Project Management Analysis in the Internet Forecasting Industry

B&W Systems designs and distributes a variety of management software products through the Internet and retail outlets such as Best Buy. The company is considering the development of an Internet-based forecasting system designed specifically for new start-up and small business owners. The company’s primary concern with the product is timing and the possibility of new market entrants. The director of operations has been tasked with reviewing the timely implementation of the new product, including estimated completion times and costs, and presenting his findings to the board.

This case can be used in a core decision sciences or operations management graduate-level course. It focuses on the use of project management, including project crashing. The first step is to use project management to determine the estimated completion time for the project, and the probability of completing the project to meet a deadline. The second step is to apply project crashing by using linear programming to determine a crashing cost function and do project crash analysis. This case is designed primarily as an out-of-class exercise with a write-up analysis and results being submitted via an email attachment. The time to complete the project is estimated at two to four hours.<br><br>The primary objectives of this teaching case are:<ul/><li>To introduce students to the rationale and mechanics behind project management.</li><li>To understand the basic steps of project management.</li><li>To use the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT).</li><li>To apply the concept of project crashing by using linear programming.</li></ul>

• Information Systems
• Project Management
• Critical Path
• Linear Programming
• Forecasting