Question $4$

$($a$)$ In relation to the project life cycle:

$($i$)$ Using a civil engineering project as an example, discuss what is the

project life cycle. Identify advantages for developing a life cycle.

$[4$ marks$]$

$($ii$)$ Using diagrams as necessary, discuss the relationship between scope

for change and cost of change to a project over its life cycle.

$[2$ marks$]$

$($iii$)$ Explain what whole life value involves and why would one use it$.$

Support your explanation with a relevant example.

$[2$ marks$]$

$($b$)$ A company is retrofitting a wastewater treatment plant with upgraded

mechanical and electrical control systems. The activities to carry out this

project, dependencies and durations are given in Table Q$4.$ O represents the

optimistic time, M the most likely time and P the pessimistic time. The

expected $($mean$)$ duration of each activity are given by E$[$t$]=\{$O$+4$M$+$P$\}/6.$

$($i$)$ Draw a network diagram with expected durations for the data given in

Table Q$4$ and determine the earliest expected finish time for the project.

$[4$ marks$]$

PTO

$7$

$($ii$)$ Based on expected durations what is the free float time for activities F

and G$?$

$[4$ marks$]$

$($iii$)$ Sketch a Gantt diagram for the project with all activities starting at

their latest start time using expected durations of all activities. Clearly

identify the critical path.

$[4$ marks$]$

Table Q$4$ Table of activities, duration and predecessors.

Activity Predecessor Durations $($wks$)$

O M P

A $-124$

B A $469$

C B $134$

D A $123$

E D $236$

F D $259$

G C $134$

H E $135$

I G $245$

J G $7914$

K H$,$F $457$

L I,J$,$K $269$