Project Management Chapter 8 Questions

Without a time-phased __________ good project schedule and cost control are impossible.

budget

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

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

In scheduling terms, ________ constrained means that project duration is fixed and resources are flexible.

time

Identify and briefly discuss the three more common problems encountered in managing multiproject resource schedules.

1. overall schedule slippage, 2. inefficient resource utilization, and 3. resource bottlenecks.

Identify and give an example of the three types of resource constraints.

1. People; by skill classification (engineer, programmer, salesperson), 2. materials; paint, data, parts, and 3. equipment; computers, earth-movers, office space.

Identify and briefly describe the three types of project constraints.

1. Technical (logic); the sequence that activities must be performed, 2. resource; the absence of required people, materials, equipment, or working capital, and 3. physical; limitations based on space or environmental limits.

What are the disadvantages of resource leveling?

1. loss of flexibility, 2. increased risk of project delay, 3. more critical or near critical activities.

What are the three most common heuristics (in order of priority) used to allocate resources to project activities?

1. minimum slack; start with activities with the least amount of slack, 2. smallest duration; if two activities have the same slack select the one with the smallest duration, and 3. lowest activity identification number, if slack and duration are the same select the earliest activity.

Identify and briefly describe the potential impacts of resource-constrained scheduling.

1. reduced slack reduces flexibility, 2. increased number of critical and near-critical activities, 3. increase complexity due to resource constrains added to technical constraints, 4. the critical path may become a set of disjointed critical activities, and 5. formerly critical activities may now become non-critical.

Identify the potential impacts of project constraints.

1. reduction in slack on the project network, 2. decrease in flexibility, 3. possible decrease in parallel activities, and 4. increase in the likelihood of delaying the project.

Identify and briefly describe the two classifications of scheduling problems.

1. time-constrained; the end date is fixed and needed resources are available, 2. resource-constrained; the resources are fixed and the end date is flexible.

All resource leveling techniques involve A. Delaying noncritical activities B. Delaying critical activities C. Using negative slack D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

A. Delaying noncritical activities

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 A. Outsourcing B. Redistribution of projects C. Project allocation D. Task sharing E. Both B and D are correct

A. Outsourcing

The most widely used approach to apply heuristics, which have been found to consistently minimize project delay over a large variety of projects is the A. Parallel method B. Resource method C. Materials D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

A. Parallel method

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. A. Physical B. Technical C. Resource D. Scheduling E. Time

A. Physical

If resources are not adequate to meet peak demands, the resulting reschedule is termed A. Resource-constrained scheduling B. Time-constrained scheduling C. Mandatory leveling D. Project resource adjustment E. Allocation

A. Resource-constrained scheduling

In a resource-constrained project the second priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the A. Smallest duration B. Least slack C. Most slack D. Lowest identification number E. Highest cost

A. Smallest duration

In a resource-constrained project, which of the following is most likely to be changed? A. The completion date B. The budget C. Project quality D. Both A and B are equally likely E. A, B, and C are all equally likely

A. The completion date

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 ________ constrained. A. Time B. Quality C. Cost D. Performance E. Resource

A. Time

In a resource-constrained project, the first priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the A. Smallest duration B. Least slack C. Most slack D. Lowest identification number E. Highest cost

B. Least slack

In the Botanical Garden example, which of the following was used to solve the resource problem? A. Resource allocation B. Smoothing resource demand C. The parallel method D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

B. Smoothing resource demand

When developing a new software package, the software must be designed, the code must be written, and the code must be tested. This is an example of a ______ constraint. A. Physical B. Technical C. Resource D. Schedule E. Time

B. Technical

Project budgets are developed by time-phasing which of the following? A. Resource schedules B. Work packages C. The network diagram D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

B. Work packages

In reviewing the status of her project with top management, Shirley was told that there only were two programmers that she could use for her project. Her project is __________ constrained. A. Time B. Quality C. Cost D. Performance E. Resource

E. Resource

A special truck that George needs on his project has been scheduled on another project. This is a ______ constraint. A. Working capital B. People C. Equipment D. Information E. Materials

C. Equipment

Jan is trying to reallocate resources in a time-constrained project to create smoother resource utilization with a low level of risk. She should move to activities with the A. Smallest duration B. Least slack C. Most slack D. Lowest identification number E. Highest cost

C. Most slack

More common problems associated with managing multiproject resources include all of the following except A. Inefficient resource utilization B. Delays in one project cause delays in other projects C. Reducing "downtime" created by lack of tasks to perform D. Resource bottlenecks E. All of these are common problems

C. Reducing "downtime" created by lack of tasks to perform

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 a ______ constraint. A. Physical B. Technical C. Resource D. Scheduling E. Time

C. Resource

The word Heuristics means A. Resource constraints B. Flexibility C. The critical path changed D. Parallel activities become sequential E. Rule of thumb

E. Rule of thumb

Splitting an activity creates the following situation: A. More people working on the same activity B. There are possible startup and shutdown costs C. A resource may be moved from one activity to another and then back D. Both B and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

D. Both B and C are correct

The U.S. Forest Service "snapshot from practice" illustrated the importance of A. Time constraints B. Resource constraints C. Cost constraints D. Both B and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

D. Both B and C are correct

All of the following are kinds of resource constraints except A. Materials B. People C. Equipment D. Information E. All of the above are resource constraints

D. Information

In a resource-constrained project the third priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the A. Smallest duration B. Least slack C. Most slack D. Lowest identification number E. Highest cost

D. Lowest identification number

Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand on resources is known as resource A. Shifting B. Effectiveness C. Manipulating D. Resource smoothing E. Allocation

D. Resource smoothing

Which of the following is not one of the types of project constraints? A. Physical B. Technical C. Resource D. Time E. All of these are types of project constraints

D. Time

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on resource A. Demands B. Increases C. Assumptions D. Utilization E. All are correct

D. Utilization

Resource leveling can provide A. Lower peak demand B. Reduced resource need over the life of the project C. Reduced fluctuations in resource demand D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

E. A, B, and C are all correct

Which of the following is a potential consequence of failing to schedule limited resources? A. Costly activity delays B. Costly project delays C. Difficulty in taking quick corrective action D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

E. A, B, and C are all correct

Which of the following is not one of the more common problems associated with scheduling multiproject resources? A. Overall schedule slippage B. Inefficient resource utilization C. Resource bottlenecks D. Both A and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

E. A, B, and C are all correct

Sam is trying to order the concrete needed to continue his project. However, the supplier won't be able to deliver it until next week. This is an example of a _______ constraint. A. Working capital B. People C. Equipment D. Information E. Materials

E. Materials

Most of the scheduling methods available today require the project manager to classify the project as either _______ constrained or ______ constrained. A. Time, quality B. Quality, resource C. Cost, time D. Quality, cost E. Time, resource

E. Time, resource

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? A. We are spending less than we should for the project B. We are doing a good job managing the project C. We should check to see if all the bills have been paid D. Both A and B are correct E. We can't be sure how the project is going

E. We can't be sure how the project is going

A lack of readily available engineers is a technical constraint. T/F

FALSE

Heuristics are used in resource-constrained projects to develop the optimal schedule. T/F

FALSE

If a project needs one earth-mover six months from now and the organization has four such machines, there is no equipment resource constraint. T/F

FALSE

Resource leveling is only used on projects which are resource-constrained. T/F

FALSE

The most obvious and important kind of resource constraint is a lack of materials. T/F

FALSE

The sequence of (1) pour foundation, (2) build frame, and (3) cover roof is a type of physical constraint. T/F

FALSE

The top priority in using heuristics to allocate scare resources is those activities with the smallest duration. T/F

FALSE

What is the difference in project goals when using resource leveling on time-constrained projects and using it on resource-constrained projects?

In time-constrained projects the goal is to smooth out the peaks and valleys and thus improve the utilization. In resource-constrained projects the goal is to achieve the shortest project duration given a limited supply of resources.

Why would a project manager use heuristics rather than a mathematical solution to level resources?

Mathematical models work on small networks and a small number of resources. Larger projects have massive data requirements. Heuristics tend to yield a good solution without the heavy burden imposed by math models.

If your project has spent $50,000 versus a budget of $45,000 and it is a week ahead of schedule, is it a certainty that your project is doing well?

Not necessarily. You need more information to draw that conclusion.

A project that is not resource-constrained is time-constrained. T/F

TRUE

All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using positive slack to smooth out the resource requirements. T/F

TRUE

All projects are usually either time-constrained or resource-constrained. T/F

TRUE

Having too few programmers and too many engineers is an example of a people resource constraint. T/F

TRUE

Many companies are using outsourcing as a means for dealing with their resource allocation problems associated with managing multiproject resources. T/F

TRUE

Resource Bottlenecks are one of the three more common problems encountered in managing multiproject resource schedules. T/F

TRUE

Scheduling resource-constrained projects focuses on completing the project as soon as possible under the given constraints. T/F

TRUE

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on resource utilization. T/F

TRUE

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on the optimal utilization of resources. T/F

TRUE

Splitting is a scheduling technique used to get a better schedule or better resource utilization. T/F

TRUE

The critical path in a resource-constrained schedule can be a group of disjointed, unconnected activities. T/F

TRUE

The inability to get more than two earth movers on a construction site at the same time is an example of a physical constraint. T/F

TRUE

To determine if a project is time-constrained or resource-constrained you would consult the project priority matrix. T/F

TRUE

Too many parallel activities for one individual are an example of a resource constraint. T/F

TRUE

Without a time-phased budget good project schedule and cost control are impossible. T/F

TRUE

Describe the parallel method for applying heuristics to the allocation of project resources.

The first priority is to allocate resources to the activity with the least amount of slack, usually an activity on the critical path. If more than one activity has the same amount of slack then selects the activity with the smallest duration. If more than one activity has the same slack and the same duration then select the activity that occurs the earliest.

Why should project managers be cautious about using the splitting scheduling technique?

The splitting technique is where an activity is interrupted and the resources are applied to another activity. The potential problems are in the addition of shutdown and startup costs which are added as one moves from activity to activity prior to completing the original activity.

In scheduling resource-constrained projects, _________ are typically used rather than optimum mathematical solutions.

heuristics

The shortage of computer chips to produce a circuit board is an example of a(n) ________ type of resource constraint.

materials

Scheduling activities in a constrained project typically has ________ as the top heuristic rule.

minimum slack

Many companies are using ________ from contractors and consultants as a means of dealing with the peaks and valleys of resource allocation among projects.

outsourcing

The ability to more efficiently manage the ebbs and flows of project work is one of the major driving forces behind ____________ today.

outsourcing

The ________ is the most widely used approach to apply heuristic rules to scheduling activities in a constrained project.

parallel method

The ______________ is the most widely used approach to apply heuristics in resource- constrained projects.

parallel method

A shortage of programmers to write software is an example of a(n) ________ type of resource constraint.

people

Hector wants to bring on another programmer to work on the project but the company does not have anyone who has the needed skills. Hector's project is facing a(n) ________ constraint.

people type of resource

Trying to renovate a ship compartment that is too small for more than one person is an example of a(n) ________ constraint.

physical

A project cost baseline is also called __________.

planned value (PV)

All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using ________ to reduce peak demand.

positive slack

To deal with problems related to having several concurrent projects, companies are creating ________ to oversee the scheduling of resources across multiple projects.

project offices or project departments

Beth has two engineers assigned to her project and cannot get any more even if it means slipping the due date on her project. She is managing a(n) ________ constrained project.

resource

Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand and, thus, increase resource utilization is called _______ leveling.

resource

Having one person responsible for performing several activities, all due at the same time, is an example of a(n) ________ constraint.

resource

In scheduling terms, ________ constrained means that a specific resource is fixed and the duration of the project is flexible.

resource

When using the ________ scheduling technique, the work in an activity is interrupted to work on another activity and is then resumed at a later point in time.

splitting or multitasking

Start-up and shutdown costs are major considerations when using the ________________ scheduling technique.

splitting/multitasking

A(n) ________ constraint addresses the sequence in which project activities must occur.

technical or logic