TIME ZONE 2

SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Construction Project Management

D31PT

PROJECT MANAGEMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE

Semester 1 – 2014/15

Date: Monday 8th December 2014 Time:

Duration: 2 Hours

Answer ONE (1) question from Section A and,

Answer any THREE (3) questions from Section B.

Note: Students are encouraged to respond to the questions set out below from the
perspective of the disciplines studied within their own individual course of studies.
Students should illustrate the points made in their answers by making references to
projects of their choice.

Supplied: Graph paper

DO NOT REMOVE THIS PAPER FROM THE EXAM HALL

Heriot-Watt University Project Management Theory and Practice D31PT – 2014/15

SECTION A (Compulsory)

Question1
Given the information on Table 1.1 for a construction project:
(a) Construct a network precedence diagram (11 marks)

(b) Determine earliest and latest times for all activities and calculate activity
floats (11 marks)

(c) Clearly identify the critical path on the network diagram (2 marks)

(d) Explain what will happen to the project if (1) activity I is delayed by 3
weeks; and (2) activity J is delayed by 3 weeks. (6 marks)

(e) Draw bar charts from the network based on early start schedule (i.e.
assume all activities start as early as possible) and late start schedule i.e.
assume all activities start as late as possible. (10 marks)

Table 1.1: Activity data for the construction project

Activity No. Predecessors Duration

(weeks)
A None 3
B None 4
C None 2
D C 3
E A 3
F A,C 4
G C 4
H D,E 2
I B,D,G 3
J G 1
K F,H,I,J 2

Question 2
You have been hired as a project auditor to review the performance of the project
shown in Table 2.1 at the end of week 6.

(a) Calculate the Cost Variance, Schedule Variance, Cost Performance Index,
Schedule Performance Index, the Estimate at Completion and the Estimate to
Complete.
(30 marks)

(b) Prepare a status report on the project for the client, including advise your client
on how to improve cost and time performance on this project.
(10 marks)

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Heriot-Watt University Project Management Theory and Practice D31PT – 2014/15

Table 2.1: Project Performance Data

Activity Predecessors Duration Budget (£) Actual Percentage

(weeks) Cost Complete
(£) (%)
A None 3 60,000 80,000 100
B A 3 60,000 50,000 100
C A 2 80,000 60,000 80
D C 4 100,000 40,000 20
E A,B 3 45,000 0 0
F C,D 1 20,000 0 0

SECTION B
Answer any three (3) questions of your choice. Each question carries equal
marks. Start the answer of each question on a new page.

Question 3
The objective of project management may be defined as the successful completion
of the project, on time, within cost and to the required quality. Discuss the roles and
responsibilities of the client’s project manager.
(20 marks)

Question 4
Client’s project management services can be either provided internally or externally.
Discuss the contractual linkages and non-contractual linkages for both internal and
external project management services.
(20 marks)

Question 5
Identify the potential stakeholders of re-development of a small town at the suburban
area and explain how they may be managed by the client’s project manager. You are
required to clearly state any assumptions made.
(20 marks)

Question 6
Quality Assurance Review (QAR) is used to monitor the execution of the Quality
Assurance Plan (QAP). Explain the objectives of QAP and QAR?
(20 marks)

END OF PAPER

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