Read the following brief case. Then determine which of the scheduling methods would be most appropriate for the situation. Give the reasons for your choice of scheduling method

The Fuzzy Front End - Case Study

( adapted fromRapid Development, McConnell 1996)

Stephan is a manager at Multinational Insurance Company. Here are the notes he wrote about the approval process for Multinational 1.0, an insurance quote program.

October 1. We want to develop a new quote program for our field agents. We want the program to upload the day's quotes to the head office each night. It will take about 12 months to complete its development, so we can't get it done in time for this January's rate increase, but we should be able to get it done for the rate increase after that (15 months from now). We should aim to complete it by November 1 (13 months from now) so that we have time to train field agents before the new rates to into effect. I'll propose the project at the executive committee meeting at the end of the month.

January 2.The quote program proposal got bumped off the executive committee agenda two months in a row. I finally brought it up at the end of December and got the approval to draw up a business-case analysis.

February 1.Business-case analysis is complete; it just needs to be reviewed.

March 1. Two key sales managers are on vacation. The business-case analysis can't be approved until they've reviewed it.

April 15.All reviews are confirmed and the project is a "go." The executive committee still wants the project completed by November 1, though, so the team had better start coding now.

Reference

McConnell, Steve. (1996)Rapid Development.Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press