Example of Network Diagram Questions
Example of Network Diagram Questions
Question No. 1
You have to manage a project with activities and their respective durations as listed
in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Project Data for Construction of Precedence Diagram
Activity
Immediate
Predecessor
Duration
(months)
None
B, C
A, E
D, E, F
G, H
H, F
H, I, J
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
Answers
1) Refer to Figure A2.
14 G 18
8 4 12
0
0
A
2
2
2
2 B
2 4
6
6
4 C
2 2
6
4
12 D 14
6 2 8
6
6
E 10
4 10
10
10
F 16
6 16
18
18
I 24
6 24
16 H 18
16 2 18
24 K 28
24 4 28
18
18
J 24
6 24
A, B, E, F, H, I, J and K.
28 months
Page 2 of 7
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
Immediate
Predecessor
Duration
(months)
None
B, C
A, F
A, F, G, H
A, F, J, K
Page 3 of 7
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
B 10
8 10
10
10
E 12
10
2 12
C 12
2
F 10
12
G 16
12
4 16
12
H 16
10
4 14
10
I 16
6 14
16
J 18
16
2 18
10
16
K 18
14
2 16
18
L 22
18
4 22
11
A, B, E, G, J and L
22 months
Question No. 3
You have to manage a project with activities and their respective durations as listed
in Table 3 below. The critical path is along activities A, C, F, I, K and L.
1) What is the expected project duration?
2) What is the probability of completing the project by the end of the 32nd month?
3) What is the project duration if it is based on a 99% probability to complete the
project?
Answers
1) The expected project duration is the sum of critical activities durations (refer to
Table A1),
TE = 29 months.
2) Calculations for the relevant activities are as shown in Table A1 below:
te = (a + 4m + b) / 6
= [(b a) / 6] 2
TE = (1-2 + 2-3 + ...+ i-j)
= (0.11 + 0.11 + 0.44 + 0.44 + 0.11 + 1.00)
= 1.49
z
= ( TS - TE ) / TE
= ( 32 29 ) / 1.49
= 2.01
Page 4 of 7
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
Therefore from Table 1, the probability of completing the project by the end of
the 32nd month is 0.98 or 98%.
3) A 99% probability to complete the project refers to a value of deviation from
Table 1,
Z = 2.5
Therefore the project duration based on a 99% probability to complete the
project:
z = ( TS - TE ) / TE
TS = z TE + TE
= (2.5)(1.49) + 29
= 30.68 months.
Activity
Duration (months)
Optimistic
Most
likely
Pessimistic
None
C, E
C, E
F, G, H
J, K
Page 5 of 7
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
Immediate
Predecessor
Optimistic
(a)
Most
likely
(m)
Pessimistic
(b)
Expected
time
(te)
Standard
deviation
()
None
0.11
0.11
C, E
0.44
0.44
0.11
J, K
1.00
Project duration =
Page 6 of 7
29
CEPB 323 Project Management & Construction: Examples of network diagram questions
te = a + 4m + b
6
= 2 = {(b a)/6}2
TE = (1-2 + 2-3 + 3-4 + 4-5 + + i-j )
z = (TS TE) / TE
Page 7 of 7