Networks and Decision Making Report Writing

Task Description: Students will prepare an individual project outline for the scenario  described below, showing earliest starting times and latest starting times  and the time to be taken for each activity. 

In your report, you should include: 

• A broad introduction of your investigation including a brief background of the problem  (What, why, how, etc.) 
• You should include all your planning notes with your final project analysis.  
• A clear description of the various activities that are required in each situation
• A discussion of any likely problem areas and critical and non-critical activities. 
• A conclusion with reference to your project analysis discussing the reasonableness and  limitations of your plan. 

Conditions: 

• Completed individually however you can seek help to clarify your ideas. 
• Your model should not match anyone else’s 
• Two lessons in class with work to be completed at home 
• Use of technology is encouraged. E.g. Word processing, Excel, Calculators, Internet, etc. 

You will be assessed on your ability to: 

• Determine and critically assess the problem and the various activities that need to be  completed and the time required for each activity. 
• Conduct any necessary research  
• Choose effective mathematical models and methods to demonstrate your conclusions • Organise your information  
• Comprehensively conclude your findings 
• Present a report that must include an introduction, evidence, working and a conclusion. Note: The complexity of your network and tasks has impact on your marks 

You will need to hand in a hard copy of your report, to your teacher, on or before the due date. You must include the original rough planning pages to show your thinking.

Investigation 

Design a project network for the following scenario. You can use your own ideas to develop the  scenario and define your own arrangements. You DO NOT have to find services but you can make  up imaginary ones. You DO NOT have to price anything. The key focus is on the times and timing (estimates) and the appropriate scheduling. 

1.  Show your preliminary working to show times and what prerequisites are needed  before each activity. 
2.  Draw a diagram displaying your planning network, clearly showing times and activities  that follow on from other activities. 
3.  Complete any discussion detailed in the task description. 

Scenario 

Fire has damaged the living or games room in your home. The room has been significantly  damaged and needs to undergo repairs.  

The following repairs need to be considered: 

• all flooring needs replacing,  
• the entire room (walls and ceilings) needs painting,  
• doors require replacing,  
• there is damage to at least one wall that requires repair before painting, 
• all furniture needs replacing.  
• All electrical wiring is intact, but all light switches and electrical sockets need replacing. 
• Any other things that may relate to the room in your home. 

To save costs, you are going to manage the project yourself, including organizing some of the  materials needed and the tradesmen to do the work. 

Create an activity table by making a list of the things or activities that you will need to consider, the time they will take and the prerequisites needed before other activities can take place. Then  draw the project network and determine the critical path and the minimum completion time.

Investigation 2: Networks and Decision Making – Marking Key 

Description 

Introduction

• Does not provide an introduction 
• Provides a brief introduction describing the investigation 
• Provides a broad introduction to the investigation wherein they describe the investigation and  their approach in detail 

Task 

Identifies and organises relevant information (Main consideration: The tables)

1. Limited identification and organisation of relevant information 
2. To some degree, identifies and organises relevant information 
3. Clearly identifies and organises relevant information 
4. Effectively identifies and organises information 

Chooses effective models and methods and carries the methods through correctly  (Main consideration: The networks)

1. Does not or incorrectly applies mathematical knowledge and understanding 
2. Limited use of appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding 
3. Makes some attempt to select appropriate numerical and graphical methods 
4. Simple use of appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding 
5. Selects appropriate numerical and graphical methods 
6. Uses appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding in a multifaceted problem Selects and appropriately uses numerical and graphical methods 
7. Effective use of mathematical knowledge and understanding in a complex problem Selects and appropriately uses numerical and graphical methods 

Follows mathematical conventions and attends to accuracy (Whole assignment)

1. Ineffective use of mathematical procedures 
2. Inaccurate and incomplete solutions 
3. Attempts to apply mathematical procedures 
4. Generates partly accurate and generally incomplete solutions 
5. Selects and applies simple mathematical procedures 
6. Generates some accurate and generally complete solutions 
7. Selects and applies mathematical procedures 
8. Completes mostly accurate solutions to mathematical problems 
9. Selects, extends and applies mathematical procedures 
10. Provides concise and accurate solutions 

Links mathematical results to data and contexts to reach reasonable conclusions (Main  consideration: The discussion)

1. Does not link results to reach conclusions 
2. Limited use of relevant information to reach conclusions 
3. Sometimes uses relevant information to obtain reasonable conclusions 
4. Demonstrates use of relevant information to come to mostly accurate conclusions 
5. Consistently uses relevant information to come to accurate conclusions 

Identifies and organises relevant information (Main consideration: The tables)

Limited identification and organisation of relevant information 

To some degree, identifies and organises relevant information 

Clearly identifies and organises relevant information 

Effectively identifies and organises information 

Chooses effective models and methods and carries the methods through correctly  (Main consideration: The networks)

Does not or incorrectly applies mathematical knowledge and understanding 

Limited use of appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding 

Makes some attempt to select appropriate numerical and graphical methods 

Simple use of appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding 

Selects appropriate numerical and graphical methods 

Uses appropriate mathematical knowledge and understanding in a multifaceted problem Selects and appropriately uses numerical and graphical methods 

Effective use of mathematical knowledge and understanding in a complex problem Selects and appropriately uses numerical and graphical methods 

Follows mathematical conventions and attends to accuracy (Whole assignment)

Ineffective use of mathematical procedures 

Inaccurate and incomplete solutions 

Attempts to apply mathematical procedures 

Generates partly accurate and generally incomplete solutions 

Selects and applies simple mathematical procedures 

Generates some accurate and generally complete solutions 

Selects and applies mathematical procedures 

Completes mostly accurate solutions to mathematical problems 

Selects, extends and applies mathematical procedures 

Provides concise and accurate solutions 

Links mathematical results to data and contexts to reach reasonable conclusions (Main  consideration: The discussion)

Does not link results to reach conclusions 

Limited use of relevant information to reach conclusions 

Sometimes uses relevant information to obtain reasonable conclusions 

Demonstrates use of relevant information to come to mostly accurate conclusions 

Consistently uses relevant information to come to accurate conclusions