LS Hydrogeology is a water and minerals exploration company. It was recently com
ID: 356239 • Letter: L
Question
LS Hydrogeology is a water and minerals exploration company. It was recently commissioned by
the Zambian government to make hydro geological maps which would be obtained at different
locations around Zambia. The assignment would involve explorations, sample analysis onsite and
computer-graphic displays to produce maps. Managing the preparation for the whole assignment
was the responsibility of the project engineer, Bill Kalinda. Bill, who had recently graduated from
his MSc Project Management course at the University of Lusaka, knew that he would need to keep
a tight grip on the arrangements for the explorations to start successfully. The explorations would
start at the end of May and the final targeted site would be explored at the end of July. The hydro
geological maps are required between early July and late August, so any delay either in
exploration or in producing the maps would cause considerable complications.
The company had known that it would be commissioned to make the hydro geological maps since
December, but Bill had only been allocated the job to start in first week of February! His first act
was to list the various jobs which would have to be done before explorations could start. He then
discussed each job with the part of the company which would carry it out, to try to understand
what decisions would need to be made before they could start on their jobs. The jobs which needed
to be done prior to the start of the explorations are listed below together with some details. Note
the jobs’ IDs in brackets where arbitrarily allocated.
The project engineer’s responsibilities (as well as managing the whole project) included:
(a) Scheduling the Sites: would take about two weeks to finalize and could be started straight
away.
(b) Defining the field work routing: would need discussions with the chief designer and would
take about four weeks of considering alternative designs before finalizing the concept, but
could be started straight away.
(e) Specifying computer-graphic displays: again in consultation with the chief designer, it
would take about a week but could not be started until all the detailed planning had been
finalized.
The design department’s responsibility was:
(f) Producing designs for field work routing: would take about three weeks but could be
started only after completion of the detailed planning.
The project planning department’s responsibilities were:
(c) Secure exploration sites from the Ministry of Minerals and Water Development: a one-
week job which could be started as soon as the sites had been decided by Bill.
(d) Detailed planning: the preparation of detailed plans and schedules, a two-week task which
could be started once the design concept had been finalized and the sites secured.
(g) Printing field work routing charts: an outside printer could be given this job as soon as the
designs for field work routing had been prepared by the design department. The printer
usually quoted a four-week delivery from receipt of the designs.
(h) Printing the display posters: again depended on the preparation of the designs for field
work routing but could be delivered within two weeks of the designs being ready.
(i) Ordering the exploration vehicles: a trailer truck and ancillary vehicles were needed which
could be ordered on completion of the detailed planning; delivery of the vehicles would
take about six weeks.
(j) Writing the customised graphic display software: contracted out to a software house, it
would take about four weeks but could only be started after the computer graphics had
been specified by the project engineer and chief designer.
(n) Final testing and Kickoff: the project planning department were finally responsible for
getting the ‘whole act together’ immediately prior to explorations. Testing could only start
once the field work routing charts had been printed, the vehicles fully fitted out and
customized and the exploration staff trained. Final tests and kickoff should take around a
week but, if things went wrong at any stage, could take longer.
The workshop’s responsibility was:
(k) Customizing and fitting out the vehicles: after the exploration vehicles are delivered and the
designs for field work routing agreed and the computer-graphics software finished, the
vehicles could be fitted out and customized for the explorations; this would normally take
around two weeks.
The personnel department was responsible for:
(l) Recruiting the exploration staff: these were the people who did the actual work in the field;
they could be recruited as soon as the detailed planning was completed. Usually it took two
weeks to recruit all the exploration staff.
(m) Training the promo staff: once all exploration staff had been recruited they would need
training – a one-week task.
Requirements:
(a) Prepare an Activity Logic Table for this project. (14 marks)
(b) Can Bill get the project together in time to start explorations on schedule? Show workings.
(16 marks)
(c) Name the jobs which Bill will have to manage particularly closely? Why? (10 marks)
(d) What other general advice would you give Bill to help him to manage this project?
Explanation / Answer
Requirement (a) Activity Logic Table for this project( LS Hydrogeology) Activity Expected Duration Predecessor (a) Scheduling the sites 2 Weeks None (b) Defining the field work routing 4 Weeks None (c) Secure exploration sites from the Ministry of Minerals and Water Development 1 Week (a) (d) Detailed planning 2 Weeks (a) & (b) (e) Specifying computer-graphic displays 1 Week (d) (f) Producing designs for field work routing 3 Weeks (d) (g) Printing field work routing charts 4 Weeks (f) (h) Printing the display posters 2 Weeks (f) (i) Ordering the exploration vehicles 6 Weeks (d) (j) Writing the customised graphic display software 4 Weeks (e) (k) Customizing and fitting out the vehicles 2 Weeks (i) (f) & (e) (l) Recruiting the exploration staff 2 Weeks (d) (m) Training the promo staff 1 Week (l) (n) Final testing and Kickoff 1 Week (f)(k) &(m) Requirement? (b) Can Bill get the project together in time to start explorations on Schedule? - Yes he can based on the critical path and activities that can support parallel implementations Crtical Path for the Project = 16 Weeks (b) ->(d) -> (f (g & h)) - > (n) = 4 + 2 + 3 +(4 +2) +1 = 16 Weeks Bill starts by 1st week of February and the schedule to start exploration is End of May Available Time = 16 Weeks Crtitical Path to prepare = 16 Weeks Parallel Implementations Activities (e(j)), (f(g & h)), ( i(k)) and (l(m) can be performed in parallel Requirement (c)Jobs which Bill will have to manage particularly closely Jobs in Critical Path (b) ->(d) -> (f (g & h)) - > (n) - No Slack available and also parallel work can be performed for these activities ? Major parallel run activities critical to kick off (e) & (i) - Delay in these activities might result in overall project kick start delay Requirement (d) General Advice to Bill 1. Pay more attention on activities in Critical Path ( Zero Tolerance in delay) 2. Try to have an early start and early finish as it is possible for major parallel run activities like ( e) & ( i) - Ensure completion not any later than late finish to keep up with the kick start deadline based on critical path 3. Activities like (f), (i) & (e) with sub activities to them can be fasttracked if required
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