Project Management (Data Analysis)

Assignment Project Management

Mario Vanhoucke

Individual assignment – 2023

Deadline: Check Moodle

During the five-days course module Project Management (MSIN0083), all students have solved various case studies using real project data. This alternative assignment aims at doing exactly the same using real project data summarised in MS Excel files. The assignment consists of a series of 4 analyses of data for a real project that students must solve individually. The focus on the assignment does not lie on calculations but instead on interpretations of the data and gaining insights in their meaning. The project data should be summarized and interpret and linked to the concepts discussed during the lectures.

Project data: Download one of the projects data files of your choice (Excel file) from the project list below (right click and save as...): 

Analysis 1. Critical Path Method (maximum 2 pages)

(Excel file: Baseline Schedule; Gantt Chart)

Analyse the project network data you can find in the MS Excel file, as follows:

  1. Make a brief and clear summary of the data in one graph, a summary table, or a picture.
  2. Analyse and interpret the summarised data: In your analysis, you should use the following concepts and discuss them critically (i.e. no general discussion of the concepts, but showing their relevance and meaning for the specific project): critical path, activity slack, earliest/latest start schedule, work breakdown structure, planned project duration, budget at completion, etc.
  3. Draw conclusions and provide general recommendations.

Analysis 2. PERT exercise (maximum 2 pages)

(Excel file: Baseline Schedule)

Perform a PERT analysis and draw conclusions, as follows:

  1. Define new durations (optimistic and pessimistic duration) and use the baseline duration of the MS Excel file as the normal duration.
  2. Perform a PERT analysis. In your analysis, you should use and explain the following concepts, and discuss them: central limit theorem, expected activity duration, standard deviation of activity durations, percentiles for project durations, etc.
  3. Draw conclusions with detailed calculations and provide recommendations. Compare the analysis with analysis 1. Show shortcomings of PERT on the project data.

Analysis 3. Schedule risk analysis exercise (maximum 2 pages)

(Excel file: Risk Analysis)

Analyse the schedule risk analysis data using the project manager’s input in the MS Excel file (Tab: Risk Analysis), as follows:

  1. Discuss how you should use the risk data of the MS Excel file to perform a Schedule Risk Analysis. 
  2. Analyse the sensitivity graphs with the sensitivity metrics (CI, SI, SSI, other if available). In your analysis, you should use and explain the following concepts, and discuss them: sensitivity metrics, probability of risk, impact of risk, bottom-up control, etc.
  3. Draw conclusions and provide recommendations for controlling the project. Highlight limitations and add ways for improvements.

Analysis 4. Project control exercise (maximum 2 pages)

(Excel file: All tabs with EVM and project control data. A summary of the different tracking periods is given in “Tracking Overview”. Each line corresponds to 1 tracking period, and details are given in the tabs TP1, TP2, …)

Analyse the project control data (All other tabs of the MS Excel file), as follows:

  1. Make a summary status report to discuss the past progress of the project using the project control data available in the MS Excel file.
  2. Analyse the project progress data. In your analysis, you should use and explain the following concepts, and discuss them: earned value key metrics (EV, AC, PV), performance metrics (SPI, SPI(t), CPI), earned schedule, top-down control, corrective actions, etc.
  3. Draw conclusions and provide recommendations. Suggest ways for corrective actions and/or how future (similar) projects should be better monitored and controlled.

Your report

The report must be written as a summary report of a project to give an overview of the planning phase and progress phase of the project. The report can contain summary graphs and pictures, but they must be supportive to your analysis. Your report should be written in a clear manner to your management. The total length should be maximum 9 pages, i.e. 2 pages for each analysis and a general conclusion (1 page).

List of acronyms used:
PERT: Programme Evaluation and Review Technique
EVM: Earned Value Management
CI: Criticality Index
SI: Significance Index
SSI: Schedule Sensitivity Index
EV: Earned Value
AC: Actual Cost
PV: Planned Value
SPI or SPI(t): Schedule Performance Index
CPI: Cost Performance Index