Chapter 6
A Risk Response Matrix contains all of the following EXCEPT
When the risk will occur.
Which of the following is a good condition for bottom-up estimating
When there is a fixed price contract.
B. One or more activities. Work packages from the work breakdown structure (WBS) are used to build the activities found in the project network. An activity can include one or more work packages. The activities are placed in a sequence that provides for orderly completion of the project.
When translated into a project network, a work package will become A. A single activity. B. One or more activities. C. A milestone. D. A critical path. E. An arrow.
B. Free slack Free slack is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying any succeeding activity. It only occurs at the end of a chain of activities where you have a merge activity and requires no coordination with managers of succeeding activities unless all the available free slack is used.
Which of the following can be used without coordinating with managers of succeeding activities? A. Total slack B. Free slack C. Critical float D. Float pad E. Slip pad
B. ES + DUR
Which of the following correctly calculates the early finish for an activity? A. LS + DUR B. ES + DUR C. LF + DUR D. ES + SL E. LF + SL
C. LF - DUR
Which of the following correctly calculates the late start for an activity? A. EF - DUR B. ES - DUR C. LF - DUR D. ES - SL E. LF - SL
D. Highlights major deliverables and identifies their completion dates The work breakdown structure (WBS) will highlight major deliverables. Since major deliverables are a summary of the tasks below them, they do not directly consume time or resources; therefore, they are not included in the network.
Which of the following does NOT help describe a project network? A. A graphic display of the flow and sequence of work through the project B. Provides the basis for scheduling labor and equipment C. Gives the times when activities can start and finish and when they can be delayed D. Highlights major deliverables and identifies their completion dates E. Identifies critical activities
An activity has a duration of 10 days. Its early start is 4 and its late start is 6. This activity has ____ days of total slack
2.
looping Looping is not allowed (in other words, recycling through a set of activities cannot take place).
44. In a project network, ________ (recycling through a set of activities) is not permitted.
arrows
45. In a project network, ________ indicate precedence and flow.
AON or activity-on-node
46. The ________ method for creating project networks is sometimes called the Precedence Diagram Method.
predecessor
47. Activities that must occur immediately before a given activity are called ________ activities.
successor
48. Activities that must immediately follow a given activity are called ________ activities.
parallel or concurrent
49. Activities that can occur while an activity is taking place are called ________ activities.
forward pass
50. The ________ calculates the earliest times that activities can be started or finished.
backward pass
51. The ________ calculates the critical path and determines how long an activity can be delayed without delaying the project.
total slack
52. An activity is on the critical path if its ________ is the lowest in the network.
Free slack
53. ________ can never be negative and applies only to the last activity in a single chain of activities.
lag
54. A(n) ________ is the minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end.
laddering
55. In the ________ technique, an activity with a long duration is broken into smaller segments so that the following activities can begin sooner.
Free Slack (Float)
56. ____________ is defined as the difference between the EF of an activity and the ES of the activity that follows it.
Sensitivity
57. ___________ reflects the likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated.
combination
58. A ____________ lag exists if debug cannot begin until two days after coding has started and that coding must be completed four days before debug can be completed.
finish to start
59. The _________ lag is the most typical type of lag that is encountered in developing networks.
hammock
60. A __________ activity is frequently used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of the project.
FALSE
61. An activity includes only one work package.
TRUE
62. Project networks are built using nodes and arrows.
FALSE
63. The WBS identifies dependencies, the sequencing of activities, and the timing of activities.
FALSE
64. The critical path is the shortest path through a network and indicates activities that cannot be delayed without delaying the project.
TRUE
65. An activity is an element of the project that always requires time but may or may not require resources.
TRUE
66. The two approaches used to develop project networks are AOA and AON.
FALSE
67. In an AOA network an activity is represented by a box. Refer to Appendix 6.1
TRUE
68. In developing a project network, each activity should have a unique identification number that is smaller than the identification numbers of activities that follow it.
TRUE
69. In developing a project network, neither looping statements nor conditional statements are permitted.
FALSE
70. Experience suggests that when there are multiple starts, a common start node should not be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Similarly, a single project end node can be used to indicate a clear ending.
TRUE
71. Burst activities have more than one activity immediately following it (more than one dependency arrow flowing from it).
TRUE Arrows on networks indicate precedence and flow. Arrows can cross over each other
72. It is acceptable for arrows to cross one another in a network diagram.
FALSE
73. The forward pass through a project network determines the critical path.
TRUE
74. The backward pass though a project network determines how long an activity can be delayed without impacting the completion date of the project.
TRUE
75. Different activities along the same path can have different total slack.
FALSE
76. By definition, the critical path always has zero slack.
TRUE
77. It is possible to have more than one critical path at the same time.
FALSE
78. Free slack applies to an entire project network.
TRUE
79. Gantt charts are popular because they represent an easy-to-understand, clear picture on a time-scaled horizon. Refer to Figure 6.12
FALSE
80. Lags are used to break larger activities into smaller segments so that activities that follow can be started earlier.
TRUE
81. Only activities that occur at the end of a chain of activities can have free slack.
TRUE
82. Lags can be use to constrain the start and finish of an activity.
1. different people are used to define work packages and the network, and 2. the WBS is poorly constructed and not deliverable/output oriented.
83. Identify and discuss the two major reasons for the integration of work packages into the project network failing in actual practice.
1. activity-on-node; where nodes depict activities and the arrows show flow and dependencies and 2. activity-on-arrow; where nodes represent events and achievement of the activities is represented by the arrow connecting the nodes.
84. What are the two approaches used to develop project networks and identify the differences between them?
1. flow left to right, 2. activities cannot begin until all predecessors have been completed, 3. arrows indicate precedence and flow, 4. each activity should have a unique identification number, 5. activity ID numbers must be larger than preceding ID number, 6. looping is not permitted, 7. conditional statements are not permitted, and 8. create a common start node for multiple start activities.
85. What are the eight rules to follow in developing project networks?
Starting with the first activity, each path is traced forward through the network, adding times until the end of the project. This determines 1. how soon each activity can start, 2. how soon each activity can finish, and 3. how soon the entire project can be completed.
86. In the network computation process what is a forward pass and what three things does it determine?
Starting with the last activity, each path is traced backward through the network, subtracting times until the beginning of the project. This determines 1. how late each activity can start, 2. how late each activity can finish, 3. the critical path, and 4. how long can each activity be delayed without changing the completion date.
87. In the network computation process what is a backward pass and what four things does it determine?
Slack is the amount of time specific activities can be delayed without causing the project to miss its completion date. It is calculated by subtracting the Early Start date from the Late Start date (SL = LS-ES) or subtracting the Early Finish date from the Late Finish date (SL = LF-EF).
88. What is total slack and how do you determine it?
Gantt charts are bar charts where activities are displayed as bars on a horizontal time-scale. They are easy-to-read and provide a clear overview of the project schedule and progress against that schedule.
89. What is a Gantt chart and what advantages does it have over project networks?
In laddering, lengthy activities are segmented into small pieces so that successor activities can begin prior to the completion of the initial activity. This effectively reduces the overall project time. The text used a laying pipeline example to illustrate.
90. What is the laddering approach to project networks and why would you use this approach?
A lag is the minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end. They occur during laddering and avoid delays and they are also used to constraint the start and finish of an activity.
91. What is a lag and why would you need to use one?
A hammock activity identifies the use of a resource over a segment of the project. Thus its duration is determined by the duration of other activities. The example used in the text was for a color copier during specific phases of a project.
92. What is a hammock activity and give an example?
Gantt chart
A graphic presentation of project activities depicted as a time-scaled bar line.
Which of the following represents an activity on an AOA project network? A. An arrow B. A line C. A node D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
A line
*Which of the following represents an activity on an activity-on-node (AON) project network
A node
Which of the following represents an activity on an AON project network? A. An arrow B. A line C. A node D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
A node
*A key distinction between a risk response and a contingency plan is
A risk response is part of the actual implementation plan and action is taken before the risk can materialize, while a contingency plan goes into effect only after the risk has transpired.
D. Path.
A sequence of connected, dependent activities is termed a(n) A. Path of events. B. Parallel path. C. Activity chain. D. Path. E. Dependent chain.
Hammock activity
A special-purpose, aggregate activity that identifies the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of the project—e.g., a consultant. Derives its duration from the time span between other activities.
C. Burst
A(n) _________ activity has more than one dependency arrow flowing from it. A. Parallel B. Critical path C. Burst D. Merge E. Independent
The forward pass in project network calculations determines the A. Earliest time's activities can begin B. Earliest time's activities can be finished C. Duration of the project D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
A, B, and C are all correct
Which of the following is provided by a project network but not by the work breakdown structure? A. Dependencies B. Sequencing C. Timing D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
A, B, and C are all correct
A. Parallel activity.
Activities which can take place at the same time are termed A. Parallel activity. B. Critical path. C. Burst activity. D. Merge activity. E. Independent activity.
Part of a project is to Develop Product Specifications. This is best classified as a(n) A. Event B. Path C. Activity D. Node E. Milestone
Activity
Which of the following is provided by both the project network and the work breakdown structure
Activity duration.
Activity-on-arrow (AOA)
Activity-on-arrow method for drawing project networks. The activity is shown as an arrow.
Activity-on-node (AON)
Activity-on-node method for drawing project networks. The activity is on the node (rectangle).
Typical kinds of costs found in a project include all of the following EXCEPT
All of these are examples of costs found in a project.
Change management systems are designed to accomplish all of the following EXCEPT
All of these are examples of what change management systems are designed to accomplish.
*Which of the following is NOT included in a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
All of these are included.
Which of the following groups should NOT be a part of the risk identification process?
All of these groups can be included in the risk identification process.
These are all guidelines a project manager should consider when assigning project work EXCEPT
Always assign the best people to the most difficult tasks.
Burst activity
An activity that has more than one activity immediately following it.
Merge activity
An activity that has more than one activity immediately preceding it.
D. Merge activity.
An activity that has more than one dependency arrow flowing into it is termed a(n) A. Parallel activity. B. Critical path. C. Burst activity. D. Merge activity. E. Independent activity.
Nodes on an AOA project network represent: A. An activity B. An event C. Responsibility D. Both B and C are correct E. Both A and B are correct
An event
*Rose is working on estimates for a project that is very similar to a previous project, in that it has many of the same features and those features have similar costs. Each feature or deliverable will represent the same percentage of the total cost as it did for the previous project. Rose is using the ____ method of top-down estimating
Apportion.
Which of the following top-down methods is used when projects closely follow past projects in regard to features and costs of those features, and result in costs being assigned by percentages to major segments of the project
Apportion.
D. Project flow and dependency. The node depicts an activity, and the arrow shows dependency and project flow.
Arrows on an activity-on-node (AON) project network represent A. An activity. B. Project flow. C. Dependency. D. Project flow and dependency. E. An activity and dependency.
In a project network, ____ indicate activity dependency and project flow
Arrows.
After your team has successfully identified potential risks that could affect the project, what is the next step
Assess identified risks.
Tools such as a risk assessment form and a risk severity matrix are used to
Assess risks.
*Adopting proven technology instead of experimental technology in order to eliminate technical failure would be an example of which risk response
Avoiding.
*Refining estimates may be necessary for a number of reasons. For example, a manager getting further into a project and obtaining a better understanding of what needs to be done to accomplish a project and meet the needs of the customer is an example of
Changes in project scope.
If, for some reason, the project must be expedited to meet an earlier date, which of the following actions would the project manager take first? A. Check to see which activities cost the least B. Check to see which activities have the longest duration C. Check to see which activities are on the critical path D. Check to see which activities have the most slack E. Check to see which activities have the highest risk
Check to see which activities are on the critical path
If, for some reason, the project must be expedited to meet an earlier date, which of the following actions would the project manager take first
Check to see which activities are on the critical path.
Which company utilized concurrent engineering to design a new line of cars and in the process completed its development six months ahead of schedule? A. General Motors B. Chrysler C. Ford D. Nissan E. Toyota
Chrysler
A. Start to Start lags Concurrent engineering basically breaks activities into smaller segments so that work can be done in parallel and the project expedited. Start-to-start relationships can depict the concurrent engineering conditions and reduce network detail.
Concurrent engineering, which has dramatically reduced the development time for new products, relies on what kind of lag? A. Start to Start lags B. Start to Finish lags C. Finish to Finish lags D. Finish to Start lags E. Any of these could be correct
Which of the following is not one of the basic rules to follow when developing project networks? A. An activity cannot begin until all preceding activities have been completed B. Each activity must have a unique identification number C. Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed D. An activity identification number must be larger that that of any preceding activities E. Networks flow from left to right
Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed
*Which of the following is NOT one of the basic rules to follow when developing project networks
Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed.
The top-down method of estimating when the pooled experience of senior and/or middle managers are used to estimate the total project duration and cost is the ____ method
Consensus.
*Companies are using which of the following for improving the estimating process for future projects
Creating historical databases of previous projects.
*An activity that has more than one dependency arrow flowing into it is termed a(n)
Critical path.
Concurrent engineering
Crossfunctional teamwork in new-product development projects that provides product design, quality engineering, and manufacturing process engineering all at the same time.
What is the relationship between organizational culture and estimating
Cultural norms affect the accuracy of estimates.
*If a project has more than one activity that can begin when the project is to start, a common start node should be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Without a common start node, each path is a
Dangler path.
*Which of the following is NOT one of the more common problems associated with scheduling multiproject resources
Decline in project quality.
*All resource leveling techniques involve
Delaying noncritical activities.
*Based on the following, which event should you be most concerned about
Design flaw.
Which of the following is NOT true in regard to the level of detail estimates should contain
Detailed estimates are crucial to project success; therefore, an effort should be made to make estimates as detailed as possible for all projects.
____ is a measure of how easy it would be to notice that a risk event was going to occur in time to take mitigating action, that is, how much warning you would have
Detection difficulty.
*The salary of the project manager would be an example of what type of cost found in a project
Direct project overhead.
Which of the following correctly calculates the early finish for an activity? A. LS + DUR B. ES + DUR C. LF +DUR D. ES + SL E. LF + SL
ES + DUR
Which of the following correctly calculates the early finish for an activity
ES + DUR.
Which of the following correctly calculates the late start for an activity
ES - SL.
The backward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT
Earliest time an activity can finish.
The forward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT
Earliest time an activity can finish.
A special truck that George needs on his project has been scheduled on another project. This is an example of what type of resource constraint?
Equipment.
Which of the following is NOT involved in risk control
Establishing contingency funds.
Which of the following is NOT one of the recommended guidelines for developing useful work package estimates?
Estimates should include a normal level of contingency.
The process of forecasting or approximating the time and cost of completing project deliverable is called
Estimating.
An item on a project network is Design Software Completed. This is best described as a(n) A. Event B. Path C. Activity D. Node E. Milestone
Event
*As long as everyone in a project adds a little padding to reduce risk, the project duration and cost estimates will be more accurate
False.
*If a project is internal to the company and relatively small, the bottom-up approach to estimating time and costs for the project is the best choice
False.
*If the project has a duration of 13 days, the project should be completed 13 days from the day it starts
False.
*Performance bonds, warranties, and guarantees are financial instruments used to share risk.
False.
*Project managers should always assign the best people to the most difficult tasks
False.
*Resource leveling or smoothing is only used on projects which are resource constrained
False.
*Risk management is a reactive approach that is designed to ensure that surprises are reduced and that negative consequences associated with undesirable events are minimized
False.
*Sequential activities hold just as much potential for resource conflicts as parallel activities.
False.
*Since resource leveling or smoothing delays noncritical activities, a common result is a decrease in network sensitivity
False.
*Splitting is a scheduling technique used to get a better schedule or better resource utilization and should be used without hesitation
False.
*The critical path is the shortest path through a network and indicates activities that cannot be delayed without delaying the project
False.
*The fact that you must pour foundation before you frame the house and that you have to frame the house before you can put on the roof demonstrates scheduling constraints
False.
*The first step in the risk management process is risk assessment
False.
*When considering risk value, the lower the value, the higher the level of risk
False.
A lack of readily available engineers is a technical constraint
False.
A merge activity is one that merges with other activities into a succeeding activity
False.
A project budget report is showing our project as spending $35,000 against a budgeted amount of $40,000. We can assume that everything is going as planned and that we are under budget
False.
Adopting proven technology instead of experimental technology is an example of mitigating a risk
False.
After averaging out the underestimates and overestimates, a long-duration project is more likely to be on target than a short-term, small project
False.
An activity can include only one work package
False.
Enhancing a risk is a tactic that seeks to eliminate the uncertainty associated with an opportunity to ensure that it definitely happens
False.
Estimating the total cost of a house by multiplying the total square feet by cost per square foot is an example of the apportion method of estimating costs
False.
Estimating the total cost of a project by multiplying each major function by a complexity factor is an example of the apportion method of estimating costs
False.
If a project needs one earth mover six months from now in order to complete one activity, and the organization has four such machines, there is no equipment resource constraint
False.
If time and costs are important to a project the top-down approach to estimating time and costs for the project is the best choice
False.
If, during risk response development, you successfully identify how you will respond to a risk, contingency planning is unnecessary
False.
Project estimates should be broken down into as much detail, and with as much accuracy, as possible
False.
Responses to all identifiable risks should be a top priority for the project manager
False.
Risk events that occur in the early stages of a project will have a greater cost impact than those that occur in later stages
False.
The WBS identifies dependencies, the sequencing of activities, and the timing of activities
False.
The backward pass determines project duration
False.
The consensus method of estimating costs is a bottom-up technique.
False.
The forward pass through a project network determines the critical path
False.
The level of resources each activity will need to be completed in the given amount of time has been estimated; therefore, there are no resource constraints
False.
The process of forecasting or approximating the time and cost of completing project deliverable is called planning
False.
The project being delayed is an example of a major risk that should be assessed
False.
The project management structure chosen to manage the project will have little impact on the quality of estimates
False.
The risk identification process should be limited to just the core project team.
False.
The salary of the project manager and her administrative assistant is classified as direct labor costs
False.
When completing a forward pass, you carry the early finish to the next activity where it becomes its early start unless the next succeeding activity is a merge activity. In this case you select the smallest early finish number of all its immediate predecessor activities
False.
When developing a response to a risk by scheduling outdoor work in the summer, investing in up-front safety training, or choosing high-quality materials, these are examples of retaining a risk
False.
When scheduling activities in a resource-constrained project typically the activity scheduled first has the most amount of slack
False.
Work package estimates should include allowances for contingencies
False.
If testing cannot be completed any earlier than four days after the prototype is built, which of the following type of lag exists? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
Finish to Finish
*If testing cannot be completed any earlier than four days after the prototype has been built, what type of lag exists
Finish to Finish.
The requirement for a freshly poured foundation to cure before beginning construction is an example of which of the following type of lag? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
Finish to Start
The requirement for a freshly poured foundation to cure before beginning construction is an example of which of the following type of lag
Finish to Start.
The ____ lag is the most typical type of lag that is encountered in developing networks
Finish-to-start.
One common mistake made early in the risk identification process is to
Focus on consequences and not on the events that could produce consequences.
Which of the following can be used without coordinating with managers of succeeding activities
Free slack.
Sean is forecasting the time and cost of developing a customized software program by looking at the number of inputs, outputs, inquiries, files, and interfaces. Which of the following methods is he using
Function point.
Accounting would be an example of which of the following costs typically found in a project
General and administrative overhead.
Using a special color copy machine for a tradeshow publication illustrates the concept of A. Laddering B. Hammock activities C. Critical path D. Concurrent engineering E. Forward pass
Hammock activities
A(n) _____ activity is frequently used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of the project
Hammock.
Refining estimates may be necessary for a number of reasons. For example, people working on prototype development needing time to interact with the design engineers after the design is completed is a good example of
Hidden interaction costs.
Which of the following does NOT help describe a project network
Highlights major deliverable and identifies their completion dates.
*The initial step in the risk management process is to
Identify the risks.
C. Dangler path. If a project has more than one activity that can begin when the project is to start, each path is a dangler path. The same is true if a project network ends with more than one activity. Dangler paths give the impression that that project doesn't have a clear beginning or ending. Using a common start or end node helps to identify the total planning period for all projects.
If a project has more than one activity that can begin when the project is to start, a common start node should be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Without a common start node, each path is a A. Critical path. B. Parallel path. C. Dangler path. D. Multiple start path. E. Confused path.
The laying pipe example in the text illustrates the concept of A. Laddering B. Hammock activities C. Critical path D. Concurrent engineering E. Forward pass
Laddering
The assumption that all immediate preceding activities must be 100% complete is too restrictive in some situations. When an activity is broken down into smaller segments in order to start the succeeding activity sooner, this is called
Laddering.
When an activity with a long duration is broken into smaller segments so that the following activities can begin sooner it is called ____
Laddering.
The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end is referred to as: A. Hammock B. Laddering C. Lag D. Cushion E. Buffer
Lag
A(n) ____ is the minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end
Lag.
The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end is referred to as
Lag.
*Laura is forecasting the time and cost of developing an intranet for a new customer. Her department has completed six such intranets for customers during the last two years. Although the proposed system is about the same size as the others, she estimates that it will take about 10 percent less time and money. Which of the following methods is she using
Learning curve.
Which of the following is NOT one of the bottom-up approaches to estimating project time and cost
Learning curve.
*In a resource-constrained project, the first priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the
Least slack.
Risks are evaluated in terms of
Likelihood and impact.
The significance of a risk is assessed in terms of the ____ and the impact of the event
Likelihood.
The critical path in a project network is the A. Shortest path through the network B. Longest path through the network C. Network path with the most difficult activities D. Network path using the most resources E. Network path with the most merge activities
Longest path through the network
The critical path in a project network is the
Longest path through the network.
Bill is building a project network that involves testing a prototype. He must design the prototype (activity 1), build the prototype (activity 2), and test the prototype (activity 3). Activity 1 is the predecessor for activity 2 and activity 2 is the predecessor for activity 3. If the prototype fails testing, Bill must redesign the prototype; therefore, activity 3 is a predecessor for activity 1. This is an example of
Looping.
A network has only one critical path and the slack for noncritical activities is high. This network would appear to have a ____ level of sensitivity
Low.
In a resource-constrained project the third priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the
Lowest identification number.
Which of the following is identified to cover major unforeseen risks and, hence, are applied to the total project
Management reserves.
*Gene is trying to order the concrete needed to continue his project. However, the supplier will not be able to deliver it until next week. This is an example of what kind of resource constraint
Materials.
An activity that has more than one dependency arrow flowing into it is termed a(n) A. Parallel activity B. Critical path C. Burst activity D. Merge activity E. Independent activity
Merge activity
*Splitting an activity can result in all of the following EXCEPT
More people working on the same activity.
Jan is trying to reallocate resources in a time-constrained project to create smoother resource utilization. She should first identify activities with the
Most slack.
Refining estimates may be necessary for a number of reasons. For example, resource shortages, in the form of people, equipment, or materials, can extend original estimates. This is a good example of
Normal conditions not applying.
B. Work packages.
On a project network, the activity times are derived from the A. Organization breakdown structure. B. Work packages. C. Budget. D. Project proposal. E. Responsibility matrix.
When translated into a project network, a work package will become A. A single activity B. One or more activities C. A milestone D. A critical path E. An arrow
One or more activities
Parallel activity
One or more activities that can be carried on concurrently or simultaneously.
When translated into a project network, a work package will become
One or more activities.
Typically an activity on a project network represents A. A single work package B. One or more tasks from a work package C. Several work packages D. A sub-deliverable E. A cost account
One or more tasks from a work package
*____ focuses on how to respond to events that have a positive impact on a project
Opportunity management.
The estimating factor that considers the prevailing belief in some firms that detailed estimating takes too much time and is not worth the effort is an example of the ____ factor
Organization Culture.
When a company will reduce the number of projects they have to manage internally to only core projects and send noncritical projects to contractors and consulting firms this is called
Outsourcing.
A project cost baseline is also called ____
PV (Plan Value)
*Janet is forecasting how much money her department needs to support a new project. She estimates that two people and $25,000 in expenses will cover her needs. Because management typically insists on reducing forecasts by 20 percent, she increases her estimates to allow for that reduction. Which of the following factors is illustrated in this situation
Padding estimates.
The estimating factor that considers the tendency to overestimate project time and cost in order to improve the likelihood of meeting the estimates is known as the ____ factor
Padding estimates.
Activities which can take place at the same time are termed A. Parallel activity B. Critical path C. Burst activity D. Merge activity E. Independent activity
Parallel activity
Activities which can take place at the same time are termed
Parallel activity.
A good starting point for developing time and cost estimates is
Past experience.
A sequence of connected, dependent activities is termed a(n) A. Critical path B. Parallel path C. Activity chain D. Path E. Dependent chain
Path
A sequence of connected, dependent activities is termed a(n)
Path.
*A shortage of programmers to write software is an example of a(n) _____ type of resource constraint
People.
Rachel is working on a project that technically allows three activities to be done at the same time. If they were to be implemented at the same time, she would need 5 contractors in order for the activities to be completed on time. There are only 3 available for her to use. This is an example of what type of constraint
People.
Sam, the project engineer, has been scheduled to run the product system test at the same time he is to build a marketing prototype. This is an example of what type of resource constraint
People.
The estimating factor that considers the skill level of participants doing the estimating is known as the ____ factor
People.
Which of the following would be the best method for projects where the final product is not known and the uncertainty is very large
Phase estimating.
Susan is to conduct environmental testing but the chamber cannot hold all the equipment that she wants to test. This is an example of a constraint that could impact the sequence and timing of activities in a project network. What type of constraint is it
Physical.
Trying to renovate a ship compartment that is too small for more than one person is an example of a(n) _____ resource constraint
Physical.
The estimating factor that considers the decreasing accuracy of estimates as one forecasts activities that are further into the future is known as _____
Planning Horizon.
Richard is collecting estimates for a house that he will have the funding to build in 12 months. Which of the following factors does Richard need to consider in regard to the quality of these estimates
Planning horizon.
________ activities must be completed immediately before a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Critical
Predecessor
___ activities must be completed immediately before a particular activity
Predecessor.
*Which of the following is NOT one of the factors that need to be considered to improve quality of estimates for project times and costs
Profit.
Ed is looking over the actual results of projects and comparing them to what was estimated. He notices that the projects that took six months or longer to complete were noticeably more off the estimates. Which of the following factors is he recognizing
Project duration.
*Arrows on an activity-on-node (AON) project network represent
Project flow and dependency.
Rob is responsible for estimating a work package that has a significant amount of uncertainty associated with the time and cost to complete. Due to the uncertainty involved he will be making a low, an average and a high estimate. Rob is using which estimating approach
Range estimating.
*Jose is forecasting project time and cost for constructing a new building by multiplying the total square footage by a given dollar amount. Which of the following methods is he using
Ratio.
Resource leveling or smoothing can have all the following results on a project EXCEPT
Reduced resource need over the life of the project.
*If resources are not adequate to meet peak demands, the resulting reschedule is termed
Resource-constrained scheduling.
In reviewing the status of her project with top management, Shirley was told that there are only two programmers that she can use for her project. Her project is classified as _______ constrained
Resource.
*The risk associated with the unlikelihood that one of the key members will be struck by lightning would most likely be handled by which of the following
Retaining.
Organizations use ____ in conjunction with work breakdown structures to help management teams identify and eventually analyze risk
Risk breakdown structures.
*The attempt to recognize and manage potential and unforeseen trouble spots that may occur when a project is implemented is known as
Risk management.
A list of questions that address traditional areas of uncertainty on a project is termed a
Risk profile.
Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in the risk management process
Risk tracking.
*An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on project objectives is termed a
Risk.
An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on project objectives is known as a ____
Risk.
Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of failing to identify limited resources before project implementation
Scope creep.
The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated is referred to as
Sensitivity.
______ reflects the likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated.
Sensitivity.
The risk management tool that is divided into three color-coded zones representing major, moderate, and minor risks is the risk
Severity matrix.
The chances of a risk event occurring as a project proceeds through its life cycle tend to
Slowly drop.
The cost impact of a risk event occurring as a project proceeds through its life cycle tends to
Slowly rise.
In a resource-constrained project the second priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the
Smallest duration.
*Resources are adequate, but demand varies widely over the life of the project. Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand on resources is known as resource
Smoothing.
System documentation cannot end until three days after testing has started. This is an example of which kind of lag
Start to Finish.
Concurrent engineering is a good example of good use of A. Start to Start lags B. Start to Finish lags C. Finish to Finish lags D. Finish to Start lags E. Any of these could be correct
Start to Start lags
Concurrent engineering, which has dramatically reduced the development time for new products, relies on what kind of lag
Start to Start lags.
________ activities are to be completed immediately following a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Critical
Successor
B. Start to Finish
System documentation cannot end until three days after testing has started. This is an example of which kind of lag? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
Activity
Task(s) of the project that consumes time while people/equipment either work or wait.
*Technical constraints have been carefully considered when developing a project network. Which of the following is true at this point
Technical dependencies between activities are known.
Risks that can result in a system or process that will not work are known as
Technical risks.
When developing a new software package, logically, the software must be designed before the code is written, and the code must be written before it is tested. These activities are dependent on each other by ______ constraints
Technical.
The bottom-up approach for estimating times and costs that uses costs from past projects that were similar to the current project is known as
Template method.
*Which of the following methods is NOT considered a top-down approach to estimating project time and cost
Template.
Tony has realized that two activities in his project cannot be done at the same time because not enough resources are available. Activity 3 is critical and has a duration of 5 days. Activity 4 has 2 days of slack and a duration of 2 days. How will he decide which activity should be scheduled first
The activity with the least slack.
A. Total slack Total slack tells us the amount of time an activity can be delayed and yet not delay the project. Stated differently, total slack is the amount of time an activity can exceed its early finish date without affecting the project end date or an imposed completion date.
The amount of time an activity can be delayed and yet not delay the project is termed A. Total slack. B. Free slack. C. Critical float. D. Float pad. E. Slip pad.
E. Laddering.
The assumption that all immediate preceding activities must be 100% complete is too restrictive in some situations. When an activity is broken down into smaller segments in order to start the succeeding activity sooner, this is called A. Hammock activities. B. Concurrent engineering. C. A forward pass. D. Dissecting. E. Laddering.
B. Earliest time an activity can finish.
The backward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT A. Latest time an activity can begin. B. Earliest time an activity can finish. C. The critical path. D. How long an activity can be delayed. E. Latest time an activity can finish.
*In a resource-constrained project, which of the following is most likely to be changed
The completion date.
B. Longest path through the network. When the critical path term is used, it means the path(s) with the longest duration through the network. If an activity on the critical path is delayed, the project is delayed the same amount of time.
The critical path in a project network is the A. Shortest path through the network. B. Longest path through the network. C. Network path with the most difficult activities. D. Network path using the most resources. E. Network path with the most merge activities.
D. The critical path.
The forward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT A. Earliest time an activity can begin. B. Earliest time an activity can finish. C. Duration of the project. D. The critical path. E. How soon the project can finish.
Sensitivity
The likelihood that the critical path(s) will change once the project begins to be implemented.
C. Sensitivity. We use the term sensitivity to reflect the likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated. Sensitivity is the function of the number of critical paths and the level of slack for noncritical activities.
The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated is referred to as A. Flexibility. B. Resilience. C. Sensitivity. D. Concurrent engineering. E. Rigidity.
Critical path
The longest activity path(s) through the network. The critical path can be distinguished by identifying the collection of activities that all have the same minimum slack.
C. Lag.
The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end is referred to as A. Hammock. B. Laddering. C. Lag. D. Cushion. E. Buffer.
Lag relationship
The relationship between the start and/ or finish of a project activity and the start and/or finish of another activity. The most common lag relationships are (1) finish-to-start, (2) finish-to-finish, (3) start-tostart, and (4) start-to-finish.
D. Finish to Start
The requirement for a freshly poured foundation to cure before beginning construction is an example of which of the following type of lag? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
When completing a backward pass, you carry the LS to the next preceding activity to establish the LF, unless the next preceding activity is a burst activity, in which case you select
The smallest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF.
Which of the following does NOT help describe a bottom-up estimating approach
They are made by someone who uses experience and/or information from someone else to determine overall project cost and duration.
*Which of the following is true about hammock activities
They are used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of a project.
Refining estimates may be necessary for a number of reasons. For example, design flaws being revealed after the fact, extreme weather conditions, and accidents occurring are good examples of
Things going wrong on a project.
*Most of the scheduling methods available today require the project manager to classify the project as either _____ constrained or ______ constrained
Time, resource.
*When considering the sequence and timing of activities, which of the following is NOT one of the types of project network constraints
Time.
In order that the new product is on the shelf for the Christmas buying season, the development of the new product would be classified as a(n) ________ -constrained project
Time.
Regina's boss has told her that her project is very important. If the critical path is delayed, she will be given whatever she needs to get it back on schedule. Her project is classified as ______ constrained
Time.
When classifying projects, ________ constrained means that project duration is fixed and resources are flexible
Time.
Reasons why estimating time and cost are important include all of the following EXCEPT
To help establish a project selection process.
C. Total Slack.
Tom is responsible for ordering hardware for a custom home his company is building. The contractor installing the hardware is scheduled to start in 5 working days, but the hardware is on backorder and will not arrive for another 9 working days. Fortunately, Tom has 10 days of slack; however, he shares this slack with the hardware installer. He will have to let the contactor know that the hardware will be ready 4 days later than expected and that the slack for the installer has been reduced by 4 days. Tom and the installer share 10 days of A. Free Slack. B. Shared Slack. C. Total Slack. D. Critical Slack. E. Functional Slack.
*In practice, estimating processes are frequently classified as
Top down/bottom up.
The preferred method for situations involving strategic decision making, projects with a high degree of uncertainty, and projects with an unstable scope is the ____ approach to estimating project time and costs
Top-Down.
Tom is responsible for ordering hardware for a custom home his company is building. The contractor installing the hardware is scheduled to start in 5 working days, but the hardware is on back-order and will not arrive for another 9 working days. Fortunately, Tom has 10 days of slack; however, he shares this slack with the hardware installer. He will have to let the contractor know that the hardware will be ready 4 days later than expected and that the slack for the installer has been reduced by 4 days. Tom and the installer share 10 days of
Total Slack.
The amount of time an activity can be delayed and yet not delay the project is termed A. Total slack B. Free slack C. Critical float D. Float pad E. Slip pad
Total slack
*The amount of time an activity can be delayed and yet not delay the project is termed
Total slack.
____ slack must be coordinated with all participants in the activities that follow in the chain
Total.
A fixed price contract is an example of
Transferring risk.
Purchasing an accident insurance policy would be an example of responding to a risk by ____ it
Transferring.
*A risk is an uncertain event that, if it occurs, can have a positive or negative effect on project objectives
True.
*Estimates that are typically based on estimates of elements found in the work breakdown structure are called bottom-up estimates
True.
*General and administrative costs are usually allocated as a percent of the total of a direct cost which includes labor, materials, or equipment
True.
*If a network has more than one critical path but noncritical activities have very little slack, the network is considered to have a high level of sensitivity
True.
*In developing a project network, neither looping nor conditional statements are permitted
True.
*It is possible for a project network to have more than one critical path
True.
*Past experience is almost always used primarily in the initial phases of estimating
True.
A risk profile is a list of questions that have been developed and refined from previous, similar projects
True.
All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using positive slack to smooth out the resource requirements
True.
All task time estimates need consistent time units
True.
An activity cannot begin until ALL preceding connected activities have been completed
True.
An activity is an element of the project that always requires time
True.
Budget reserves are set up to cover identified risks associated with specific segments of a project while management reserves are set up to cover unidentified risks associated with the total project
True.
Burst activities have more than one activity immediately following them (more than one dependency arrow flowing from them)
True.
Change management systems involve reporting, controlling, and recording changes to the project baseline
True.
Contingency funding is made up of budget reserves and management reserves
True.
Cost, time, and budget estimates are the lifeline for control; they serve as the standard for comparison of the actual and the planned throughout the life of the project
True.
Different activities along the same path can have different total slack
True.
Estimates are supposed to be based on normal conditions. While this is a good starting point, it rarely holds true in real life
True.
Experience suggests that when there are multiple starts, a common start node should be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Similarly, a single project end node can be used to indicate a clear ending
True.
Fixed-price contracts are an example of transferring risk from an owner to a contractor
True.
Gantt charts are popular because they represent an easy-to-understand, clear picture on a time-scaled horizon
True.
Having too few programmers and too many engineers is an example of a people resource constraint
True.
If resources are truly limited and activity time estimates are accurate, the resource-constrained schedule will materialize as the project is implemented, not the time-constrained schedule
True.
In a resource-constrained project, the completion date is most likely to change.
True.
It is acceptable for arrows to cross one another in a network diagram
True.
Lags can be used to constrain the start and finish of an activity
True.
One common mistake that is made early on in the risk identification process is to focus on consequences and not on the events that could produce consequences
True.
One guideline to follow when estimating time, cost and resources is to use several people to make the estimate for a task
True.
Only activities that occur at the end of a chain of activities can have free slack
True.
Organization culture can significantly influence project time and cost estimates
True.
Phase estimating is used when a project cannot be rigorously defined because of the uncertainty of design or the final product
True.
Resource bottlenecks are one of the three more common problems encountered in managing multiproject resource schedules
True.
Resource dependency takes priority over technological dependency but it does not violate it
True.
Scheduling projects classified as resource-constrained focuses on completing the project as soon as possible under the given resource constraints
True.
The backward pass through a project network determines slack or how long an activity can be delayed without impacting the completion date of the project
True.
The ideal approach to estimating project time and costs is to use both the top-down and the bottom-up approach.
True.
The inability to fit more than two earth movers on a construction site at the same time when more are needed to complete the activity on time is an example of a physical constraint
True.
The probability that a risk event will occur is higher during the initial stages of a project
True.
To determine if a project is time-constrained or resource-constrained you would consult the project priority matrix
True.
Too many parallel activities for one individual is an example of a resource constraint
True.
Top-down estimates usually are derived from someone who uses experience and/or information to determine the project duration and total cost
True.
Using free slack does not delay any following activities and requires no coordination with managers of other activities
True.
When resource constraints are added to technical constraints the original project network may change as well as the completion date
True.
While a "can do" attitude is essential during implementation, project managers have to encourage critical thinking when it comes to risk identification
True.
Without a time-phased budget a good project schedule and cost control are impossible
True.
*Which of the following describes the consensus method
Uses pooled experience of senior and/or middle managers to estimate the total project duration and cost.
A project budget report is showing our project as spending $35,000 against a budgeted amount of $40,000. Which of the following is true
We can't be sure how the project is going.
A. The smallest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF.
When completing a backward pass, you carry the LS to the next preceding activity to establish the LF, unless the next preceding activity is a burst activity, in which case you select A. The smallest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. B. The largest ES of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. C. The average LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. D. The smallest ES of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. E. The largest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF.
C. Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed Conditional statements are not allowed (that is, this type of statement should not appear: If successful, do something; if not, do nothing).
Which of the following is NOT one of the basic rules to follow when developing project networks? A. An activity cannot begin until all preceding activities have been completed B. Each activity must have a unique identification number C. Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed D. An activity identification number must be larger than that of any preceding activities E. Networks flow from left to right
D. Activity duration Project networks are developed from the work breakdown structure (WBS). The project network is a visual flow diagram of the sequence, interrelationships, dependencies and timing of all the activities that must be accomplished to complete the project. Both the WBS and the work packages will include the duration of the activity.
Which of the following is provided by both the project network and the work breakdown structure? A. Dependencies B. Sequencing C. Interrelationships D. Activity duration E. Timing
A. They are used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of a project Hammock activities are frequently used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of the project. Typical examples of hammock activities are inspection services, consultants, or construction management services. A hammock activity derives its duration from the time span between other activities. For example, a special color copy machine is needed for a segment of a tradeshow publication project. A hammock activity can be used to indicate the need for this resource and to apply costs over this segment of the project.
Which of the following is true about hammock activities? A. They are used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of a project B. They are a combination of Start to Start and Start to Finish lags C. They are activities in which the costs are not subject to change D. They are an alternative description for the critical path E. They are highly sensitive
C. A node
Which of the following represents an activity on an activity-on-node (AON) project network? A. An arrow B. A line C. A node D. Both an arrow and a line E. An arrow, a line and a node all represent activities
E. Either LS - ES or LF - EF Total slack or float for an activity is simply the difference between the LS and ES (LS - ES = SL) or between LF and EF (LF - EF = SL).
Which of the following will correctly calculate the total slack in an activity? A. LS - ES B. LF - EF C. LS - LF D. LF - ES E. Either LS - ES or LF - EF
The risk assessment form contains all of the following EXCEPT
Who will detect the occurrence of the risk event.
The information necessary to conduct a bottom-up estimate of project time and costs starts with the ____
Work Package.
Information to develop a project network is collected from the A. Organization breakdown structure B. Work breakdown structure C. Budget D. Project proposal E. Responsibility matrix
Work breakdown structure
*Information to develop a project network is collected from the
Work breakdown structure.
On a project network, the activity times are derived from the A. Organization breakdown structure B. Work packages C. Budget D. Project proposal E. Responsibility matrix
Work packages
On a project network, the activity times are derived from the
Work packages.
Project budgets are developed by time-phasing which of the following
Work packages.
Which of the following activities might you consider adding a time buffer to
You might consider adding a time buffer to any of these activities.
D. Successor
________ activities are to be completed immediately following a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Parallel
C. Predecessor
________ activities must be completed immediately before a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Parallel
Activities which can take place at the same time are termed A. Parallel activity. B. Critical path. C. Burst activity. D. Merge activity. E. Independent activity.
a
Concurrent engineering, which has dramatically reduced the development time for new products, relies on what kind of lag? A. Start to Start lags B. Start to Finish lags C. Finish to Finish lags D. Finish to Start lags E. Any of these could be correct
a
The amount of time an activity can be delayed and yet not delay the project is termed A. Total slack. B. Free slack. C. Critical float. D. Float pad. E. Slip pad.
a
When completing a backward pass, you carry the LS to the next preceding activity to establish the LF, unless the next preceding activity is a burst activity, in which case you select A. The smallest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. B. The largest ES of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. C. The average LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. D. The smallest ES of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF. E. The largest LS of all its immediate successor activities to establish the LF.
a
Which of the following is true about hammock activities? A. They are used to identify the use of fixed resources or costs over a segment of a project B. They are a combination of Start to Start and Start to Finish lags C. They are activities in which the costs are not subject to change D. They are an alternative description for the critical path E. They are highly sensitive
a
An element in the project that consumes time is a(n)_____
activity.
Choosing to move a concert indoors to eliminate the threat of bad weather is an example of ____ a risk.
avoiding.
When considering risk response development, changing the plan to eliminate the risk or condition is known as ____ the risk
avoiding.
Bill is building a project network that involves testing a prototype. He must design the prototype (activity 1), build the prototype (activity 2), and test the prototype (activity 3). Activity 1 is the predecessor for activity 2 and activity 2 is the predecessor for activity 3. If the prototype fails testing, Bill must redesign the prototype; therefore, activity 3 is a predecessor for activity 1. This is an example of A. Conditional statements. B. Looping. C. Having more than one start node. D. Good network development. E. Natural network flow.
b
Information to develop a project network is collected from the A. Organization breakdown structure. B. Work breakdown structure. C. Budget. D. Project proposal. E. Responsibility matrix.
b
On a project network, the activity times are derived from the A. Organization breakdown structure. B. Work packages. C. Budget. D. Project proposal. E. Responsibility matrix.
b
System documentation cannot end until three days after testing has started. This is an example of which kind of lag? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
b
The backward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT A. Latest time an activity can begin. B. Earliest time an activity can finish. C. The critical path. D. How long an activity can be delayed. E. Latest time an activity can finish.
b
The critical path in a project network is the A. Shortest path through the network. B. Longest path through the network. C. Network path with the most difficult activities. D. Network path using the most resources. E. Network path with the most merge activities.
b
When translated into a project network, a work package will become A. A single activity. B. One or more activities. C. A milestone. D. A critical path. E. An arrow.
b
Which of the following can be used without coordinating with managers of succeeding activities? A. Total slack B. Free slack C. Critical float D. Float pad E. Slip pad
b
Which of the following correctly calculates the early finish for an activity? A. LS + DUR B. ES + DUR C. LF + DUR D. ES + SL E. LF + SL
b
A(n) _____ calculates how late an activity can start and finish
backward path.
The ____ calculates the critical path and determines how long an activity can be delayed without delaying the project
backward path.
*When work package estimates are made by individuals most knowledgeable about the work being performed and these estimates are then "rolled up" to find estimated costs for major deliverable and the project itself, ____ estimating is being used
bottom-up.
The preferred method for situations where the cost and time estimates are important, in a fixed contract situation, and when the customer wants a lot of detail is the ____ approach to estimating project time and costs
bottom-up.
____ reserves are identified for specific work packages and are distributed by the project manager and the team members.
budget.
A(n) ____ activity has more than one successor activity
burst.
A(n) _________ activity has more than one dependency arrow flowing from it. A. Parallel B. Critical path C. Burst D. Merge E. Independent
c
If a project has more than one activity that can begin when the project is to start, a common start node should be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Without a common start node, each path is a A. Critical path. B. Parallel path. C. Dangler path. D. Multiple start path. E. Confused path.
c
If testing cannot be completed any earlier than four days after the prototype has been built, what type of lag exists? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
c
If, for some reason, the project must be expedited to meet an earlier date, which of the following actions would the project manager take first? A. Check to see which activities cost the least B. Check to see which activities have the longest duration C. Check to see which activities are on the critical path D. Check to see which activities have the most slack E. Check to see which activities have the highest risk
c
The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is initiated is referred to as A. Flexibility. B. Resilience. C. Sensitivity. D. Concurrent engineering. E. Rigidity.
c
The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be delayed to begin or end is referred to as A. Hammock. B. Laddering. C. Lag. D. Cushion. E. Buffer.
c
Tom is responsible for ordering hardware for a custom home his company is building. The contractor installing the hardware is scheduled to start in 5 working days, but the hardware is on backorder and will not arrive for another 9 working days. Fortunately, Tom has 10 days of slack; however, he shares this slack with the hardware installer. He will have to let the contactor know that the hardware will be ready 4 days later than expected and that the slack for the installer has been reduced by 4 days. Tom and the installer share 10 days of A. Free Slack. B. Shared Slack. C. Total Slack. D. Critical Slack. E. Functional Slack.
c
Which of the following correctly calculates the late start for an activity? A. EF - DUR B. ES - DUR C. LF - DUR D. ES - SL E. LF - SL
c
Which of the following is NOT one of the basic rules to follow when developing project networks? A. An activity cannot begin until all preceding activities have been completed B. Each activity must have a unique identification number C. Conditional statements are allowed but looping statements are not allowed D. An activity identification number must be larger than that of any preceding activities E. Networks flow from left to right
c
Which of the following represents an activity on an activity-on-node (AON) project network? A. An arrow B. A line C. A node D. Both an arrow and a line E. An arrow, a line and a node all represent activities
c
________ activities must be completed immediately before a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Parallel
c
____ systems involve reporting, controlling, and recording changes to the project baseline
change management.
*A ____ is an alternative that will be used if a possible foreseen risk event becomes a reality
contingency plan.
The delaying of any activity on the ____ will delay the completion of the project by the same amount
critical path.
The longest path through a project network is called the _____
critical path.
A sequence of connected, dependent activities is termed a(n) A. Path of events. B. Parallel path. C. Activity chain. D. Path. E. Dependent chain.
d
An activity that has more than one dependency arrow flowing into it is termed a(n) A. Parallel activity. B. Critical path. C. Burst activity. D. Merge activity. E. Independent activity.
d
Arrows on an activity-on-node (AON) project network represent A. An activity. B. Project flow. C. Dependency. D. Project flow and dependency. E. An activity and dependency.
d
The forward pass in project network calculations determines all of the following EXCEPT A. Earliest time an activity can begin. B. Earliest time an activity can finish. C. Duration of the project. D. The critical path. E. How soon the project can finish.
d
The requirement for a freshly poured foundation to cure before beginning construction is an example of which of the following type of lag? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
d
Which of the following does NOT help describe a project network? A. A graphic display of the flow and sequence of work through the project B. Provides the basis for scheduling labor and equipment C. Gives the times when activities can start and finish and when they can be delayed D. Highlights major deliverables and identifies their completion dates E. Identifies critical activities
d
Which of the following is provided by both the project network and the work breakdown structure? A. Dependencies B. Sequencing C. Interrelationships D. Activity duration E. Timing
d
________ activities are to be completed immediately following a particular activity. A. Merge B. Burst C. Predecessor D. Successor E. Parallel
d
A way to improve estimates on future projects is to collect and archive data on past project estimates and actual. Creating a ____ for estimating is a way to achieve this goal
database.
The likelihood of a risk event occurring ____ as a project goes through its life cycle
decreases.
The measurement of how easy it would be to detect that the event was going to occur in time to take mitigating action is known as
detection difficulty.
The salary of the project manager and temporary rental space for the project team would be classified as ____ costs
direct overhead.
Project costs such as labor and materials are typically classified as _____ costs
direct.
The assumption that all immediate preceding activities must be 100% complete is too restrictive in some situations. When an activity is broken down into smaller segments in order to start the succeeding activity sooner, this is called A. Hammock activities. B. Concurrent engineering. C. A forward pass. D. Dissecting. E. Laddering.
e
Which of the following will correctly calculate the total slack in an activity? A. LS - ES B. LF - EF C. LS - LF D. LF - ES E. Either LS - ES or LF - EF
e
If three copiers are needed to produce a final report on time and only two are available, the project is facing a(n) ________ type of resource constraint
equipment.
When a project is classified as resource-constrained and a resource constraint exists, the project duration is typically ____
extended.
A(n) ____ calculates project duration
forward path.
The ____ calculates the earliest times that activities can start or finish
forward path.
*____ can never be negative and applies only to the last activity in a single chain of activities
free slack.
The top-down method for estimating project time and cost that uses weighted variables based on major parameters and is frequently used in the development of software is known as the ____ method
function point.
Costs that are not directly related to a specific project, such as advertising, accounting, and senior management's salary, are classified as ____ costs
general and administrative overhead.
Costs that are associated with time devoted to the coordination in meetings and briefings as well as time necessary to resolve disconnects between tasks are known as _____ costs
interaction.
The top-down method of estimating project time and costs that is useful for projects requiring the same task, group of tasks, or product repeated several times, especially if it is labor intensive, is the ____
learning curve.
When scheduling activities in a resource-constrained project, typically the activity scheduled first has the ______ amount of slack
lease.
____ reserves are controlled by the project manager and the owner of the project and are used to cover major unforeseen risks to the entire project
management.
The shortage of computer chips to produce a circuit board is an example of a(n) ______ type of resource constraint
materials.
An activity that has more than one predecessor is a ____ activity
merge.
*When considering risk response development, reducing the likelihood that an event will occur and/or reducing the impact that an adverse event would have on a project is known as ____ the risk
mitigating.
Testing a new project on a smaller isolated area prior to installing it for the entire organization is an example of ____ a risk
mitigating.
*In a project network, recycling through a set of activities or ____ is not permitted
moving.
In reality resource allocation generally occurs in a(n) ______ environment where the demands of one project have to be reconciled with the needs of other projects
multiproject.
Estimates should be made based on _____ conditions, efficient methods, and a normal level of resources
normal.
Many companies are ______ project work to contractors and consultants as a means of dealing with the peaks and valleys of resource allocation among projects
outsourcing.
Activities that can occur while an activity is taking place are called ____ activities
parallel or concurrent.
Activities that can take place at the same time if the manager wishes them to are called ____ activities.
parallel.
*The approach to estimating project time and cost that begins with an overall estimate for the project and then refines estimates for various stages of the project as it is implemented is known as ____
phase estimating.
The estimating approach that is best to use on projects where there is an unusual amount of uncertainty surrounding the project and when it is impractical to estimate times and costs for the entire project is known as _____
phase estimating.
All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using ________ to reduce peak demand
positive slack.
*Activities that must occur immediately before a given activity are called ____ activities
predecessor.
Jose is forecasting project time and cost for constructing a new building by multiplying the total square footage by a given dollar amount. He is using the _____ method of top-down estimating
ratio.
In scheduling resource-constrained projects, _____ are typically used rather than optimum mathematical solutions
realistic or rules up-down.
After resource leveling or smoothing one goal is that the amount of resources needed over the life of the project will be
reduce.
Beth has two engineers assigned to her project and does not have access to more even if the result means extending the completion date on her project. She is managing a(n) ________ -constrained project
resource.
Having one person responsible for performing several activities, all due at the same time, is an example of a(n) _____ constraint
resource.
When classifying projects, ________ constrained means that a specific resource is fixed and the duration of the project is flexible
resource.
Flooding would be devastating to the project; however, it is very unlikely. The project manager is most likely to ____ this risk
retain.
When considering risk response development, assuming the risk because the chance of such an event is slim is known as ____ the risk
retaining.
*The first step in the risk management process is ____
risk anticipation.
*The ____ form identifies each risk event, the likelihood of it occurring, the potential impact, when it may occur, and the degree of difficulty in detecting it
risk assessment.
*A list of questions that address traditional areas of uncertainty on a project is known as a
risk profile.
The ____ matrix is divided into red, yellow, and green zones representing major, moderate, and minor risks
risk severity.
According to the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Impact x Probability x Detection = ____
risk value.
Since resource leveling or smoothing delays noncritical activities, a common result is an increase in network _____
sensitivity.
*Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand and, thus, increase resource utilization is called resource ____
smoothing or laddering.
*Start-up and shutdown costs are major considerations when using the ______ scheduling technique
splitting or multitasking.
When the work in an activity is interrupted to work on another activity and is then resumed at a later point in time, it is called ____
splitting or multitasking.
Activities that must immediately follow a given activity are called ____ activities
successor.
A(n) ________ constraint addresses the sequence in which project activities must occur even after considering resource constraints
technical or logic.
*Resource dependency takes priority over the technological dependency but does not violate _____ dependencies
technical.
The bottom-up method of estimating where work package time and costs for past projects are used as a starting point for a new project and adjustments are made based on differences in the new project is known as the ____ method
template.
Without a ____ budget a good project schedule and cost control are impossible
time phase.
*When someone uses experience and/or information from others to determine the project duration and total cost, ____ estimating is being used
top-down.
*When considering risk response development, passing risk to another party instead of changing it is known as ____ the risk
transferring.
Performance bonds, warranties, and insurance are examples of ____ a risk
transferring.
The event or point in time when a contingency plan will be implemented is called a ____
trigger.
The activity time estimates used to build a project network are derived from _____
work packages.
B. Looping. This is an example of looping or recycling through a set of activities and cannot take place within a well-structured project network. One important reason is that it inhibits its ability to establish a completion date.
Bill is building a project network that involves testing a prototype. He must design the prototype (activity 1), build the prototype (activity 2), and test the prototype (activity 3). Activity 1 is the predecessor for activity 2 and activity 2 is the predecessor for activity 3. If the prototype fails testing, Bill must redesign the prototype; therefore, activity 3 is a predecessor for activity 1. This is an example of A. Conditional statements. B. Looping. C. Having more than one start node. D. Good network development. E. Natural network flow.
Which of the following will correctly calculate the total slack in an activity? A. LS - ES B. LF - EF C. LS - LF D. LF - ES E. Both A and B are correct
Both A and B are correct
An AON project network uses which of the following basic building blocks? A. Arrows B. Bars C. Nodes D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
Both A and C are correct
The backward pass in project network calculations determines the A. Latest time's activities can begin B. Earliest time's activities can be finished C. Critical path D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct
Both A and C are correct
Arrows on an AON project network represent: A. An activity B. Project flow C. Dependency D. Both B and C are correct E. Both A and B are correct
Both B and C are correct
Project network logic errors include which of the following? A. Activities with less than 1 day duration B. Sequences such as "if test successful build prototype, if failure redesign" C. A sequence such as B succeeds A, C succeeds B, A succeeds C D. Both B and C are network logic errors E. A, B, and C are all network logic errors
Both B and C are network logic errors
Funds that are for identified risks that have a low probability of occurring and that decrease as the project progresses are called ______ reserves
Budget.
A/an _________ activity has more than one dependency arrow flowing from it. A. Parallel B. Critical path C. Burst D. Merge E. Independent
Burst
*A(n) _________ activity has more than one dependency arrow flowing from it
Burst.
___ activities are to be completed immediately following a particular activity
Burst.
C. Finish to Finish When the finish of one activity depends on the finish of another activity, a finish to finish lag exists. For example, testing cannot be completed any earlier than four days after the prototype is complete.
If testing cannot be completed any earlier than four days after the prototype has been built, what type of lag exists? A. Start to Start B. Start to Finish C. Finish to Finish D. Finish to Start E. Any of these could be correct
C. Check to see which activities are on the critical path If for some reason the project must be expedited to meet an earlier date, it is possible to select those activities, or combination of activities, that will cost the least to shorten the project. Similarly, if the critical path is delayed and the time must be made up by shortening some activity or activities on the critical path to make up any negative slack, it is possible to identify the activities on the critical path that cost the least to shorten. If there are other paths with very little slack, it may be necessary to shorten activities on those paths also.
If, for some reason, the project must be expedited to meet an earlier date, which of the following actions would the project manager take first? A. Check to see which activities cost the least B. Check to see which activities have the longest duration C. Check to see which activities are on the critical path D. Check to see which activities have the most slack E. Check to see which activities have the highest risk
Which of the following is NOT one of the potential responses to a specific risk event
Ignoring.
B. Work breakdown structure. The project network is developed from the information collected for the work breakdown structure (WBS) and is a graphic flow chart of the project job plan.
Information to develop a project network is collected from the A. Organization breakdown structure. B. Work breakdown structure. C. Budget. D. Project proposal. E. Responsibility matrix.
All of the following are types of resource constraints EXCEPT
Information.
Which of the following is a good condition for top-down estimating
Internal, small project.
All of the following are benefits of scheduling resources before project implementation EXCEPT
It ensures low network sensitivity.
Why is it necessary to have a time-phased budget baseline
It shows how much work was accomplished for the money spent.
Which of the following correctly calculates the late start for an activity? A. EF - DUR B. ES - DUR C. LF - DUR D. ES - SL E. LF - SLACK
LF - DUR
Which of the following will correctly calculate the total slack in an activity
LF - ES.
*Which of the following would best represent direct project costs
Labor, materials and equipment.
Learning curves are more likely to be applied in situations where most of the costs are
Labor.
