Suppose that you and two other students are working on a team research project f

Question

Suppose that you and two other students are working on a team research project for a course you are all taking. To complete the project, you expect that the three of you will need to work together on reviewing related literature for about four days. Then, you will divide the work into three parts: collecting financial data (2 days), writing the text of the paper (5 days), and preparing the figures and tables (2 days). Then the team will work together in assembling and editing the paper (4 days). Assuming that none of the work can be done in parallel (i.e.. collecting data must precede writing, which must precede preparing figures and tables), how many days will it take to complete your research project? Ideally, the work would be best accomplished serially (as in question "a" above) so that all information created in one task is available for the processing of the next task. However, assuming for the moment that collecting data, writing text, and preparing figures and tables can be done in parallel (i.e.. each task can be done by a different team member independently and simultaneously), how many days will it take to complete your research project?

Explanation / Answer

A Activity Tasks Duration Predecessor A Reviewing the Literature 4 None B Collecting Financial Data 2 A C Writing the Text of Paper 5 B D Preparing figures and tables 2 C E Assembling and editing the paper 4 D Total Time Required = 4 + 2 + 5 +2 + 4 = 17 days B Activity Tasks Duration Predecessor A Reviewing the Literature 4 None B Collecting Financial Data 2 A C Writing the Text of Paper 5 A D Preparing figures and tables 2 A E Assembling and editing the paper 4 B,C,D Total Time Required = 4 + Max (2, 5, 2) + 4 = 13 days This is because task B, C and D can be done in parallel So task E would start after 5 days when all the three activities are completed

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