Determining Project Information using Microsoft Project

Silver Zuma Project

The ARC Company specializes in developing and selling a wide range of high-quality scooters. Sales representatives report that there is a growing demand for racing scooters. ARC's president, Robin Lane, is excited about the possibilities and predicts that one day these kinds of razor scooters will be featured in X-Game events. ARC is a small company and uses a strong matrix to optimally utilize limited manpower.

You are a member of a project team assigned to develop the new razor scooter code named "Silver Zuma." Table 1 contains the information necessary to create a project schedule. For the purpose of this case assume the following:

Part A.

1. The project begins January 6, 2014.
2. The following holidays are observed: January 1, Memorial Day (last Monday in May), July 4th, Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November), December 25 and 26.
3. If a holiday falls on a Saturday then Friday will be given as an extra day off, and if it falls on a Sunday, then Monday will be given as a day off.
4. The project team works eight-hour days, Monday through Friday.

Table 1 - Silver Zuma Project

ID Task Name Duration Predecessors
1 Product development project
2 Market analysis 25 days
3 Product design 40 days 2
4 Manufacturing study 20 days 2
5 Product design selection 10 days 3,4
6 Detailed marketing plans 15 days 5
7 Manufacturing process 30 days 5
8 Detailed product design 50 days 5
9 Test prototype 10 days 8
10 Finalized product design 25 days 7,9
11 Order components 7 days 10
12 Order production equipment 14 days 10
13 Install production equipment 25 days 11FS + 20days
12FS + 40 days
14 Celebrate 1 day 13

Silver Zuma Project

Set up this project in MS Project 2010 and answer the following questions:

1. When is the project estimated to be completed (date)? How long will the project take (days)?
2. What is the critical path for the project? (identify by task numbers)
3. Which activity has the greatest amount of free slack?
4. Compare the advantages/disadvantages of displaying the schedule as a network versus a Gantt chart.

1. When is the project estimated to be completed (date)? How long will the project take (days)?
Finish Date: ?? / ?? / ????? Duration: _______ Days

2. What is the critical path for the project? (identify by task numbers)
Critical Path:

3. Which activity has the greatest amount of free slack?
Activity Name: Days: ______

4. Compare the advantages/disadvantages of displaying the schedule as a network versus a Gantt chart.