UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

2016 November/December Examinations

MBA528 : PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Faculty: COMMERCE

Department: GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Duration: 3 HOURS

Examiner: LIC. E. MAKONI

Authorized Materials: Non Programmable Scientific Calculator.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This paper contains Six (6) Questions
2. Answer Question One (40 marks); and Any other Three Questions (20 marks each)
3. Start each question on a new page
4. This question paper comprises Three (3) printed pages

NB: DO NOT TURN OVER THE QUESTION PAPER OR COMMENCE WRITING

UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

Page 1 of 3
QUESTION 1 (Compulsory - 40 marks)

The activity durations, in weeks and manpower requirements of a particular project are
given in table 1 below:

Table 1

Activity 1- 2 2- 3 2- 4 3- 5 4- 6 4-7 5- 8 6- 8 7-9 8 - 10 9 -10

Duration 2 3 4 2 4 3 6 6 5 4 4
Number 4 3 3 5 3 4 3 6 2 2 9
of men

(a) Draw the Activity on Arrow (AOA) network for this project. (6 marks)

(b) Determine the critical path(s). (4 marks)

(c) Draw the associated project Gantt chart. (5 marks)

(d) Analyze the project from the point of view of resources to bring out the necessary
steps involved in the analysis and smoothing of resources. (25 marks)

QUESTION 2

The Graduate School of Management needs to start an infrastructure expansion project.

Discuss any four central issues that should be captured in their project business case
that you have been tasked to develop. (20 marks)

QUESTION 3

Many project managers do not appear to understand the role of lessons learnt in
projects. Through practical examples of your choice, use the diagram below (figure 1) to
clarify this role: (20 marks)

Page 2 of 3
 Figure 1

Other
current
Lessons learned projects
recorded in
organizational Your project Project lessons
process assets learned
Update
company
organization
al process
assets

QUESTION 4
It is generally agreed that once the project execution phase is established and under
way, it is important that the project manager is able to monitor and control effectively
what is happening.

Discuss at least four important areas of focus for achieving effective project monitoring
and control. (20 marks)

QUESTION 5
You have been appointed as the provincial project manager for the proposed
government command agriculture project. Discuss giving examples of the benefits to
be gained in good stakeholder management. (20 marks)

QUESTION 6
It is anticipated that in most development projects, customers are always reluctant to
agree to you closing the project. They are nervous about agreeing to the closure
because they are concerned that after closure it will become difficult to get problems
resolved. Customers correctly assume that the project team will be dispersed and there
will no longer be a single point of contact, to champion their problem.

Discuss the exit strategies you would put in place to deal with these customers’
concerns effectively in relation to any project you have undertaken before. (20 marks)

END EXAMINATION PAPER

Page 3 of 3