Task Durations and Dependencies

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A project work must be broken down into discrete tasks that can then be estimated and allocated appropriate resources. Project tasks need to be identified and their scope of effort quantified. Project tasks must also be analyzed so that all task interdependencies can be identified. This activity results in a structure called the Work Breakdown Structure or WBS.

The following tables delineate the necessary tasks that must be performed for the example Microwave Oven System Project. The first table focuses on all tasks that occur prior to the testing phase and the second table focuses on all tasks that occur as part of the testing phase. These tables estimate the duration of each task using units of work days and assigns each task a unique task ID. These tables are the work breakdown structure for the Microwave Oven System Project.

Task	Description	Duration in Work Days	Dependent Upon

T1	Concept document	5 days	None
T2	Project Plan	15 days	T1
T3	Project Schedule	10 days	T1
T4	Requirements Analysis	8 days	T1
T5	Requirements Definition	15 days	T1
T6	System Specification	8 days	T1
T7	Requirements Validation	10 days	T4, T5, T6
T8	Architectural Design	5 days	T7
T9	Interface Design	10 days	T7
T10	Detailed Design	9 days	T7
T11	Coding	20 days	T8, T9, T10
T12	Unit Testing	5 days	T11
T13	Integration Testing	10 days	T11, T12
T14	System Testing	15 days	T13
T15	Acceptance Testing	10 days	T14
T16	User Manual	10 days	T8, T9, T10

Task	Description	Duration in Work Days	Dependent Upon
T1	Individual Component Testing	5 days	None
T2	Input Processing and Monitoring Testing	5 days	T1
T3	Clock Module Testing	1 day	T1
T4	Timer Module Testing	1 day	T1
T5	Auto Cook Preset Module Testing	1 day	T1
T6	Auto Defrost Module Testing	1 day	T1
T7	Cooking Control Module Testing	2 days	T1
T8	Oven Control Module Testing	1 day	T1
T9	Timer Display Module Testing	1 day	T1
T10	Power Display Module Testing	1 day	T1
T11	Beeper Module Testing	1 day	T1
T12	Command Processing Sub-system Testing	5 days	T2 – T11
T13	Oven Control Sub-system Testing	4 days	T2 – T11
T14	Output Processing Sub-system Testing	2 days	T2 – T11
T15	Microwave Oven System Testing	15 days	T12 – T14
T16	Acceptance Testing	10 days	T15

No part of this work should be produced or used without the permission of the authors: Michael Turner and Dr. Sharon A White.