M4A1: Project Milestone: Determining a Project’s Critical Path

In Module 3, you created a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for your course project. The WBS is one tool that is used in most projects. In this activity, you will determine the critical path for your course project by selecting one of three offered

critical path

critical chain

network diagram

create a critical path for your project. You may create a critical path, utilize a critical chain, or complete a project network, as each of these items provide a complimenting view of the project in process.

You are not required to create a Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) chart, but include the steps you would take if you were to create a PERT chart. What information would you need in addition to the data used to construct the critical path?

What issues are evident in your critical path? What steps can you take to avoid failure along your critical path? What additional information would a PERT chart provide as you make decisions about your project?

Create your critical path or critical chain or project network as a Word document.

You may use the shapes in Word, construct the image in Microsoft Visio and insert it into Word, or create it in Microsoft Project and insert it in Word. The important thing is that the submission is part of a Word document so your instructor can open and grade the work.

Properly label all aspects of your critical path and label the paper with your name and assignment particulars. Within the Word document, answer the questions above with enough specifics and details to relay your understanding. Your paper should be between 3–5 pages depending on the size of your chart.

Write a 2–5 page paper with the required chart(s) in Word format. You may use Microsoft Visio or another tool to create the chart, but it must be pasted or embedded in a Word document for submission.

Use the American Psychological Association (APA) style (most current edition) for writing your assignment.

Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you upload it. When you are ready to submit your work, click “Browse My Computer” and find your file. Once you have located your file, click “Open” and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Submit.”

Evaluation Criteria

This assignment will be graded using the rubric displayed below. Please review this rubric prior to beginning your work. You can also access the rubric on the Course Rubrics page within the Start Here module. The term project assignments make up 20% of the total course grade.

Criteria	Ratings							Pts
Description and Details of	30 pts Exemplary		24 pts Satisfactory			18 pts Minimally	0 pts Unacceptable
the PERT chart	The steps to creating a PERT		The steps to creating a PERT chart are			Responsive The steps to	The necessary steps for creation
	chart is included and is complete. Issues are fully identified		included and does have most of the necessary			creating a PERT chart are included but it is incomplete	of a PERT chart are not included in the submission.	30 pts
	and explained. Steps for avoiding		information including the issues identified			as it lacks issues identified and
	failure along the critical path are included and provide		and the steps to avoid failure along the critical path.			steps to avoid failure along the critical path.
	appropriate details.
Critical Analysis of	30 pts Exemplary	24 pts Satisfactory			18 pts Minimally		0 pts Unacceptable
Critical Path	Information about the project’s critical path is described	Information about the project’s critical path is generally			Responsive Information about the project’s critical		A Critical Path is submitted but necessary
	in detail, including the name, dates,	described, including the name, dates,			path is briefly described, with		sections are hardly described,
	objectives, deliverables, and milestones.	objectives, deliverables, and milestones.			important details vague or missing. More information is		if at all. Claims for more information are not discussed,
	Supporting details and evidences to justify the claims	Information provided is relevant and important in building			needed on the name, dates, objectives,		or if they are, they are vague, inappropriate, and	30 pts
	for additional information needed	the critical path, though more details			deliverables, and milestones to		inaccurate.
	to make decisions about the project are relevant,	are needed to fill in gaps. Claims for additional information			appropriately detail the critical path. Minimal to no
	accurate, and specific to the	needed to make decisions about the			evidence is provided to support
	claims.	project are generally supported with evidence and			the claims for additional information.
Organization	30 pts Exemplary The critical path is complete, (i.e., all sections are present) well organized, concise,		re2a4spontss, with minor dSetaatiilssfmacistosirnyg. The critical path is complete. The diagram is appropriate and conveys meaning.	18 pts Minimally Responsive The critical path has a general structure. However, the organization and clarity are lacking, or some			0 pts Unacceptable The critical path is incomplete with major sections missing. The diagram is	30 pts
and Structure
of the Critical
Path
Illustrations,
Diagrams, or
Charts

Criteria	Ratings							Pts
	and clear. The diagram is appropriate and		Only important and necessary information is	sections are missing. Only important and necessary information			confusing and overwhelming.
	most effective at conveying meaning. Only important and		included, and is presented in an easy to follow and	is included, but is presented in ways that lack clarity.
	necessary information is		interpret way.	Reorganization of information may make
	included, and is presented in an interesting and			it easier to follow and interpret.
Writing	c1r0eapttisve way, that is easy to follow and Exemplary interpret. The writing is well organized and clear; there are minimal problems with spelling, punctuation, and grammar; dollar signs are used to denote monetary values and dates are formatted consistently throughout.	8 pts			6 pts	0 pts
Quality		Satisfactory			Minimally	Unacceptable
		There are few			Responsive	Frequent problems
		problems with			Numerous	with organization,
		organization, clarity			mechanical errors	clarity and/or
		or conventions that			are distracting; and	conventions make
		should have been			organization of	the paper hard to
		fixed. Minor errors			ideas are lacking,	read. This is little to		10 pts
		are found (i.e., dollar			but not enough to	no use of dollar
		signs or the data			interfere with	signs or the date
		format may not			meaning. The use	format, where
		always be			of dollar signs and	appropriate.
		consistently used).			date formats are
		These problems and			inconsistently used
		errors, however, are			throughout.
		not serious enough
			to distract the reader.				Total Points: 100