Case 1: Systems Analysis I
Assigned: 15 September 2005
Due: 20 September 2005
Questions
- Use a project management software to answer Question 15 from
Chapter 4 of your textbook.
- Assume that you are the head of FEMA. You have received warning
that a major hurricane is about to hit New Orleans. Assume that your
primary objectives are:
- to minimize loss of human and animal life
- to maintain communications
- to restore normalcy at the earliest after the hurricane
Start by creating an Initial Expectations Matrix. Then, identify all
major tasks that would be needed before, during, and after the
hurricane to accomplish your objectives. For each task, identify
expected duration, and any resources that would be needed to accomplish
these tasks. Once all tasks and their durations have been identified,
use any project management software to calculate the critical path.
Also, provide a Gantt chart for your project. Please note the
following:
- You are free to use any available information to identify and get
estimates of the tasks. But, please cite your sources.
- Please use discretion in identifying the tasks. Preferably,
stick to identifying majors tasks only.
- Remember to be clear about the units of time. That is, are the
tasks in days, hours, etc.
What to turn in
Write a report specifically answering the two questions above. In each
case, supply all relevant diagrams like Expectation Matrix Table, PERT
and Gantt charts, and in the case of Question 2, a table with the task
descriptions and their durations. Also, specify any assumptions you
made and the sources you consulted. Your report should be preferably in
either pdf or html format. You will be able to upload your file to your
Vista site when you are done.
Software instructions
You are free to use any project management software for the case.
With your book, you have a working copy of Microsoft Project. You can
also use Planbee, a free project management software. Instructions for
getting Planbee are given below.
Directions to download and use
Planbee project management software:
- Download software from http://www.guysoftware.com/plnbinst.exe
- Double click the downloaded
file to install. Go through the complete process, and at the end,
choose the option to start the software.
- Click on File, New to open
new project. Enter the following information
- Company: Systems
Analysis I
- Project: Case 1
- Author: Give your
username here. The one you use in Flashline
- Account: Give your
group number or name here. Click on Ok to continue
- Start entering all the
tasks under Task Details. Use the down arrow key to move to the next
task entry. For each task, provide the duration. Make sure the calendar
days options is set for M-F.
- Once all the tasks have
been entered, it is time to indicate the precedence relationships.
- Assume that Task 1 precedes
Task 2. Click on Task 2, and then on Add Precedence.
- From the list of tasks on
the left pane, choose Task 1, and then hit OK.
- Repeat the above two steps
for all tasks and precedence relationships.
- Once you are done entering
all precedence relationships, click on the PERT chart window (it looks
like a network diagram)
- Once in the PERT chart
window, click on Auto Align Pert Nodes to get a better layout. You can
also hit the >> or << key in the top right
corner to change the scale
- Click on Critical This
Color to highlight the critical path.
- Print a copy of the
diagram, and then close this chart window.
- You can now click on the
Gantt Chart Window Icon to draw the Gantt chart.
- Click on the different
options to see how the Gantt chart changes.
- Print a copy.