EXERCISE MODULE 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

EXERCISE MODULE 8 - Essay Example The company may need to finish the project according to a predefined deadline, it may be done to improve project cash flow, it may be a way of avoiding liquidation damages, it may be a way of recovering early days, it may also be a way of avoiding oncoming danger, for example adverse weather conditions that might affect the project’s progress, and it may also be a way of releasing key resources for an oncoming project (Kohli, 2007). It is also important to recognize that as projects continue, there are several indirect costs incurred that can be eliminated by shortening the duration time. These costs include; cost of equipment, interest on investment, machinery, facilities, personnel, labour, and the cost of time lost when some employees do not come regularly to work (Roy, 2005). Project duration can be reduced depending on the type of work being carried out, and the availability of resources. Projects involving installation or development of new software for a company’ s systems for example, may require a specific skill. This can only be obtained from specific persons. Reducing project duration considering this case will require additional labour time for the specialist. He or she will then be required to work overtime. This however, needs additional resources, for the specialist has to be paid for extra time worked. Project duration time can be reduced by: application of multiple-shifts work, offering incentive payments to increase the productivity, using additional resources when necessary, working extended hours, working on holidays and weekends, and using alternative methods and sequences among others (Roy, 2005). Reducing the time taken to complete a project involves reducing the activities’ duration, or adjusting overlaps between activities. This however, has an effect on the original plan in terms of the cost. Whenever activity duration is reduced, the cost increases. This is because, with reduced time for the activity, it means that additional resources were used to ensure a lot of work is done within a short period. Take an example of construction of a building. For a normal duration, there are seven workers employed to do specific duties. It is expected that their work will be completed in a month. Since the project duration has been reduced to two weeks, the company will have to employ additional workers with the same skills to speed up the work. The workers will have to be paid, therefore, additional resources. The tools and equipment used will also have to be added. A similar understanding can be obtained from overtime work. This requires additional wages, as well as costs used to correct quality problems (Kohli, 2007; Roy, 2005). This shows that there is a relationship between the direct cost, and time of completing an activity. The cheaper the resources, the longer the time they take to complete an activity. If the duration is shortened, there is an increase in direct costs. Direct costs are such as; th e cost of equipment, labour, and materials. This should however, not lead to an assumption that there is an automatic inverse relationship between the project duration and the quantity of resources deployed. This is because, not all activities are similar. There are those that can be done in a short time by deployment of more resources, and there are those that deployment of more resources does not reduce the time needed. For example, it should not be