Deep Dive into the Project Schedule

To estimate the duration of the overall project, a team uses the critical path method. What are some characteristics of critical path?

1. Any delay of activities on the critical path will delay the project The critical path has activities with zero float, meaning any delay of these activities will result in delay of project completion. 2. Float is the difference between late finish and early finish Float is the duration by which an activity can be delayed without impacting the project end date. Float is the difference between late start and early start of an activity. 3. Backward pass calculations are a must to determine the critical path Backward pass starts with the last activity of the project and traverses from right to left on the project schedule, calculating late finish and late start for all activities. 4. It has activities with zero float Critical path is defined by a series of activities which have no float.

A team uses the critical path method to estimate the duration of the overall project, and starts with the forward pass calculations. What are characteristics of forward pass?

1. Can use the one method - Using this method, the team would start the project on day one, with handoff to the next activity always happening on the next day. 2. Project duration is established - When the early finish date for the last activity of the network is calculated, the team will get to know the overall project duration as well. 3. Can use the zero method - Using this method, the team will start the project on day zero. Handoff to the next activity always happens on the same day. 4. Calculations are done from left to right on the network diagram - The team starts with the first activity of the project and traverses from left to right on the project schedule, calculating early start and early finish for all activities.

What are characteristics of backward pass calculation in the critical path?

1. Determines critical path of the project 2. Float is the difference between late start and early start 3. Float for each activity is known 4. Float for each activity is known

In a project, there are various activities which need to be performed in a necessary order. What are the four different types of relationships or dependencies that may exist between activities?

1. Discretionary - Discretionary dependency is established based on knowledge of best practices or desired specific sequences. It is also referred to as soft logic. 2. Mandatory - Mandatory dependency is contractually required or inherent to the nature of the work. It is also referred to as hard logic. 3. External - External dependency refers to the relationship between project activities and non-project activities, usually outside of the team's control. 4. Internal - Relationships that are internal to the company or project may be out of the team's control.

The schedule management plan helps to govern how a team will perform project work. What should it include?

1. Estimation techniques Estimation techniques like analogous, PERT, and three-point estimates are included in the schedule management plan. 2. Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs) EEFs like time zones, holiday schedules, and labor laws have an important role to play in schedule management planning. 3. Level of accuracy Guidance around level of accuracy, permitted range of estimates, and reserve time in schedule are available in the plan. 4. Process for tracking and reporting Details about how the team will track and report schedule performance are part of the plan. 5. Unit of measure For consistency across projects, preferred unit of measure for duration is included in the plan as hours, days, or weeks.

Which dependency relationships can be applied to sequencing activities?

1. Finish to Start 2. Start to Finish 3. Finish to Finish 4. Start to Start

Which values are captured for each activity on the network diagram in the critical path method?

1. Float 2. Late start and late finish 3. Early start and early finish 4. Duration

Which documents are created during schedule planning?

1. Gantt chart 2. Milestone chart 3. Network diagram

Activity on Node is a commonly used schedule network diagramming method. What are three characteristics of this method?

1. Name of the activity is shown within a Node 2. Arrows demonstrate dependencies between activities 3. Finish to Start dependency relationship can be used

Work packages are decomposed into activities. Which activity attributes help when developing the schedule?

1. Predecessors and successors When you're aware of dependencies between activities, you can list which activity needs to happen first and include it in activity attributes. 2. Activity description Activities are expressed as verbs or action words and are an essential part of activity attributes. 3. Resource requirements Activity attributes can include the resources required to perform the activity, whenever known. 4. WBS ID Activities are decomposed from work packages and include the WBS ID to which the activity will contribute. 5. Geographic area Particulars about where the activity will take place can also be included in activity attributes, whenever known.

The Scrum framework helps understand Agile scheduling. Which activities or events occur in a Scrum?

1. Product owner presents the prioritized backlog of requirements 2. Sprint Planning 3. Sprint Review 4. Sprint Retrospective

In Agile, a roadmap defines releases on the calendar, without committing to the exact functionality that will be released. What are the characteristics of the product roadmap?

1. The granularity of the functionality is low for lower priority backlog items. (The product owner refines high priority features and functionalities with the team. However, features which would be done in later iterations or releases are not detailed in advance.) 2. It considers priorities against the development team's velocity (Velocity is the amount of work a team is able to complete in a sprint or iteration. It helps in deciding the amount of work that can be done during an iteration, and in a release, which typically means multiple iterations.) 3. With each release, the product becomes more robust 4. It's subject to change as the backlog is refined (The team delivers incremental work for every iteration and adapts per the customer's feedback. The backlog is progressively elaborated, refined, and prioritized by the product owner with stakeholders.)

What are characteristics of the Agile project life cycle?

1. The team selects the work it can complete during the next sprint 2. The team demonstrates incremental work at the end of the sprint 3. It is great for rapidly changing environments 4. It supports establishing a shared vision and checking in frequently