
APPLIED MANAGEMENT
PORTFOLIO TASK 3
Task 3
Based on the information given in the case study below, draw a CPA diagram and address the associated questions. In your diagram, identify the durations of each activity along with the earliest and latest start and finish times for each activity. draw the diagram ‘electronically’ in Excel, WORD, or any other tool. Note that there is no specific format for the document other than to present it neatly and professionally. No literary research is expected for this practical task but if a source is used, then it must be adequately referenced using the Harvard technique.
Case study details
You are an office manager for a large real estate company. Your senior manager has informed you that the company will move to a new location. As office manager, you have been asked to sort out the arrangements for your department. You have spent the evening thinking and planning how this might be done efficiently and have identified the necessary activities along with estimates of the task durations. Note that both company sites are closed on weekends and hence there is no activity on weekends. The weekends should therefore not be included in the network as activities.
TASK
A Arrange an all-day meeting on Monday August 23rd with the staff members to inform them of the change of location. In agreement with the Trade Union, the company is obliged to deliver a full consultation event, meaning that no other action should be considered until the staff are made aware of the move.
B Allow staff three days to clear their current office spaces and pack their miscellaneous belongings in preparation for the move.
C At the same time, arrange the carpet fitters and decorators to prepare the new offices at the new location. This will take four days.
D When the new offices are ready and the furniture and miscellaneous staff items are packed, arrange to transport these boxes to the new location. This will take a single day.
E The following day, staff members will go to the new location. Allow them a full day to unpack and prepare their offices.
F At the same time, the IT staff will install a new computer system. Three days are allocated to be sure of problem-free operations.
G Finally, when all is done, deliver a ‘training day’ with the staff members to introduce them to the new communications and computer system. Normal operations of the firm will begin the following day.
ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
Q1) At what date can the company restart normal operations?
Q2) Which ‘path’ is critical if the project is not to be extended?
Q3) Explain why CPA is considered to be a superior method to that of a GANTT chart.
EXAMPLE:


