Project Crashing in Project Management

This document discusses project crashing in project management, including its definition, techniques, and impact on project duration and cost. It explains how to identify the critical path and crash activities to meet project deadlines. The document also provides a case study of a project and shows the results of crashing activities.

Running Head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University

1PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Crashing is defined as the process by which the duration of the project is reduced
with some additional costs involved. The most common technique used for project crashing is by
increasing the resource usage in a particular task (Agnetis et al., 2015). With the increase in
resource usage, the total cost usage of that particular resource also increases but the duration of
the task, where the resource usage is increased, decreases. If the increase in resource usage is not
possible but crashing is essential, additional resources are added to the activity such that the
overall duration of the activity is reduced (Harrison & Lock, 2017). However, due to the addition
of resources, the cost of the project also increases.
In this regard, it is to be noted that crashing any activity in the project does not ensure
reduction of duration of the entire project. If the entire project needs to be crashed, only the
activities lying on the critical path of the project need to be crashed (Feylizadeh et al., 2018).
Hence, it is required to identify the critical path first before attempting to crash the project.
For the chosen project, crashing is performed in order to meet the client requirements of
completing the project within January 2020 and the crashed results are shown in the following
table.
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish Resource Names Cost
0 Project 240 days Fri 3/1/19 Thu 1/30/20 $285,003.14
1 Project Start 0 days Fri 3/1/19 Fri 3/1/19 $0.00
2 Pre-construction 75 days Fri 3/1/19 Thu 6/13/19 $89,730.00
2.1 Aquire building permits 21 days Fri 3/1/19 Fri 3/29/19 Project Manager $16,800.00
2.2 Select contractors 2 wks Mon 4/1/19 Fri 4/12/19 Project Manager $8,000.00
2.3 Purchase materials 2 wks Mon 4/15/19 Fri 4/26/19
Project Manager,
Bricks[1], Cement [1],
Doors[1], Flooring[1],
Paint[1], Sand[1],
Tiles[1], Windows[1],
Wood[1]
$41,930.00

2PROJECT MANAGEMENT
2.4 Survey land area 1 wk Mon 4/29/19 Fri 5/3/19 Surveyor $3,200.00
2.5 Clear land 2 wks Mon 5/6/19 Fri 5/17/19 Sitework Contractor $7,280.00
2.6 Level Land 2 wks Mon 5/20/19 Fri 5/31/19 Sitework Contractor $7,280.00
2.7 Measure foundation area 2 days Mon 6/3/19 Tue 6/4/19 Builder $800.00
2.8 Mark area 2 days Wed 6/5/19 Thu 6/6/19 Builder $800.00
2.9 Mark utilities 1 wk Fri 6/7/19 Thu 6/13/19 Sitework Contractor $3,640.00
2.10 Pre-construction Completed 0 days Thu 6/13/19 Thu 6/13/19 $0.00
3 Foundation 39 days Fri 6/14/19 Wed 8/7/19 $22,232.00
3.1 Excavate area 3 wks Fri 6/14/19 Thu 7/4/19 Sitework Contractor $10,920.00
3.2 Install Footings 1 wk Fri 7/5/19 Thu 7/11/19 Builder $2,000.00
3.3 Install Rebar 1 day Fri 7/12/19 Fri 7/12/19 Builder $400.00
3.4 Subrough plumbing 2 days Mon 7/15/19 Tue 7/16/19 Plumber $1,120.00
3.5 Install water and sewer
laterals 2 days Wed 7/17/19 Thu 7/18/19 Plumber $1,120.00
3.6 Backfill 1 day Fri 7/19/19 Fri 7/19/19 Builder $400.00
3.7 Fill sub-slab gravel 2 days Mon 7/22/19 Tue 7/23/19 Builder $800.00
3.8 compact gravel 2 days Wed 7/24/19 Thu 7/25/19 Builder $800.00
3.9 Install steel reinforcement 2 days Fri 7/26/19 Mon 7/29/19 Builder $800.00
3.10 Pour slab 1 wk Tue 7/30/19 Mon 8/5/19 Builder $2,000.00
3.11 Level slab 1 day Tue 8/6/19 Tue 8/6/19 Builder $400.00
3.12 Inspect 1 day Wed 8/7/19 Wed 8/7/19 Project Manager,
Inspector $1,472.00
3.13 Foundation Completed 0 days Wed 8/7/19 Wed 8/7/19 $0.00
4 Walls 34.25 days Thu 8/8/19 Wed 9/25/19 $76,552.00
4.1 Install brick walls 1.75 wks Thu 8/8/19 Tue 8/20/19 Builder[800%] $56,000.00
4.2 Install door frames 1 wk Tue 8/20/19 Tue 8/27/19 Builder $2,000.00
4.3 Install window frames 1 wk Tue 8/27/19 Tue 9/3/19 Builder $2,000.00
4.4 Install interior stucco 7 days Tue 9/3/19 Thu 9/12/19 Builder $2,800.00
4.5 Paint interior walls 2 wks Tue 9/10/19 Tue 9/24/19 Painter $4,800.00
4.6 Paint door/window frames 5 days Tue 9/3/19 Tue 9/10/19 Painter $2,400.00
4.7 Paint Exterior doors 1 day Tue 9/10/19 Wed 9/11/19 Painter $480.00
4.8 Install exterior doors 2.5 days Wed 9/11/19 Mon 9/16/19 Builder, Carpenter $2,200.00

3PROJECT MANAGEMENT
4.9 Install external door locks 1 day Mon 9/16/19 Tue 9/17/19 Builder $400.00
4.10 Install external windows 5 days Tue 9/17/19 Tue 9/24/19 Builder $2,000.00
4.11 Inspect 1 day Tue 9/24/19 Wed 9/25/19 Inspector, Project
Manager $1,472.00
4.12 Walls Completed 0 days Wed 9/25/19 Wed 9/25/19 $0.00
5 Driveway 7 days Wed 9/25/19 Fri 10/4/19 $4,440.00
5.1 Excavate area 1 wk Wed 9/25/19 Wed 10/2/19 Sitework Contractor $3,640.00
5.2 Lay Brickwork 2 days Wed 10/2/19 Fri 10/4/19 Builder $800.00
5.3 Driveway Completed 0 days Fri 10/4/19 Fri 10/4/19 $0.00
6 Roof 43 days Fri 10/4/19 Wed 12/4/19 $53,272.00
6.1 Install frame 0.5 wks Fri 10/4/19 Tue 10/8/19 Builder[800%] $16,000.00
6.2 Install tile roofing 0.5 wks Tue 10/8/19 Tue 11/5/19 Builder[800%], Tiles[1] $25,000.00
6.3 Install gutters/drainpipes 1 wk Tue 11/5/19 Tue 11/12/19 Builder $2,000.00
6.4 Inspect 1 day Tue 11/12/19 Wed 11/13/19 Project Manager,
Inspector $1,472.00
6.5 Install ceiling 1 wk Wed 11/13/19 Wed 11/20/19 Builder $2,000.00
6.6 Install ceiling insulation 5 days Wed 11/20/19 Wed 11/27/19 Builder $2,000.00
6.7 Paint ceiling 0.25 wks Tue 12/3/19 Wed 12/4/19 Painter[800%] $4,800.00
6.8 Roof Completed 0 days Wed 12/4/19 Wed 12/4/19 $0.00
7 Interior 116.71 days Tue 8/20/19 Thu 1/30/20 $25,657.14
7.1 Install tiling 1 wk Wed 12/4/19 Wed 12/11/19 Builder $2,000.00
7.2 Meeting regarding tile
shortage 1 day Wed 12/11/19 Thu 12/12/19
Project Manager[50%],
Builder[50%], Sitework
Contractor[50%],
Inspector[50%]
$1,300.00
7.3 Delivery of new tiles 1 day Thu 12/12/19 Fri 12/13/19 $0.00
7.4 Removal of original tiles
(95% sold @ cost) 1 day Fri 12/13/19 Mon 12/16/19 Builder[200%] $800.00
7.5 Install carpet 0.14 wks Tue 1/28/20 Tue 1/28/20 Builder[600%],
Carpenter[800%] $2,057.14
7.6 Instal benches 0.13 wks Tue 1/28/20 Tue 1/28/20 Carpenter[800%] $2,400.00
7.7 Install cupboards 0.13 wks Tue 1/28/20 Wed 1/29/20 Carpenter[800%] $2,400.00
7.8 Install sinks/toilets 3 days Wed 12/11/19 Mon 12/16/19 Plumber $1,680.00

4PROJECT MANAGEMENT
7.9 Install powerpoints 1 day Tue 8/20/19 Wed 8/21/19 Electrician $600.00
7.10 Install light fixtures 1 day Wed 11/20/19 Thu 11/21/19 Electrician $600.00
7.11 Finish Gas 2 days Tue 8/20/19 Thu 8/22/19 Plumber $1,120.00
7.12 Finish Plumbing 2 days Mon 12/16/19 Wed 12/18/19 Plumber $1,120.00
7.13 Install air conditioning unit 2 days Thu 8/22/19 Mon 8/26/19 Plumber $1,120.00
7.14 Paint indoor doors 2 days Tue 9/24/19 Thu 9/26/19 Painter $960.00
7.15 Install interior doors 0.5 days Tue 1/28/20 Wed 1/29/20 Builder[400%] $800.00
7.16 Install accessories 0.13 wks Wed 1/29/20 Wed 1/29/20 Builder[800%],
Carpenter[800%] $2,300.00
7.17 Clean house 0.13 wks Wed 1/29/20 Thu 1/30/20 Builder[800%],
Carpenter[800%] $4,400.00
7.18 Interior Completed 0 days Thu 1/30/20 Thu 1/30/20 $0.00
8 Exterior 25 days Wed 11/13/19 Wed 12/18/19 $13,120.00
8.1 Install irrigation 1 wk Wed 11/13/19 Wed 11/20/19 Landscaper $1,680.00
8.2 Landscaping 2 wks Wed 11/20/19 Wed 12/4/19 Landscaper $3,360.00
8.3 Grass layout 2 wks Wed 12/4/19 Wed 12/18/19 Landscaper $3,360.00
8.4 Install Gas lateral 2 days Wed 11/13/19 Fri 11/15/19 Plumber $1,120.00
8.5 Install electrical lateral 2 days Thu 11/21/19 Mon 11/25/19 Electrician $1,200.00
8.6 Install solar panels 4 days Mon 11/25/19 Fri 11/29/19 Electrician $2,400.00
8.7 Exterior Completed 0 days Fri 11/29/19 Fri 11/29/19 $0.00
9 Project Finish 0 days Thu 1/30/20 Thu 1/30/20 $0.00
In the above table, it is seen that due to the crashing of the project, the duration of the
project is reduced such that the project can be completed within end of January 2020 (Xu, Zhao
& Chen, 2016). However, at the same time, the cost of the project also increases by almost
$50,000 and the usage of resources have also been increases on some of the tasks that lie on the
critical path of the project.
Based on the crashing data, the crash slopes are shown in the following figures.

5PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Before Crash After Crash
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
260
265
Duration
Duration
Before Crash After Crash
200000
210000
220000
230000
240000
250000
260000
270000
280000
290000
300000
Cost
Cost
Figure 1 and 2: Duration and Cost Slopes for the Crashing
(Source: Created by Author)

6PROJECT MANAGEMENT
References
Agnetis, A., Briand, C., Billaut, J. C., & ŠůCha, P. (2015). Nash equilibria for the multi-agent
project scheduling problem with controllable processing times. Journal of
Scheduling, 18(1), 15-27.
Feylizadeh, M. R., Mahmoudi, A., Bagherpour, M., & Li, D. F. (2018). Project crashing using a
fuzzy multi-objective model considering time, cost, quality and risk under fast tracking
technique: A case study. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, (Preprint), 1-19.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Xu, X., Zhao, Y., & Chen, C. Y. (2016). Project-driven supply chains: integrating safety-stock
and crashing decisions for recurrent projects. Annals of Operations Research, 241(1-2),
225-247.