Instructions and Some Useful Information for Case Study Analysis

Read the Case Study associated with the specific unit carefully, then proceed as follows:

1. Prepare a response that is 750 words (+/- 75 words, excluding title page and reference page), double-spaced and follows APA format and referencing style.
2. While there is no “formula” for analyzing case studies, the following guidelines are recommended:

   Define the goals and objectives for your analysis. What questions are you trying to answer and what issues are you trying to resolve?
   Rapidly skim through the case study and get a sense for how the case study has been structured
   Read through the case study with paper and pencil and make notes as you go along

3. Structure the information in the case study: this is the key step.

   Whilst addressing the case questions, think of the information given in the case study as “raw data” that you have gathered to help you answer the questions and resolve the issues in Step 2a above.
   You need to structure this information to resolve the issues. Here are some useful dimensions along which you can structure the given information chronologically:

   evolution of the industry in which the enterprise operates (e.g., changes in technology, customer needs, competitive landscape)
   evolution of strategy – business, technology, and market – of the enterprise
   evolution of technology (including manufacturing), product platforms, and product lines of the enterprise
   the technology, product, and process development process within the enterprise
   growth (or decline) of the enterprise with respect to of market share, revenues, costs, profits, etc.
   organizational structure of the enterprise
   key decisions made at different stages in the life of enterprise, and the drivers for these decisions
   the interconnections and relationships between all the above factors

   Make extensive use of figures, tables, trees, etc. to shape your thinking during the structuring process.
   Perform any necessary analysis, for example, revenues or costs associated with different design options

4. Draw conclusions, answer questions, resolve issues, and make recommendations using the structured information in Step 3.

AppendixB – Case Study #4 – Blue Mountain Cabin

(Source: Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2017). Project management: The managerial process (7th

ed.). Columbus, OH: McGraw -Hill Irwin)

Jack and Jill Smith have just retired and want to build a small, basic cabin in the Blue

Mountains of Vermont. They have hired Daryl Hannah as the general contractor for the

project. She has assembled a team of three workers to complete the project: Tom, D ick, and

Harry. Daryl has negotiated a cost -plus contract with the Smiths whereby she will receive 15

percent beyond the cost of labor and materials. Before they sign the contract, the Smiths want

an estimate of how much the project is likely to cost and h ow long it will take. Darryl has

estimated that the cost for materials, permits, etc., will total $40,000. She wants to determine

labor costs as well as how long the project will take. This is one of several projects Daryl is

managing, and other than occas ionally helping out, her role is strictly limited to supervising.

She has devised the following master plan and assignments. Note that Dick is the only skilled

plumber in the group while Harry is the only skilled electrician. Tom is a general carpenter and

can assist them with their work. Dick and Harry each get paid $300 a day while Tom gets paid

$200 per day. Darryl has negotiated a 10 percent management reserve to deal with

unexpected problems. Unused funds will be returned to the Smiths.

Table 2 Estimates of Blue Mountain project

ID Task Predecessor Time (days) Assignment

A Prepare sits None 2 Tom, Dick, Harry

B Pour Foundation A 2 Tom, Dick, Harry

C Erect Frame B 4 Tom, Dick, Harry

D Roof C 3 Tom, Dick, Harry

E Window/Doors D 2 Tom, Dick

F Electric D 2 Harry, Tom

G Plumbing D 2 Dick, Tom

H Rough-in-frame E,F,G 2 Tom, Dick, Harry

I Clean up H 1 Tom, Dick, Harry

Case Questions

1. How can outsourcing project work alleviate the three most common problems associated with

multiple resource scheduling?

2. Explain the risk associated with leveling resources, compressing or crashing projects and impose

durations or “catch up” as the project is being implemented.

3. Prepare a short proposal for the Smiths that includes a Gantt chart with resources assigned, and

cost estimates if the project starts on 8/1/16.