Q A Project’s Critical Path Introduction: When a project is underway, there are some activities that affect the project’s ability to move forward. Those critical activities need to be completed or the project stalls. The project manager needs to look carefully at each of the tasks in a project and compute the earliest start (ES) and earliest finish (EF) and also the latest start (LS) and latest finish (LF) time for each task. Here is a simplified example: to paint a room, the person doing the taping of the edges plans to start at 7 AM (ES) and he will be done about 8:30 (EF). Since the painting contractor starts work at 9, the latest the taper can begin is 7:30 (LS) or he will not be done (LF) when the painter plans to begin. These two tasks also have 30 minutes of slack (where the taper can take longer or the painter can come earlier). As part of controlling time and expenses, it is important for a project manager to know what asks are critical and where there is available slack when needed. Unit Learning Outcome(s) Reflected in assignment: • Determine earliest start and finish times for project activities (CLO 3, 4 and 5) • Prepare a project schedule with the critical path identified (CLO 4 and 5) Directions: For the project plan you are developing, 1. develop a diagram showing the earliest and start and finish times for the tasks. o Within that diagram, indicate (bold or colors) the critical path that needs to be watched the most closely to be sure your project is completed on time. 2. Place the diagram in a Word document. 3. Include a short narrative explaining the diagram’s contents in the word document. Due Dates: Submit the Exercise Assignment by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, CT Rubric Unit 5: Exercise Rubric Unit 5: Exercise Rubric Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProject’s Critical Path 20 to >17.0 pts Exceptional he critical path exercise includes a concise and accurate short narrative introduction and a very well designed diagram showing the earliest and latest start and finish times for all major project tasks. The critical path has been clearly and accurately developed in the diagram. 17 to >13.0 pts Exceeds Expectations The critical path exercise includes a somewhat concise short narrative introduction and a fairly well designed diagram showing the earliest and latest start and finish times for project tasks. The critical path has been clearly developed in the diagram. 13 to >9.0 pts Meets Expectations The critical path exercise includes a short narrative introduction and a diagram showing the earliest and latest start and finish times for project tasks. The critical path has been developed in the diagram. 9 to >5.0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations The critical path exercise includes a rambling or unclear narrative introduction and a diagram showing some of the earliest and latest start and finish times for project tasks. The critical path has been developed in the diagram but is not correct. 5 to >0 pts Unacceptable The critical path exercise does not include a short narrative introduction and/or a diagram showing the earliest and latest start and finish times for project tasks. The critical path has not been developed in the diagram or is not correct. 20 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting and APA 5 pts The exercise has been thoroughly spell checked and proofread with almost no writing/ grammar errors. Sources, if used, are appropriately cited and referenced. (5 points) 4 pts The exercise has been thoroughly spell checked and proofread with very few writing/ grammar errors. Sources, if used, are mostly appropriately cited and referenced. (4 points) 3 pts The exercise has been spell checked and proofread. with few or no writing/ grammar errors. Sources, if used, have minor errors in cites and references. (3-2 points) 1 pts The exercise has noticeable writing and grammar errors. Sources, if used, are not cited or referenced and/ or contain format errors in cites and references. (1 point) 0 pts The exercise has many writing and grammar errors. Sources, if used, lack cites or references. Plagiarism in the final paper can result in a score of 0 for the entire paper. (0 points) 5 pts Total Points: 25 PreviousNext