Project Schedule Management Quiz

While estimating the duration of activities on the project, the project team has decided to base most of their estimates on historical data from a project they completed a few months ago that is very similar to the current project. This would allow them to complete the estimate fairly quickly. What technique best illustrates this scenario? ​ - Parametric estimating ​ - Expert judgment ​ - Analogous estimating ​ - Bottom-up estimating

Analogous estimating: Analogous estimating is based on historical information, generally from previous projects that were very similar. This technique would lead to a quick estimate, but may not be very accurate. Expert judgment is using subject matter experts in order to estimate the duration, and bottom-up estimation is done by aggregating the work in order to come up with the duration. Parametric estimating is usually a mathematical model based on historical information.

While working on a large building development project the team has identified a particular warehouse they would use to fabricate the steel beams. Where would the team store this information? ​ - Activity Lists ​ - Activity Attributes ​ - Milestone List ​ - Project Schedule Network Diagram

Activity Attributes: The activity attributes can be used to identify the place where the work is to be performed. The activity list is just a list of all activities on the project. The milestone list will identify all milestones on the project. The project schedule network diagram will not show the location of work, just the sequence thereof.

The project manager has met with the project team to define the activities on the project. Which of the following components of the project management plan will the team not use to define the activities? ​ - WBS ​ - WBS dictionary ​ - Scope Statement ​ - Activity Lists

Activity Lists: The WBS, WBS dictionary, and scope statement are part of the scope baseline, which is an input to the process of define activities. The activity list is the output of the process, not an input.

The builders have completed the foundation for the large office building. Upon completion, they have filed a permit, and are told by the permit office that they will have to wait about 3 weeks for inspection. How should these 3 weeks be represented in the project schedule? ​ - As a lag ​ - As a lead ​ - As a delay ​ - As an overlap

As a lag: A lag is a delay between activities. Although "delay" is a somewhat correct answer, using the term "lag" is more appropriate for a PMP exam. A lead is an overlap of work on a project.

The project team has completed all duration estimates for the activities on the project and has indicated that their estimates should be with in a -10 to +10% range. Where should the project team store this range? ​ - Schedule baseline ​ - Schedule management plan ​ - Basis of estimates ​ - Activity lists

Basis of estimates: The basis of estimates would generally indicate the range of possible estimates. The schedule baseline and schedule management plan will not indicate the possible range of the estimates, while the activity list is simply a list of activities that will take place on the project.

While working on a complex software development project, the project team has added an additional month to the project schedule due to the uncertainty of the work getting done. What type of reserve does this represent? ​ - Management reserves ​ - Contingency reserves ​ - Risk reserves ​ - Expert judgment reserves

Contingency reserves: "Contingency reserve" is associated with a known-unknown and is usually added to the project management plan. A management reserve is generally for an unknown-unknown and not added to the project management plan. "Risk" and "expert judgment reserves" are made-up terms.

The project manager is constructing the project schedule and would like to know the minimum duration needed to complete the project. What method can he used to determine the minimum duration? ​ - Duration methods ​ - Scheduling method ​ - Critical path method ​ - Precedence diagramming method

Critical path method: The critical path method is used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of schedule flexibility. The precedence diagramming method is used to construct the project schedule network diagram showing the dependencies between activities. The "scheduling" and "duration" methods are made-up terms.

In developing the schedule management plan which of the following tools will the project manager use? ​ - Data Representation ​ - Data Analysis ​ - Decision Making ​ - Project Management Information System

Data Analysis: Data analysis is a tool that is used in plan schedule management to create the schedule management plan. The other choices are not tools in this process.

The project team has filed for a permit in order to continue building the foundation for a large office building. The permit usually takes about 6 weeks to arrive, and the team is worried it may take even longer. What kind of dependency best describes this scenario? ​ - Internal Dependency ​ - External Dependency ​ - Discretionary Dependency ​ - Permit Dependency

External Dependency: External dependency is when the work is outside of the project team's control, such as getting a permit. Internal dependency is usually within the project team's control. "Permit dependency" is a made-up term.

The project sponsor has indicated to the project manager that he is not happy with the current project schedule. He would like the project to be completed at least 3 months earlier than its scheduled completion date. What technique can the project manager use to decrease the schedule while minimizing cost? ​ - Crashing ​ - Fast Tracking ​ - Reserves ​ - Dependencies

Fast Tracking: "Fast tracking" the schedule is a compression technique in which activities are generally done in parallel. This technique generally increases the risk on the project but may not increase costs. "Crashing" is adding more resources to the project to finish it faster, and will increase costs.

While decomposing project activities which of the following statements is true regarding the usage of this technique? ​ - It is only done once on a project ​ - Involving the team members can lead to better and more accurate results ​ - It is a tool used in sequence activities ​ - It is used to create the project scope statement

Involving the team members can lead to better and more accurate results: Decomposition is best done when the team members are involved, since they are considered subject matter experts and will generally lead to more accurate results. It should be done throughout the project as more work is done and understood. It is not a tool used in sequence activity or defined scope processes.

While working on an agile project, what can the project manager do in order to track the work that remains to be completed on the project? ​ - Earned Value Analysis ​ - Expert Judgment ​ - Trend Analysis ​ - Iteration Burndown Chart

Iteration Burndown Chart: An iteration burndown chart shows the work that remains to be completed in the iteration backlog. "Earned value analysis" is a series of formulas that will tell you the status update on the project. Expert judgment is about using subject matter experts, and trend analysis is to see whether the project is staying on or off schedule.

While installing the servers and workstations on a project, the team has decided that they do not have to wait for all the servers to be installed before they start installing the workstations. They have decided to install just a few of the main servers, and then they can start installing the workstations. What best describes what they're doing on the schedule? ​ - Lead ​ - Lag ​ - Delay ​ - Overlap

Lead: A lead is an overlap between activities, in which one activity can start before the other activity is done. Although "overlap" would be a good choice, the term "lead" is a better answer for a PMP question. A lag is a delay between activities.

While working on the network installation project the project team has determined that they must finish the router configurations before they can set up the workstations. The workstations cannot be set up until the router configurations are done. What kind of dependency does this best describes? ​ - Discretionary Dependency ​ - Mandatory Dependency ​ - External Dependency ​ - Physical Dependency

Mandatory Dependency: Mandatory dependencies are dependencies in which one activity must be done in order for another activity to start. Discretionary dependencies are when the sequence of activities does not necessarily have to be done in that particular order, but is usually at the discretion of the person doing the work. "Physical dependency" is a made-up term.

The project sponsor is examining the project schedule and has noticed a few activities with a duration of zero. What best describes these activities? ​ - Milestone ​ - Normal Activity ​ - Informational Activity ​ - Backward Activity

Milestone: Milestones have zero duration because they represent a significant point or event on the project. All other choices are made-up terms.

While conducting the process of define activities, a few of the team members has decided to use the lesson learned repository from previous projects. Which of the following input describes this lesson learned repository? ​ - Project management plan ​ - Project Documents ​ - Enterprise Environmental Factors ​ - Organization Process Assets

Organization Process Assets: The organizational process assets include but are not limited to the lesson learned repository from previous projects and templates. The other choices do not include the lesson learned repository.

Which of the following methods is used to construct a schedule in which activities are represented by nodes and are graphically linked? ​ - Precedence diagramming method ​ - Critical path method ​ - Scheduling method ​ - Diagram method

Precedence diagramming method: The precedence diagramming method is used to construct a schedule in which the activities are represented graphically using nodes and are linked based on their relationship. The critical path method is used to find the critical path for a network diagram. "Scheduling method" and "diagramming method" are made-up terms.

Due to the complex nature of the construction project, the project manager has decided that the project is best done outside normal working hours, generally overnight. Where should the project manager document this information? ​ - Schedule Baseline ​ - Schedule Management Plan ​ - Project Time Shift ​ - Project Calendars

Project Calendars: A project calendar identifies the working days and shifts that the project will follow.

The project team has embarked on a very complex software development project and is currently having a difficult time decomposing work packages that will be done later; they have decided to decompose these work packages as they get closer to the work. What technique best represents the scenario? ​ - Decomposition ​ - Future Planning ​ - Rolling Wave Planning ​ - Meetings

Rolling Wave Planning: Rolling wave planning is a planning technique in which future work is decomposed as the work gets closer. Decomposition is done to break down the deliverables and work packages into activities. Future planning is not a valid tool or technique.

While getting ready to manage the project schedule, the project manager would like to document how accurate the schedule must be and what model the team will use to create the schedule. What document would have this information? ​ - Scope Management Plan ​ - Schedule Management Plan ​ - Schedule Baseline ​ - Schedule Data

Schedule Management Plan: The schedule management plan will describe how the schedule will be planned, developed, managed, executed, and controlled throughout the project, as well as the level of accuracy, reporting formats, and schedule model.

While working on a large systems upgrade project, the project team has decided that they can install the servers and the workstations at the same time. The activities will all start at the same time but the workstation installations will take a bit longer to finish. What relationship best describes this scenario? ​ - Finish to start ​ - Finish to finish ​ - Start to start ​ - Start to late finish

Start to start: The relationship of "start to start" is when a successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity has started. This means that they both generally started the same time, but they may not finish at the same time.

The activity lists and WBS are used to help create the scope baseline and the schedule baseline. Which of the following statements is true regarding these two documents? ​ - The WBS is not part of the project management plan while the activity list is ​ - Activity lists are part of the schedule baseline, and the WBS is part of the scope baseline. ​ - The activity lists and WBS are part of the schedule baseline. ​ - The activity lists and the WBS can be developed either sequentially or concurrently

The activity lists and the WBS can be developed either sequentially or concurrently: The activity list, WBS, and WBS dictionary can be developed either sequentially or concurrently. The WBS is part of the scope baseline, while the activity list is not part of the schedule baseline, only considered a project document.