Question

Imagine a market research project (say a manufacturing company intends to know customer response about a new product to be launched). Create the WBSs up to first level of breakdown. Work out sequence of activities and estimate time duration of each activity. Based upon your estimation, prepare schedule of the project by CPM Method as well as PERT method.

Write it in the details as it is the assignment .

Answer 1

Work breakdown structure:

CPM schedule:

Activity	Preceding activity	Time
Initiation phase	----------------	1 week
Requirement gathering and analysis	Initiation phase	2 weeks
Planning phase	Requirement gathering and analysis	1 week
Project plan development	Planning phase	1 week
Execution phase	Project plan development	1 week
Brainstorming marketing	Execution phase	1 week
Primary market research	Brainstorming marketing	4 weeks
Report writing	Primary market research	1 week
Close out phase	Report writing	1 week

PERT schedule:

Activity	Preceding activity	Optimistic time (Days)	Normal time (Days)	Pessimistic time (Days)
Initiation phase	----------------	5	7	10
Requirement gathering and analysis	Initiation phase	10	14	20
Planning phase	Requirement gathering and analysis	4	7	8
Project plan development	Planning phase	5	7	9
Execution phase	Project plan development	4	7	8
Brainstorming marketing	Execution phase	5	7	8
Primary market research	Brainstorming marketing	20	28	35
Report writing	Primary market research	6	7	9
Close out phase	Report writing	3	7	8