1 20 21 29 14 43

1 The project duration at

4
0 10 20 24
C G 50% reliability is 43 days
1
4 10 14 21 4 25
24 42
I
4 25 18 43
10 21
H
14 11 25
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 20

To determine the project duration at higher reliability levels, we need to estimate the
standard deviation for each critical activity using the following equation:
SD ≅ (pessimist value – optimist value) ÷ 6
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 21
Activity Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic SD Variance
time (days) time (days) time (days)
A 10 22 22 2 4
B 20 20 20
C 4 10 16
D 2 14 32 5 25
E 8 8 20
F 8 14 20
G 4 4 4
H 2 12 16
I 6 16 38
J 2 8 14 2 4
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 22

The variance for the entire project = ∑ variances of all critical activities = 4 + 25 + 4 = 33
→ Project SD = 𝟑𝟑 = 5.745
Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 23

Desired Standard
probability of deviation from
meeting value mean Project duration at 90% reliability
50% 0 = expected duration + (1.28 times SD)
75% 0.67 = 43 + 1.28 x 5.745 = 50.35 days.
90% 1.28
95% 1.65
99% 2.33
 Example 3 – Solution (Cont’d) 24

Probability that the project will be

completed within 47 days:
47 = 43 + z x 5.745
→ z x 5.745 = 4
→ z = 0.696 = 0.70 which
corresponds to 75.8 % reliability
→ There is a 75.8 % chance that the
project will be completed within
47 days.
Example 4 – PERT for Dealing with
Uncertainty 25
Example 4 – Given 26

Consider the activities shown in the table below.

a) Determine the expected duration for each activity.
b) Draw the network diagram for the project.
c) Determine the critical path of the project.
d) What is the project duration at 50% reliability?
e) What is the probability that the project will be completed within 24 days?
Activity Predecessor Optimistic time Most likely time Pessimistic time
(days) (days) (days) 27
A - 4 6 8
B - 1 4.5 5
C A 3 3 3
D A 4 5 6
E A 0.5 1 1.5
F B, C 3 4 5
G B, C 1 1.5 5
H E, F 5 6 7
I E, F 2 5 8
J D, H 2.5 2.75 4.5
K G, I 3 5 7
Example 4 – Solution 28

The first step is to determine the expected duration for each activity using the following
equation:
Expected duration = (optimist + (4 × likely) + pessimist) ÷ 6

𝑡𝑜 + 4 𝑡𝑙 + 𝑡𝑝
𝑡𝑒 =
6
Activity Predecessor Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic Expected time
time (days) time (days) time (days) (days) 29
A - 4 6 8 6
B - 1 4.5 5 4
C A 3 3 3 3
D A 4 5 6 5
E A 0.5 1 1.5 1
F B, C 3 4 5 4
G B, C 1 1.5 5 2
H E, F 5 6 7 6
I E, F 2 5 8 5
J D, H 2.5 2.75 4.5 3
K G, I 3 5 7 5
Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 30

The second step is drawing the network diagram and determining the critical path/ critical
activities.
NOTE: this is the same as example 1.
Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 31
9
6 11
D 1
0 19 22
0 6 15 5 20 1 J
A
6 13 19 20 3 23
0 6 6 6 7
H
E
14 6 20
12 1 13

0 0 0
6 9 9 13 13 18
C F I
0
6 3 9 9 4 13 13
5 18
18 23
K
5 7 18 5 23
0 4 9 11
B G
5 4 9 16 2 18
Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 32
9
6 11
D 1
0 19 22
0 6 15 5 20 1 J
A
6 13 19 20 3 23
0 6 6 6 7
H
E
14 6 20
12 1 13
Critical path: A – C – F – I – K
0 0 0
6 9 9 13 13 18
C F I
0
6 3 9 9 4 13 13
5 18
18 23
K
5 7 18 5 23
0 4 9 11
B G
5 4 9 16 2 18
Project duration at 50% reliability = 23 days
Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 33

To determine the project duration at higher reliability levels, we need to estimate the
standard deviation for each critical activity using the following equation:
SD ≅ (pessimist value – optimist value) ÷ 6
Activity Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic SD Variance
time (days) time (days) time (days) 34
A 4 6 8 2/3 4/9
B 1 4.5 5
C 3 3 3 0 0
D 4 5 6
E 0.5 1 1.5
F 3 4 5 1/3 1/9
G 1 1.5 5
H 5 6 7
I 2 5 8 1 1
J 2.5 2.75 4.5
K 3 5 7 2/3 4/9
Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 35

The variance for the entire project = ∑ variances of all critical activities = 4/9 + 0 + 1/9 + 1 +
4/9 = 2
→ Project SD = 𝟐 = 1.414
 Example 4 – Solution (Cont’d) 36

Probability that the project will be

completed within 24 days:
23 + z x 1.414 = 24 days
→ 1 = z x 1.414
→ z = 0.707 = 0.71 which
corresponds to a 76.115 %
reliability.
Example 5 – Crashing Duration 37
For the project given below, determine:
1) The critical path and project duration.
38
2) The cost of completing the project 3 weeks earlier.

Activity Predecessor Time (weeks) Cost ($)

Normal Crash Normal Crash
A - 4 2 10,000 11,000
B A 3 2 6,000 9,000
C A 2 1 4,000 6,000
D B 5 3 14,000 18,000
E B, C 1 1 9,000 9,000
F C 3 2 7,000 8,000
G E, F 4 2 13,000 25,000
H D, E 4 1 11,000 18,000
I H, G 6 5 20,000 29,000
Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 39
0 0
4 7 7 12 0
B D
0 12 16
5 12 H
0 4 4 3 7 7
A
3 12 4 16 0
0 4 4 4 6 4 16 22
C 7 8 I
E
7 2 9 3 16 6 22
11 1 12 9 13
G
3 12 4 16
6 9
F
9 3 12
 Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 40
0 0
4 7 7 12 0
B D
0 12 16
5 12 H
0 4 4 3 7 7
A
3 12 4 16 0
0 4 4 4 6 4 16 22
C 7 8 I
E
7 2 9 3 16 6 22
11 1 12 9 13
G
3 12 4 16
6 9
F
Critical path: A – B – D – H – I
9 3 12

Project duration = 22 weeks

 Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 41
0 0
4 7 7 12 0
B D
0 12 16
5 12 H
0 4 4 3 7 7
A
3 12 4 16 0
0 4 4 4 6 4 16 22
C 7 8 I
E
7 2 9 3 16 6 22
11 1 12 9 13
G
A – B – D – H – I : 22 weeks 3 12 4 16
A – B – E – H – I: 18 weeks 6 9
F
A – B – E – G – I: 18 weeks
9 3 12
A – C – E – H – I: 17 weeks
A – C – E – G – I: 17 weeks
A – C – F – G – I: 19 weeks
 42
Activity Time (weeks) Cost ($) Weeks Crashing
Normal Crash Normal Crash crashed Cost/week
A 4 2 10,000 11,000 2 1,000/2 = 500
B 3 2 6,000 9,000 1 3,000/1 = 3,000
C 2 1 4,000 6,000 1 2,000
D 5 3 14,000 18,000 2 2,000
E 1 1 9,000 9,000 0 0
F 3 2 7,000 8,000 1 1,000
G 4 2 13,000 25,000 2 6,000
H 4 1 11,000 18,000 3 7,000/3 = 2,333
I 6 5 20,000 29,000 1 9,000
 Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 43
0 0
4 7 7 12 0
B D
0 12 16
5 12 H
0 4 4 3 7 7
A
3 12 4 16 0
0 2 4 4 6 4 16 22
C 7 8 I
E
7 2 9 3 16 6 22
11 1 12 9 13
G
A – B – D – H – I : 20 weeks 3 12 4 16
A – B – E – H – I: 16 weeks 6 9
F
A – B – E – G – I: 16 weeks
9 3 12
A – C – E – H – I: 15 weeks
A – C – E – G – I: 15 weeks
A – C – F – G – I: 17 weeks
Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 44

Cost of completing the project 3 weeks earlier:

- Activity A has the lowest reduction cost/week → reduce activity A to 2 weeks → additional
cost of 1,000$ → Critical path is still A – B – D – H – I with a duration of 20 weeks.
- I still need to crash one more week.
- No additional reduction in activity A’s duration is possible.
- Among the remaining critical activities (B – D – H – I ), activity D has the lowest reduction
cost/week → reduce activity D to 4 weeks → additional cost of 2,000$ → → Critical path is
still A – B – D – H – I with a duration of 19 weeks.
 Example 5 – Solution (Cont’d) 45
0 0
4 7 7 12 0
B D
0 12 16
4 12 H
0 4 4 3 7 7
A
3 12 4 16 0
0 2 4 4 6 4 16 22
C 7 8 I
E
7 2 9 3 16 6 22
11 1 12 9 13
G
A – B – D – H – I : 19 weeks 3 12 4 16
A – B – E – H – I: 16 weeks 6 9
F
A – B – E – G – I: 16 weeks
9 3 12
A – C – E – H – I: 15 weeks
A – C – E – G – I: 15 weeks
A – C – F – G – I: 17 weeks