project management sytems .......

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

4

Three advantages of building a Gantt chart are:

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

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

Apple Numbers Microsoft Excel

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

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. Earned value management (EVM) tracks what is called the project "triangle" of scope, time, and costs.

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

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.

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

Monte

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. 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. One activity is not considered complete until the next task has been started. drop zone empty. SF

Match the shape with its common flowchart meaning. Instructions

Oval: Beginning or ending point (terminator) Rectangle: Process or step Diamond: Decision point Arrow: Directional progress (flow)

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

By displaying activities with slack, a ___ allows project managers to direct resources to more critical activities, speeding the completion of the entire project.

PERT

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.

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

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.

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?

Time-based Realistic (R) Attainable (A)

Select the reasons why project planners use project portfolio management (PPM) software.

To avoid the tendency to accept more projects than might be reasonable. To minimize the possibility of project delays due to equipment or worker overscheduling. To reduce the likelihood of overworking staff and disappointing clients.

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

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

closure planning initiation

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

communication

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

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

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

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

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

execution

All projects have four essential phases; initiation, planning, ___ , and closure. All projects have four essential phases; initiation, planning, ___ , and closure. drop zone empty.

execution

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

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

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

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

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 they allow stakeholders a simple visualization of an entire project, a ___ is a commonly used tool of project managers.

flowchart

Being able to drag and drop shapes and lines quickly and easily greatly simplifies the ________ creation process.

flowchart

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

flowcharts

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. Multiple choice question.

flowcharts

An important part of the planning phase of the project management process is the completion of the _____ chart.

gantt

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

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 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

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

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, or 2nd

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

program evaluation and review technique (PERT)

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

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

On the flowchart, a process is depicted by a ________.

rectangle

Project management software, capable of producing PERT network charts, can provide ___ recommendations if the PM enters the appropriate limiting factors.

resource leveling

Regardless of the project, every project manager faces physical limitations such as the number of available employees or the amount of available equipment, or constraints due to the physical environment. To mitigate these limitations, project managers use software that provides ___ .

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

Most ______ programs, such as Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers, provide templates for constructing Gantt charts.

spreadsheet

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