Chapter 6 Project Time Management

Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)

"Although AOA or ADM Network Diagrams are generally easy to understand and create, the ______ Diagramming Method is more commonly used."

Soft Logic...Discretionary Dependancies are sometimes referred to as Soft Logic.

"Discretionary Dependancies are sometimes referred to as _____ Logic."

Hard Logic...Mandatory Dependancies are sometimes referred to as Hard Logic.

"Mandatory Dependancies are sometimes referred to as ______ logic."

W.B.S and W.B.S Dictionary.

"The Activity List and Activity Attributes should be in agreement with the ____ and ____ dictionary."

Last Node

"The _____ node represents the end of the project."

First Node

"The _____ node signifies the start of a project."

Milestones

"______ are useful tools for setting goals and monitoring progress."

Yes, because most Project Management software uses the Precedent Diagramming Model (PDM) as opposed to the Arrow On Arrow (AOA) technique, there is a advantage of familiarity when you use the PDM.

(+) Most Project Management software uses the Precedent Diagramming Model.

Dummy Activities have no duration and no resources but are occasionally needed on AOA network diagrams to show logical relationships between activities. So by using PDM you avoid this, and therefore obtain better efficiency.

(+) Use of the PDM to create Network Diagrams avoids Dummy Activities:

TRUE. Yes, until you have a good understanding of project activities, you cannot determine activity sequencing, resources, durations or develop a schedule.

(T/F) "Activity information is a required input to other time management processes."

FALSE. All project work is NOT defined in enough detail after planning scope management. Activities must be described in more detail as a part of schedule management.

(T/F) "All project work has been defined in enough detail after planning scope management."

TRUE

(T/F) "Defining Activities involves Identifying the specific actions that will produce project deliverables in enough detail to determine resource and schedule estimates."

FALSE. Only the most important and visible events.

(T/F) "Every Deliverable output for a Project is considered a Milestone."

FALSE. Only activities with Dependancies from the WBS need to be shown on the Network Diagram.

(T/F) "Every item on the WBS needs to be shown on the Network Diagram."

TRUE

(T/F) "It is important that project stakeholders work together to define the activity dependancies in their project."

TRUE. Yes, it often takes several activities and a lot of work to complete a milestone.

(T/F) "It often takes several activities and a lot of work to complete a Milestone."

FALSE. Every activity on the Network Diagram must be completed in order to finish the Project.

(T/F) "Only certain activities on the Network Diagram must be completed in order to finish the Project."

TRUE

(T/F) "Part of the reason scheduling problems are so common is because Time is easily measured and remembered."

TRUE. Yes, the The Schedule Management Plan can be Informal and broad, or Formal and Detailed, based on the needs of the project.

(T/F) "The Schedule Management Plan (the output of the "Planning Schedule Management" process) can be Informal or Formal, based on the needs of the project.

A marker to help in identifying necessary activities.

A Milestone can be describes as:

Project Time Management

Because of the numerous possibilities for schedule conflicts, it is important for Project Managers to use a strong sense of Project _______ Management.

Mandatory, Discretionary, and External Dependancies

What are the 3 reasons for creating dependencies among Project Activities:

Yes, individual work styles and cultural difference can absolutely cause schedule conflicts.

Can Individual work styles and cultural differences cause schedule conflicts? If so list an example.

Controlling and managing changes to the project schedule.

Controlling the schedule involves:

Identifying the specific activities that the project team members and stakeholders must perform to produce project deliverables.

Defining Activities involves:

Inherent in nature of the work being performed on a project.

Describe Mandatory Dependancies:

Analyzing activity sequences, activity resource estimates, and activity duration estimates to create the project schedule.

Developing the schedule involves:

Estimating how many resources, people, equipment, and materials a project team should use to perform project activities.

Estimating Activity Resources involves:

Estimating the number of work periods that are needed to complete individual activities.

Estimating activity durations involves:

Not starting the design phase of a system until the users sign off on the analysis work. Making sure everyone is on the same page.

Example of Discretionary dependency:

Installation of new operating system may depend on delivery of new hardware from external supplier.

Example of External Dependancies:

You cannot test code until after code is written.

Example of Mandatory Dependency:

The Schedule Management Plan is the output of the "Planning Schedule Management Process"...It can be flexible in that it can be Informal or Formal, based on the needs of the project.

From what process does the Schedule Management Plan result from? Also explain how the Schedule Management Plan can be flexible?

Time...Gantt Charts, Network Diagrams, and Critical Path Analysis are tools that are specific to Project Time Management.

Gantt Charts, Network Diagrams, and Critical Path Analysis are tools that are specific to what aspect of Project Management?

Project Schedule Model Development, The Scheduling Methodology, Level of Accuracy and Units of Measure, Control thresholds, Rules of Performance Measurement, Reporting Formats, and Process Descriptions.

In general, what information should a Schedule Management Plan include?

The Project Charter often mentions project start and end dates.

In respect to "Planning Schedule Management" what is often mentioned in a Project Charter?

When two or more activities follow a single node, a "Burst" occurs.

In terms of Activity On Arrow Diagram, when do "Burst" occur?

When two or more nodes precede a single node.

In terms of Activity On Arrow Diagram, when do "Merge" occur?

Letters A through J on a Network Diagram represent Activities with Dependencies that are required to complete the project.

In terms of the elements of a Network Diagram, letters "A through J" represent what?

The Schedule Management Plan, Activity List and Attributes, Project Scope Statement, Milestone List, and Organizational Process Assets.

Inputs to the "Sequencing Activities" process include:

Completion and customer sign off of significant documents in a Projects development can be considered a Milestone.

List an example of a Milestone:

A prime example of how cultural differences can cause schedule conflicts is when Muslim employees enter Ramadan and fast. That time period for them can potentially hold them out of numerous activities for various reasons that others may not be affected by because of once again, cultural differences.

List an example of how cultural differences can cause schedule conflicts in a Projects development?

Different people have different attitudes and perspectives on the way work should be done. Some prefer strict, detailed structure of when and how things are to be done. While others prefer more flexibility and freedom. This can potentially cause conflict on scheduling and debate on establishing deadlines.

List an example of how different individual work styles can cause schedule conflicts?

Mandatory, Discretionary, and External

List the 3 Reasons for a Dependency between Activities:

"Finish-To-Start", "Start-To-Start", "Finish-To-Finish", and "Start-To-Finish"

List the various Dependency Types:

"Does a certain activity have to be finished before another can start?"....This is an example of a Dependency. The sequence at hand depends on one activity that is dependent of another.

Name an example of a Dependency:

A baby rolling over, sitting up, or talking for the first time are examples of milestones parents and doctors check for in human life.

Name classic examples of milestones parents and doctors check for in human life:

Network Diagrams and Critical Path Analysis...are two examples of powerful scheduling tools available to Project Managers.

Name two Powerful Scheduling tools that are available to Project Managers:

People far too often compare planned and actual project completion times without taking into account the approved changes in the project.

One of the biggest challenges Mangers face is the need to deliver their projects on time. What is a major reason for this?

Work performance, schedule forcasts, change request, project management plan updates, project document updates, and organizational process assets updates.

Outputs of the "Controlling the schedule" process are:

Schedule Baseline, Project Baseline, Schedule Data, Project Calendars, Project Management Plan Updates, and Project Document Updates.

Outputs of the "Developing the schedule" process are:

Activity Duration Estimates and Project Document Updates.

Outputs of the "Estimating activity durations" are:

Determining the policies, procedures, and documentation that will be used for planning, executing, and controlling the project schedule.

Planning Schedule Management involves:

Identifying and documenting the relationships between project activities.

Sequencing Activities involves:

The Schedule Management Plan

The main Output of the "Planning Schedule Management" process is:

Activity List, Activity Attributes, a Milestone List, and project management plan updates.

The main outputs of the "Defining Activities" process are:

Activity Resource Requirements, a resource breakdown structure, and project document updates.

The main outputs of the "Estimating Activity Resources" process are:

Project Schedule Network Diagrams and Project Document Updates.

The main outputs of the "Sequencing Activities" process are:

7...There are 7 main processes involved in Project Time management.

There are __ main processes involved in Project Time Management.

Task (B) cannot finish until Task (A) starts.

Visual Display of a "Start-To-Finish" Dependency:

Task (B) cannot finish until Task (A) finishes.

Visual display of a "Finish-To-Finish" Dependency:

Task (B) cannot start until Task (A) finishes

Visual display of a "Finish-To-Start" Dependency:

Task (B) cannot start until Task (A) starts.

Visual display of a "Start-To-Start" Dependency:

Defining Activities, Sequencing Activities, Estimating Activity Resources, and Estimating Activity Durations

What 4 Project Time Management Processes are the basis for creating a Project Schedule?

Planning Schedule Management, Defining Activities, Sequencing Activities, Estimating Activity Resources, Estimating Activity Durations, Developing the Schedule, Controlling the Schedule

What are the 7 main processes of Project Time Management?

Relationships between Project and Non-Project activities.

What do External Dependancies represent?

Activity Sequencing or Relationships between task

What do arrows in a Network Diagram represent?

PERT charts

What do some people refer to Network Diagrams as?

Activities that must be done to complete the project.

What does a Network Diagram represent?

Evaluating the reasons for dependencies, and the different types of dependencies.

What does the Sequencing process involve?

Because time waits for no man. And there is no way you can get time back, no matter what happens on a project.

What does the variable of Time have the least amount of flexibility?

Project Time Management involves the processes required to ensure timely completion of a project.

What is Project Time Management?

A relationship in which the "from" activity must be finished before the "to" activity can be finished. Once cannot finish before another finish.

What is a "Finish-To-Finish" Dependency?

A relationship in which the "form" activity or predecessor must finish before the "to" activity or successor can start.

What is a "Finish-To-Start" Dependency?

A relationship in which the "from" activity must start before the "to" activity can be finished.

What is a "Start-To-Finish" Dependency?

A relationship in which the "from" activity cannot start until the "to" activity or successor is started.

What is a "Start-To-Start" Dependency?

A relationship that pertains to the sequencing of Project Activities or Task.

What is a Dependency?

A significant event that usually has no duration.

What is a Milestone?

A schematic display of the logical relationships among project activities and their sequencing.

What is a Network Diagram?

The starting and ending point of an activity.

What is a Node?

A tabulation of activities to be includes on a project schedule.

What is an Activity List?

An element of work that has expected duration, cost, and resource requirements.

What is an Activity?

A network diagramming technique in which activities are represented by arrows and connected at points called nodes to illustrate the sequence of activities.

What is the Arrow Diagramming Method:

Visualizing certain types of Time Relationships.

What is the Precedence Diagramming Method particularly useful for?

A network diagramming technique in which Boxes represent activities.

What is the Precedence Diagramming Method?

Activity Attributes provide more schedule-related information about each activity.

What is the function of Activity Attributes?

To ensure that the project team completely understands all the work it must do as part of the project scope team, so the team can start scheduling work.

What is the goal of Defining Activities?

Network Diagrams

What is the preferred technique for showing activity sequencing?

Activity Name, Activity Number, and a brief description of the Activity.

What should be included on an Activity List?

Time

What variable and aspect of life has the least amount of flexibility?

Information is added to the Activity Attributes as it become available.

When is information added to the Activity Attributes?

On the W.B.S

Where is an Activity or Task usually found?

The Project team defines Discretionary Dependancies.

Who defines Discretionary Dependancies?

Because if you do not define the sequence of activities you cannot use some of the most powerful scheduling tools available.

Why is it important to Define the sequence of activities?

Because if they don't review these items it could produce an unrealistic schedule, that produces unacceptable results. Everyone must be on the same page.

Why should the Project Team review the Activity List and Activity Attributes with Project Stakeholders?