Adaptive Learning Assignment 14

How many types of dependencies or relationships among activities in a project?

4

Which of the following scenarios is an example of project crashing? More than one answer may be selected.

A project manager brings on more developers to assist with software updating. A project manager determines that purchasing additional equipment will allow them to create products twice as fast.

In which of the following situations would a Monte Carlo simulation be used by a project manager? More than one answer may be selected.

A project manager wants to determine their worst-case scenario for completing a project. A project manager wants to see the likely completion date that results from adding more developers to a project.

Select 2 programs that can be used to construct relatively simple Gantt charts.

Apple Numbers Microsoft Excel

Which of the following is true when using a Monte Carlo simulation technique to estimate a project's timeline?

It uses simulations to provide outcome probabilities. It is dependent on the accuracy of inputs provided.

To address these problems, some project management professionals (PMPs) use simulations such as a ___ Carlo simulation.

Monte

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. Because it is more responsible for PMs to tell clients the likelihood of a project's completion on a certain date than to simply state when the project will be completed, some PMs use a ___.

Monte Carlo simulation

Match the dependency with its PERT abbreviation. One activity must be accomplished before the dependent activity can be started. Activities can be accomplished independently of each other, but both must be completed in order for the project to be completed. One activity cannot begin until another has begun. One activity is not considered complete until the next task has been started.

One activity must be accomplished before the dependent activity can be started: FS Activities can be accomplished independently of each other, but both must be completed in order for the project to be completed: FF One activity cannot begin until another has begun: SS One activity is not considered complete until the next task has been started: SF

Three advantages of building a Gantt chart are:

Unlike a flowchart, a Gantt chart shows estimated timelines A Gantt chart provides a visual display of concurrent processes A Gantt chart provides a framework to develop PERT

Select the true statements regarding the Monte Carlo simulation technique.

When using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate a project's timeline, optimistic (O), pessimistic (P), and expected or most likely (E or M) values from each activity are taken from the PERT network chart and placed in the simulation program. The Monte Carlo simulation provides outcome probabilities based on PM inputs. The Monte Carlo method was developed by the Polish-American mathematician and physicist Stanislaw Ulam.

Select the three phases of a project typically managed by a project planner.

closure initiation planning

One of the keys to success in any project is highly transparent ___ throughout each of the phases among all the parties involved.

communication

Because of the need to keep all stakeholders informed of a project's status, a ___ is an important aspect of project management and support systems are included in nearly all PM software.

communications plan

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. The project manager body of knowledge (PMBOK) guide recommends using earned value management (EVM) to track what is called the project "triangle" of scope, time, and ___.

costs

Once a program manager has developed a PERT network chart and determined the critical path for project completion (the critical path method (CPM)), the project manager will attempt to create efficiencies by addressing those activities along the critical path and focusing on how to make methods of making them as short as possible. This is referred to as project ___.

crashing

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. Using a PERT network chart, and the associated ___ (CPM), project managers can provide clients with a more accurate estimate of project completion times.

critical path method

You and a friend have two rooms in an apartment to paint on the same day. You finish your room and your friend does not. A project manager would say that the job is affected by which scheduling dependency? More than one answer may be correct.

discretionary finish-to-finish

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. The PERT describes the ___ of each project activity in terms of optimistic or best-case scenario (O), pessimistic (P), and expected or most likely (E or M).

duration

From the following list, select all the information that project managers need to construct a basic Gantt chart.

each activity or task of the project the start time of each activity or task the duration of each activity or task

Tracking project progress and controlling costs remains a critical role for every project manager. To assist the PM in this evaluation the project manager body of knowledge (PMBOK) guide recommends using ___ value management (EVM)

earned

Every project needs a project manager to oversee a projects 4 phases of initiation, planning, ___, and closure.

execution

One challenge that often faces project managers is managing the ___ of the client and other stakeholders.

expectations

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. If your spouse needs to approve the grocery list (task A), before you can begin shopping(task B), task B has a(n) __ dependency on task A. This assumes you have no control over your spouse.

external

If a task falls outside of the program manager's immediate control it is referred to as a(n) ___ dependency.

external

If your spouse must approve the paint selection before you can begin painting a room, then the paint project has an ___ dependency on the paint selection* *Note - this assumes that you have no control over your spouse.

external

Project management software systems can be used to map out a project in different ways according to its complexity. Which of the following statements lists software results according to low-to-high project complexity?

flow chart, Gantt chart, PERT chart

Because it allows clients and investors, who might not be familiar with more evolved tools, to visualize the entire project at a glance, a ___ is one of the first creations of a project manager.

flowchart

Because projects are comprised of four distinct phases (initiation, planning, execution, and closure) and because each phase has multiple steps that can be conducted in series, (one after the other), or in parallel (at the same time), using a ___ to visualize the overall process can be extremely beneficial in the overall process.

flowchart

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. A ___ can serve as a building block to more sophisticated program management tools and help all stakeholders to better understand the intermediate steps required to complete a project.

flowchart

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. Because they allow stakeholders a simple visualization of an entire project, a ___ is a commonly used tool of project managers.

flowchart

Because they allow stakeholders a simple visualization of an entire project, project managers commonly use

flowcharts

Because they can alert all stakeholders to decision points, ___ are commonly used, simple visualization tools for program managers.

flowcharts

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. By allowing viewers to see the project's progress, project managers can reduce the anxiety caused by apparent inaction. For this reason, PMs often provide simple ___.

flowcharts

Project managers have long used ___ to assist stakeholders to visualize the project processes.

flowcharts

During the ___ the project's scope and a projected timeline for deliverables are described.

initiation phase

In addition to the main four relationships, project managers also categorize relationships according to whether they are internally or externally dependent. With an ___ dependency, the project manager has a degree of control over the tasks.

internal

The essential function of resource leveling is to

keep the project moving toward completion by reassigning resources

The PMBOK identifies six processes that project managers can use to assess risks. PMBOK stands for project management body of ___.

knowledge

Adjusting task completion to maximize the use of limited resources is referred to as resource ___.

leveling

Project risk management remains an underdeveloped science. Often subject to the biases and prior experiences of the project manager, project risk ___ remains an underdeveloped science.

management

As each project activity is started or completed, the PERT network chart updates the critical path. The critical path estimates the project completion time. This process is called the critical path ___ (CPM).

method

The advantage of a PERT ___ chart is that it displays the interconnectivity of different processes, including activities that can be completed concurrently.

network

Match the shape with its common flowchart meaning. oval rectangle diamond arrow

oval: beginning or ending point (terminator) rectangle: process or step diamond: decision point arrow: directional progress (flow)

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. As each activity is started or completed, the PERT network chart updates the critical ___.

path

All projects have four essential phases; initiation, ___, execution, and closure.

planning

As project management firms take on more projects, and as these projects grow in complexity and cost, project management firms increasingly have managers who specialize in either project ___ or project management and each specialty often uses unique software.

planning

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. The final step in the ___ phase involves scheduling a meeting with project stakeholders and allowing these key players to review the Gantt chart or project timeline.

planning

If required, a PERT network chart would be developed in the ___ phase of a project.

planning

Project management firms use project ___ management (PPM) software to assist in appropriately allocating resources and to aid in determining whether additional projects can be successfully and profitably be completed.

portfolio

If a client has a concept in mind, the ___ manager must ensure the feasibility of the concept, provide for flexibility with the outcome, and manage the expectations of the client and all stakeholders.

project

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. By reducing the duration of the most demanding activities on the critical path, the PM can expedite the entire project. This is referred to as ___.

project crashing

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. Focusing on project scheduling and sequencing to optimize the progress of all of the projects in a firm's portfolio is the role of a ___.

project planner

Match the manager with the role in a project management firm. project planner project manager project portfolio manager

project planner: Ensures that the client understands the project cost and timeline. project manager: Focuses on completing the project correctly. project portfolio manager: Ensures that the firm only accepts the right projects.

List the activities of a project planner. More than one answer may be correct.

project scheduling project scheduling project closure

Which shape in a common flowchart represents a process or step?

rectangle

Select the four common elements of a flowchart.

rectangle diamond oval arrow

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. Project management software, capable of producing PERT network charts, can provide ___ recommendations if the PM enters the appropriate limiting factors.

resource leveling

Some project activities on the critical path can be allocated few resources or lower priority because they will include slack time. This is an advantage of using PERT and a critical path __ .

schedule

Projects have starting points and (hopefully) ending points, and are, therefore, ___ by their very nature.

temporary

Of the following descriptions, which one accurately applies to slack?

time when one project activity is waiting for another activity

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. A major problem with the program evaluation and review technique (PERT), its critical path method (CPM), and the associated earned value management (EVM) methodologies is that they ___ .

underestimate risks

Which type of network chart allows project managers to redirect resources from processes that are not on the critical path to ones that are on the critical path?

a PERT chart

Select three true statements regarding earned value management (EVM).

Earned value management (EVM) tracks what is called the project "triangle" of scope, time, and costs. EVM was originally called PERT/COST because it enters cost data into the PERT network chart to evaluate a project's efficacy. Earned value multiplies the percentage of completion of each activity on the PERT network chart by the total value of the completed activity.

Each of the following statements begins with an abbreviation for a PERT dependency, followed by a description of a dependency. Bearing in mind that F stands for finish and S stands for start, which two statements are correct?

FS: One activity must be accomplished before the dependent activity can be started. SS: One activity cannot begin until another has begun.

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. A horizontal bar chart commonly used by PMs that shows project activities on the Y-axis and time on the X-axis is called a ___.

Gantt chart

Which of the following statements about Gantt charts is true?

Gantt charts are designed for internal stakeholders, not external ones. A Gantt chart displays a critical path for project completion.

Select the true statement regarding a Gantt chart.

Gantt charts are primarily designed for internal stakeholders rather than external stakeholders.

Select two advantages provided by a Gantt chart, as opposed to a simple flowchart.

Gantt charts display the concurrent nature of certain project activities. Unlike flowcharts, Gantt charts include the time duration on the X axis.

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. A project is temporary in it's nature and is undertaken to achieve a goal. To be a goal it must meet the S.M.A.R.T. criteria. The R stands for ___ .

Realistic

As with all goals, projects should meet the S.M.A.R.T. criteria; that is, the project must have a specific objective (S), progress must be measurable (M), as well as which 3 of the following?

Realistic (R) Attainable (A) Time-based

The real value of a Monte ___ simulation is that it displays to the client and to the project planner the degree of uncertainty that is involved with any project.

Carlo

Allowing managers to direct resources from activities that are not on this critical path and apply them to more critical processes is an advantage of .

PERT

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. By displaying activities with slack, a ___ allows project managers to direct resources to more critical activities, speeding the completion of the entire project.

PERT

By displaying activities that have slack, a _________ can help speed the completion of an entire project by directing resources to critical activities.

PERT chart

Drag and drop the correct response into the empty box. One reason to create a Gantt chart is that it provides the framework for the development of a ___.

PERT network chart

Select the true statements regarding project crashing.

Project crashing usually requires applying additional resources to critical activities and results in increased costs. By reducing the duration of the most demanding activities on the critical path, the PM can expedite the entire project.