In this exercise, you will create a PND for a fictional company named Donaldson Investments and Holdings. You will be given the core information on the project and then create the diagram based on the information supplied. This is based on the WBS you examined in Chapter 5.
As you have learned, the creation of a Project Network Diagram can be a long and tedious process. If during this exercise you need some prompts to create the PND, you can refer to the Network Diagram Worksheet file on the CD-ROM. The worksheet has key tasks completed to help you develop the PND. To access the Network Diagram Worksheet, follow these steps:
Insert the IT Project Management CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
Navigate to the Exercises and then the Chapter 7 folder.
Open the document named Network Diagram Worksheet.
Print the document.
The worksheet has key assignments completed to coach you through the creation of the diagram. If you would prefer not to use the worksheet to receive any coaching, you can create your own network diagram.
Scenario: Jennifer is the project manager for Donaldson Investment and Holdings. The project is an implementation of a new mail server and the mail clients on all of the workstations. Here is a WBS of the tasks to date. To organize your PND, begin by mapping out the network diagram by identifying the sequence of tasks and the relationship between tasks.
Task Name |
---|
Install Windows 2003 Server |
Install Exchange Server |
Configure Exchange Server |
Link to other servers |
Create test user accounts in Active Directory |
Set mailbox rules |
Create client installation packages |
Create Windows 2003 policies |
Test policies |
Develop installation procedures |
Test installation procedures |
Create CD image for remote access users |
Test CD image |
Host pilot users class |
Create class workbook for training |
Host pilot users training class (groups of ten) |
Send image to pilot users |
Hold pilot users forum to discuss usage |
Analyze pilot user feedback |
Finalize and test install image |
Hold user training classes |
Roll out based on attendance |
Now that you have completed the PND for this project on paper, you will now enter the project tasks into your Project Management Information System (PMIS). This exercise uses Microsoft Project as an example, but you can also enter the tasks into your favorite PMIS.
Open Microsoft Project and click the Network Diagram icon.
To begin generating your network diagram, click and drag your mouse to create a new task in the network diagram. Enter the name of the first task, Install Windows 2003 Server , and press TAB to move you through the various fields of the task you ve entered. When you reach the duration field, indicate the task lasts two days by typing 2d . Press ENTER.
Draw another task in the network diagram, label it Create class workbook for training , and specify the duration as 3w .
Add the task Install Exchange Server and specify the duration as 3d .
Add the task Create Test User Accounts in Active Directory and specify the duration as 1d .
Now before adding the remainder of the tasks, you will create a link from the predecessor task Install Windows 2003 Server and the secondary tasks. Click the task Install Windows 2003 Server and drag to the task Install Exchange Server before releasing your mouse.
An arrow is created between the tasks to represent the relationship. Repeat the process to link from Install Windows 2003 Server to Create test user accounts in Active Directory. Note that the two tasks can be completed in unison after the installation of the Windows 2003 Servers.
Complete the network diagram based on the following information and your network diagram from Exercise 1. (If you have not completed Exercise 1 you can use the solution file named Completed Exercise One on the CD-ROM.)
Task Name | Duration |
---|---|
Configure Exchange Server | 1d |
Link to other servers | 1d |
Set mailbox rules | 1d |
Create client installation packages | 2d |
Create Windows 2003 policies | 2d |
Test policies | 2d |
Develop installation procedures | 2d |
Test installation procedures | 2d |
Create CD image for remote access users | 1d |
Test CD image | 2d |
Host pilot users training class (groups of ten) | 3w |
Send image to pilot users | 1w |
10 day lag | 10d |
Hold pilot users forum to discuss usage | 1d |
Analyze pilot user feedback | 2d |
Finalize and test install image | 3d |
Hold user training classes | 12w |
Management reserve | 12d |
Image to users | 12w |
In this exercise, you will change the relationships between tasks to reflect the dependency types using a Microsoft Project file named Exercise Three on the CD-ROM. If you have Microsoft Project installed, you can complete this exercise. Follow these directions to complete the exercise:
Open the file named Exercise Three in the CH7 folder on the CD-ROM.
The file reveals a network diagram for the Exchange upgrade project. On the task labeled Installing Windows 2003 Server, change the date to one month from today s date. Notice how the dates change throughout the entire project as a result.
Double-click the line between the task Installing Windows 2003 Server and the task Create class workbook for training. The Task Dependency dialog box opens.
Change the dependency type to SS to reflect that these tasks may both occur at once. Choose OK when finished. Notice how the dates of the tasks are updated throughout the project to reflect this change.
Double-click the link between the tasks Host pilot users class and Send image to pilot users. The plan is to send the application image to the pilot users as they take the class. These tasks can have an SS relationship to signify they can happen in unison. Change the relation to SS and click OK.
On the View bar, click the icon that represents the Gantt chart. As Microsoft Project is integrated through all of the views, the Gantt chart has been built in tandem with the network diagram chart.
Close the file. You do not have to save your changes.