Proper Sequencing and Duration of Project Activities

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The MOST beneficial tool for a project manager to establish the sequencing and duration of project activities is the network diagram (answer A).

A network diagram, also known as a project schedule network diagram, is a visual representation of project activities that shows the sequence and dependencies of each activity. It allows the project manager to identify the critical path, which is the sequence of activities that will take the longest time to complete, and therefore the path that must be managed most carefully to keep the project on track.

The network diagram helps the project manager to identify the earliest start and finish times for each activity, as well as the latest start and finish times, which are important for calculating slack or float time. Slack time is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the overall project timeline.

Ishikawa diagrams (answer B) are used to identify the root causes of problems or defects in a process or system. They are not relevant for sequencing and duration of project activities.

A work breakdown structure (WBS) (answer C) is a hierarchical decomposition of the project into smaller, more manageable components. It is useful for organizing and planning project activities, but it does not show the sequence or duration of activities.

A Gantt chart (answer D) is a timeline chart that shows the start and end dates of project activities. It is useful for visualizing the overall timeline of the project, but it does not show the dependencies or sequencing of activities. Therefore, it may not be as beneficial as a network diagram for establishing the proper sequencing and duration of project activities.