Jennette, the senior administrative assistant, has just learned that she is in charge of the upcoming move of the research office at Sourthwest University. She has coordinated several such moves before and immediately begins organizing her thoughts. Determining what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and who needs to do it are critical to a successful move. From past moves, Jennette knows the first step is having the management team allocate the offices available to the different departments. She knows that each department manager fights for the best office space. Because of the politics, Jennette expects this activity to take three weeks. After the management team finalizes departmental allocations, each department manager allocates office space to individuals within the department. This is also quite political and typically takes two weeks. Individuals often take the office space allocations personally, and each manager needs time to smooth any ruffled feathers. The allocation decisions are returned to Jeannette so that she can develop an overall layout for the move. She normally does this in about four weeks .During the first week of this phrase, Jennette sends each individual a printout of the floor space they will have and requests that they determine how the furniture is to be arranged. Individuals inform her of any additional or replacement office furniture needs. They indicate where phone jacks and computer hookups should be. Each individual requests the packing supplies needed to pack up their office items. These requests are returned in three weeks. When Jeannette receives the individual requests, she consolidates the requests to form lists of packing supplies and furniture. She orders the supplies from the university- approved supplier, and the supplies arrive in two weeks. She chooses among three approved office furniture suppliers and selects and orders the office furniture, which is scheduled to arrive in six weeks. When the packing supplies arrive, Jeannette distributes them to each individual so that packing can be done. It normally takes a week to sort and distribute supplies. Individuals pack their office items and tag their office furniture that is to be moved. They are expected to complete their packing in two weeks. After ordering the furniture, Jeannette makes arrangements for the movers to move the items, the telecommunications office to move or install telephones, and computer services to provide Internet hookups. The movers require three weeks notice but move the items in a single day. The phone installers demand two weeks notice but complete the work in one day. The computer services technicians require four weeks notice and complete the hookups in one day. The final activity is moving day. All three of these groups the movers, the phone installers, and the computer technicians are there on the same date to minimize office disruption and minimize the time the office is unable to provide customer service. In .

1. Jennette, the senior administrative assistant, has just learned that she is in charge of the
upcoming move of the research office at Sourthwest University. She has coordinated several such
moves before and immediately begins organizing her thoughts. Determining what needs to be
done, when it needs to be done, and who needs to do it are critical to a successful move. From
past moves, Jennette knows the first step is having the management team allocate the offices
available to the different departments. She knows that each department manager fights for the
best office space. Because of the politics, Jennette expects this activity to take three weeks. After
the management team finalizes departmental allocations, each department manager allocates
office space to individuals within the department. This is also quite political and typically takes two
weeks. Individuals often take the office space allocations personally, and each manager needs
time to smooth any ruffled feathers. The allocation decisions are returned to Jeannette so that she
can develop an overall layout for the move. She normally does this in about four weeks .During the
first week of this phrase, Jennette sends each individual a printout of the floor space they will have
and requests that they determine how the furniture is to be arranged. Individuals inform her of any
additional or replacement office furniture needs. They indicate where phone jacks and computer
hookups should be. Each individual requests the packing supplies needed to pack up their office
items. These requests are returned in three weeks. When Jeannette receives the individual
requests, she consolidates the requests to form lists of packing supplies and furniture. She orders
the supplies from the university- approved supplier, and the supplies arrive in two weeks. She
chooses among three approved office furniture suppliers and selects and orders the office
furniture, which is scheduled to arrive in six weeks. When the packing supplies arrive, Jeannette
distributes them to each individual so that packing can be done. It normally takes a week to sort
and distribute supplies. Individuals pack their office items and tag their office furniture that is to be
moved. They are expected to complete their packing in two weeks. After ordering the furniture,
Jeannette makes arrangements for the movers to move the items, the telecommunications office
to move or install telephones, and computer services to provide Internet hookups. The movers
require three weeks notice but move the items in a single day. The phone installers demand two
weeks notice but complete the work in one day. The computer services technicians require four
weeks notice and complete the hookups in one day. The final activity is moving day. All three of
these groups the movers, the phone installers, and the computer technicians are there on the
same date to minimize office disruption and minimize the time the office is unable to provide
customer service. In past moves, Jeannette has had trouble making sure that everything flows
smoothly. She believes that there must be a method available to help her manage this office
move. (a) Why are office allocations so difficult? What factors must be considered when planning
an office layout? (b) Offer Jeannette a method for monitoring the office move. Explain why this
method or approach would be reasonable. (c) How long should it take from the day the decision is
made to move until the move is completed? Employees only work Monday through Friday. All of
Jeannettes activity time estimates assume a five- day work week. (d)What are the critical activities
for the timely completion of this office move? (e)What recommendations could you make to
Jeannette to make this easier in the future?