Project Cost and Time Management

Assignment Objectives Analyze methods for planning, estimating, budgeting, and controlling costs Assignment Description A project has an expected duration of 34 weeks with a critical path variance of 6. Suppose the project network is given and the critical path is identified on the network. Suppose the normal time, crash time, and the associated cost for each activity is given. You have been asked by your supervisor to prepare a research paper that addresses the follow criteria: • What is the probability that the project will be completed in 32 weeks or less? • If the project is to be shortened by four days, list the process you would take to determine which activities, in order of reduction, would be shortened and the resulting cost. • Describe project cost and the requirements for its determination and application in a production facility. • Analyze implications of changes in the parameters of project timing and cost determination. • Evaluate application of project cost and timing concepts on a firm’s business operations. Present your findings as a 1-2-page Word document formatted in APA style. Submitting your assignment in APA format means, at a minimum, you will need the following: • Title page: Remember the running head and title in all capital letters. • Abstract: This is a summary of your paper, not an introduction. Begin writing in third-person voice. • Body: The body of your paper begins on the page following the title page and abstract page, and it must be double-spaced between paragraphs. The typeface should be 12-pt. Times Roman in regular black type. Do not use color, bold type, or italics except as required for APA level headings and references. The deliverable length of the body of your paper for this assignment is 3–4 pages. In-text academic citations to support your decisions and analysis are required. A variety of academic sources is encouraged. • Reference page: References that align with your in-text academic sources are listed on the final page of your paper. The references must be in APA format using appropriate spacing, hang indention, italics, and upper- and lower-case usage as appropriate for the type of resource used. Remember, the reference page is not a bibliography, but it is a further listing of the abbreviated in-text citations used in the paper. Every referenced item must have a corresponding in-text citation. Individual Project Rubric Grading Criteria Percentage Deliverable requirements addressed; understanding of material and writer’s message and intent are clear. 35% Scholarly research supports the writer’s position and is properly acknowledged and cited direct quotations may not exceed 10% of the word count of the body of the assignment deliverable (excluding title page, abstract, and reference pages). Inclusion of plagiarized content will not be tolerated and may result in adverse academic consequences. 20% Critical thinking: Position is well-justified, there is logical flow, and there are examples. 20% Structure: Includes introduction and conclusion, proper paragraph format, and reads as a polished, academic paper or professional presentation, as appropriate for the required assignment deliverable. 10% Mechanical: No spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors. 10% APA: Deliverable is cited properly according to the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.). 5% Reference References on separate page APA format (6th ed.) with scholarly research supporting references that have authors names and dates.