Could you please

help me plan for

this CAT project Please explain to me
how the various
activities were related
to each other?

Why do you need That will help in

that? developing what is
known as “ precedence
restrictions” in project Manoj Bisht
Would I also know how management
long it will take to get
Pranjal Sharma everything organized? That is also required to
identify the critical
activities that would
need your attention

Yes, it would be possible to

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer based test held determine what is known as the
in India. The test scores a candidate on the bases of Quantitative critical path. This path is the one
Ability (QA), Verbal Ability (VA) and Reading Comprehension (RC), that will determine the time would
Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR). The Indian you need to execute your plan
Institutes of Management(IIMs) started this exam and use the test
for selecting students for their business administration programs.
The test is conducted every year by one of the IIMs based on a
policy of rotation.
Assignment QUESTIONs
Identification of the activities and the predecessors
Duration
Activity Description Predecessor
(days)
A Prepare preliminary set of question for verbal section 15
B Prepare preliminary set of question for quantitative section 20
C Prepare preliminary set of question for data analysis section 20
D Search for printers who could print the test paper 21
E Choose the test centers 30
F Print the application forms 14 E
Advertise the programs sell application forms and receive filled forms from
G applicants 14 F (assumption)
H Collate the question into three sets of test papers 7 A,B,C
I Scrutinize the test papers for errors 7 H
J Get the test paper printed and procure the sealed test paper 21 E, D, I
K Dispatch the test paper to the test centers 7 E, J
L Prepare the list of successful applicants 14 G
M Dispatch admission cards to eligible applicants for examination 10 L
N Conduct the test 4 M,K
 Activity-on-Node network of the project Path Duration
(days)
D A-H-I-J-K-N 61
(21) B-H-I-J-K-N 66
A C-H-I-J-K-N 66
(15)
D-J-K-N 53
E-J-K-N 61
B H I J E-F-G-L-M-N 86
Start (7) (21)
(20) (7)

K
C (7)
(20)
N
Finish
(4)

E F G L M
(30) (14) (14) (14) (10)
Project duration

• Based on the CPM, the longest path duration is 86 days. So, this
represents the Critical Path (minimum time for this project to be
completed)
• Project duration = 86 days
Path Duration (days)
A-H-I-J-K-N 61
B-H-I-J-K-N 66
C-H-I-J-K-N 66
D-J-K-N 53
E-J-K-N 61
E-F-G-L-M-N 86
 Legend
0 21
D Early start Early finish
(21) Activity
0 15 54
33 name
A
(15) (days)
25 40 Late start Late finish
20 27 27 34 34 55
0 20 H I J
Start B
(7) (7) (21)
(20)
40 47 47 54 54 75
20 40
55 62
0 20 K
C (7)
(20) 75 82
20 40
82 86
N
Finish
(4)
82 86
0 30 30 44 44 58 58 72 72 82
E F G L M
(30) (14) (14) (14) (10)
0 30 30 44 44 58 58 72 72 82
Start & Finish dates for activities on the critical path

The following activities are on the critical path and therefore the
Start & Finish dates are fixed and cannot be delayed, otherwise the
full project will be delayed

Critical Duration Scheduled Scheduled

Activities (days) start end
E 30 0 30
F 14 30 44
G 14 44 58
L 14 58 72
M 10 72 82
N 4 82 86
Start & Finish dates for activities outside the critical path

The activities not on the critical paths can be delayed without

impacting the project schedule. The possible delay (slack time) is:
Activity Early Late Slack
start start time
(days)
A 0 25 25
B 0 20 20
C 0 20 20
D 0 33 33
H 20 40 20
I 27 47 20
J 34 54 20
K 55 75 20