Chapter 16: Project Management Case: Writing a Textbook (5 marks) Two professors of operations management, Susan and Chris, have decided to write a new textbook for use in the undergraduate introductory operations management course. As they discuss the project, they put together the following list of activities that must be done. 1. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Write a prospectus. [This entails defining what is unique about the textbook and how it compares with other texts currently on the market.) Time estimate: 4 weeks. Discuss the book concept with several publishers, provide publishers with prospectus. Time estimate: 1 week. (All major publishers attend annual professional academic meetings, so you can meet with all of them during that week.) This activity cannot be done before the prospectus is finished. Conduct focus groups of faculty to test the concept of the text. Time estimate: 1 week. (This can be done at the same conference as activity 2.) Select a publisher for the text from those expressing interest. Time estimate: 2 weeks. [This cannot be done until after completing activity 2.) Update and submit prospectus and a sample chapter. Time estimate: 4 weeks. (This cannot be done until activities 3 and 4 are completed.) Negotiate contract with publisher. Time estimate: 3 weeks. [This cannot be done until activity 5 is completed.) Susan begins writing Chapters 1 through 8, at a rate of one per month. Susan works sequentially, doing Chapter 1, then Chapter 2, and so on. This activity begins after the contract has been signed. Chris begins writing Chapters 9 through 16, at a rate of one per month. Chris also works sequentially. This activity begins after the contract has been signed. Chapters are sent out for review. Each chapter undergoes external review after the publisher receives the chapter. Each review takes 4 weeks. Reviews can begin as soon as the publisher begins receiving chapters from the authors. Susan reviews comments from external reviewers and revises chapters. Time estimate is 2 weeks per chapter. Susan can begin these as soon as the first reviews are received by the publisher. Susan will do these at the same time as she is writing new chapters. Chris reviews comments from external reviewers and revises chapters. Time estimate is 2 weeks per chapter. Chris can begin these as soon as the first reviews are received by the publisher. Chris will do these at the same time as he is writing new chapters. Develop list of photo and artwork requirements. Time estimate: 24 weeks. This can begin as soon as the revised first chapters are completed. Requirements for each chapter are needed. Select persons to write instructor's manual, solutions manual, test bank, and PowerPoint presentation. Time estimate: 4 weeks. This can be done after activity 6 is completed. Determine what will be placed on the student resource site and identify a responsible individual to handle this process. Time estimate: 2 weeks. This activity can be done after activity 6 is completed. Write instructor's manual. Time estimate: 12 weeks. This cannot be started until at least half of the revised chapters have been received by the publisher. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Write test bank. Time estimate: 12 weeks. This cannot be started until at least half of the revised chapters have been received by the publisher. Write solutions manual. Time estimate: 12 weeks. This cannot be started until at least half of the revised chapters have been received by the publisher. Write PowerPoint presentation. Time estimate: 12 weeks. This cannot be started until at least half ofthe revised chapters have been received by the publisher. Design text cover. Time estimate: 8 weeks. This activity can be done after activity 6 is completed. Design marketing campaign. Time estimate: 10 weeks. This activity can be done after activity 6 is completed. Publisher produces galley proofs. Time estimate: 6 weeks following receipt of final revised chapters. Proofreading galley proofs. Time estimate: 4 weeks after completion ofgalley proofs. Produce student CD. Time estimate: 4 weeks. This activity can be done after activities 15, 17, and 18 have been finished. Publisher prints text. Time estimate: 16 weeks. This activity can be done after activities 20 and 21 have been completed. These activities represent a portion of the tasks involved in writing a textbook. The listed activities deal only with the actual production of the text and the ancillary materials. We have not considered the marketing activities or the logistics associated with a new text. Susan and Chris are interested in establishing a project schedule for the new textbook. Case Questions a. b. Draw the network diagram for this project. Determine how long it should take to complete the project. Question 1. Table 1 Activity Activity normal time Immediate predecessor (weeks) (S) A 3 NONE B 4 A C 2 B D 5 B E 4 C TI D G 2 E, F a] Construct a network diagram using the information in Table 1 above b] Determine which activities are included on the critical path c] Calculate the project completion time A] START NO FINISH B] PATHWAYS: i ) A - B - C - E - G = 3+ 4 + 2 +4 +2 = 15 WEEKS (1 ) A - B - D - F - h = 3+4 + 5+ 3+2 = 17 WEEKS C] THEREFORE PATH ( ii) IS THE CRITICAL PATH WITH COMPLETION TIME = 17 WEEKS. Please note, you don't need to include the Start and Finish nodes on the network diagram