Question 1

The easiest way to add more labor to a project is not to add more people, but to schedule overtime. What are the disadvantages of scheduling overtime?

Accepted Answer

First, hourly workers are typically paid at least time and a half for overtime, increasing project costs. Sustained overtime work by salaried employees may incur intangible costs such as divorce, burnout, and turnover. It is also an oversimplification to assume that, over an extended period of time, a person is as productive during his or her eleventh hour at work as during his or her third hour of work.

Question 2

An activity's normal time and cost are 12 and $150, respectively. Its estimated crash time and cost are 9 and $300, respectively. This activity's crash cost per time unit is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  $50 
B)  $100 
C)  $150 
D)  $300 
E)  $30 
A)  $50 
B)  $100 
C)  $150 
D)  $300 
E)  $30 A

Question 3

An activity's ________ is calculated by dividing the rise by the run.

Accepted Answer

A)  run rate 
B)  rise rate 
C)  rise / run rate 
D)  slope 
E)  daily cost 
A)  run rate 
B)  rise rate 
C)  rise / run rate 
D)  slope 
E)  daily cost D

Question 4

In selecting the best activity to crash you would first select the activity with the

Accepted Answer

A)  least steep slope. 
B)  earliest start time. 
C)  longest duration. 
D)  most steep slope. 
E)  largest crash time. 
A)  least steep slope. 
B)  earliest start time. 
C)  longest duration. 
D)  most steep slope. 
E)  largest crash time.

Question 5

A project that has several near-critical or critical paths is said to be

Accepted Answer

A)  elastic. 
B)  fully consumed. 
C)  inherently risky. 
D)  sensitive. 
E)  insensitive. 
A)  elastic. 
B)  fully consumed. 
C)  inherently risky. 
D)  sensitive. 
E)  insensitive.

Question 6

Because direct costs are assumed to be developed from normal methods and in a normal amount of time, any reduction in activity time should ________ the direct cost of the activity.

Accepted Answer

A)  decrease 
B)  increase 
C)  reduce 
D)  expand 
E)  approximate 
A)  decrease 
B)  increase 
C)  reduce 
D)  expand 
E)  approximate

Question 7

Helen has just learned that she needs to reduce the duration of her project to meet an imposed deadline. She has calculated the crash cost per unit and knows the maximum units each activity can be reduced. What is the next step?

Accepted Answer

A)  Find the activity with the lowest crash cost 
B)  Calculate the optimum cost-time point 
C)  Calculate the crash point 
D)  Identify the critical path 
E)  Find the activity with the highest crash cost 
A)  Find the activity with the lowest crash cost 
B)  Calculate the optimum cost-time point 
C)  Calculate the crash point 
D)  Identify the critical path 
E)  Find the activity with the highest crash cost

Question 8

Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized before a project begins and reducing these costs through shorter project durations becomes a high priority.

Accepted Answer

A)  labor 
B)  direct 
C)  project 
D)  overhead 
E)  interest 
A)  labor 
B)  direct 
C)  project 
D)  overhead 
E)  interest

Question 9

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. What is the first activity you would crash?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  D 
D)  F 
E)  G 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  D 
D)  F 
E)  G

Question 10

Insensitive networks are a rarity; Planning for a sensitive network is more practical.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Cost slope can be determined by dividing the

Accepted Answer

A)  run by the rise. 
B)  rise by the run. 
C)  crash cost by the normal cost. 
D)  normal cost by the crash cost. 
E)  indirect cost by direct cost. 
A)  run by the rise. 
B)  rise by the run. 
C)  crash cost by the normal cost. 
D)  normal cost by the crash cost. 
E)  indirect cost by direct cost.

Question 12

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. Is this network sensitive? Suppose indirect costs are $550 / day. For how many days could you crash this network and still be saving money because crash costs / day are less than the indirect costs / day that would be saved?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, sensitive. 30 days. 
B)  Yes, sensitive. 25 days. 
C)  No, insensitive. 25 days. 
D)  No, insensitive. 30 days. 
E)  Neither sensitive nor insensitive. 35 days. 
A)  Yes, sensitive. 30 days. 
B)  Yes, sensitive. 25 days. 
C)  No, insensitive. 25 days. 
D)  No, insensitive. 30 days. 
E)  Neither sensitive nor insensitive. 35 days.

Question 13

An activity must be crashed on each critical path in order to reduce project duration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. Without causing the critical path to become noncritical or otherwise wasting money, what would be the second activity you would crash and how many days can you crash it?

Accepted Answer

A)  A for 2 days 
B)  B for 2 days 
C)  C for 1 day 
D)  B for 1 day 
E)  A for 1 day 
A)  A for 2 days 
B)  B for 2 days 
C)  C for 1 day 
D)  B for 1 day 
E)  A for 1 day

Question 15

Compressing activities on a project with a sensitive project network will:

Accepted Answer

A)  Increase risk of delaying the project. 
B)  Improve cost-time crashing success. 
C)  Reduce scheduling flexibility. 
D)  Increase risk of delaying the project and reduce scheduling flexibility. 
E)  Increase risk of delaying the project but improve cost-time crashing success. 
A)  Increase risk of delaying the project. 
B)  Improve cost-time crashing success. 
C)  Reduce scheduling flexibility. 
D)  Increase risk of delaying the project and reduce scheduling flexibility. 
E)  Increase risk of delaying the project but improve cost-time crashing success.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT one of the more commonly used options for cutting project costs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reduce project scope 
B)  Have owner take more responsibility 
C)  Move the completion date further out 
D)  Brainstorm cost savings options 
E)  Outsource project activities 
A)  Reduce project scope 
B)  Have owner take more responsibility 
C)  Move the completion date further out 
D)  Brainstorm cost savings options 
E)  Outsource project activities

Question 17

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. Without causing the critical path to become noncritical or otherwise wasting money, by how many days max could you crash this project? Assume you can crash only one activity at a time and that crashing is necessary regardless of cost. You do not want to crash the critical path(s) beyond the point where it (they) is no longer critical as this will not reduce project duration.

Accepted Answer

A)  From 60 days to 50 days 
B)  From 60 days to 40 days 
C)  From 60 days to 30 days 
D)  From 60 days to 20 days 
E)  From 60 days to 10 days 
A)  From 60 days to 50 days 
B)  From 60 days to 40 days 
C)  From 60 days to 30 days 
D)  From 60 days to 20 days 
E)  From 60 days to 10 days

Question 18

What does it mean to say that a project network is sensitive and why is that important to a project manager who needs to reduce the duration of his or her project?

Accepted Answer

A network is sensitive if it has several

Question 19

Incentive contracts can make the reduction of project time rewarding-usually for both the project contractor and owner.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Total cost for specific project durations is computed and then compared with the benefits of reducing project time, before the project begins or while it is in progress.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The easiest way to add more labor to a project is not to add more people, but to schedule overtime. What are the disadvantages of scheduling overtime?

An activity's normal time and cost are 12 and $150, respectively. Its estimated crash time and cost are 9 and $300, respectively. This activity's crash cost per time unit is ________.

An activity's ________ is calculated by dividing the rise by the run.

In selecting the best activity to crash you would first select the activity with the

A project that has several near-critical or critical paths is said to be

Because direct costs are assumed to be developed from normal methods and in a normal amount of time, any reduction in activity time should ________ the direct cost of the activity.

Helen has just learned that she needs to reduce the duration of her project to meet an imposed deadline. She has calculated the crash cost per unit and knows the maximum units each activity can be reduced. What is the next step?

Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized before a project begins and reducing these costs through shorter project durations becomes a high priority.

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. What is the first activity you would crash?

Insensitive networks are a rarity; Planning for a sensitive network is more practical.

Cost slope can be determined by dividing the

An activity must be crashed on each critical path in order to reduce project duration.

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. Without causing the critical path to become noncritical or otherwise wasting money, what would be the second activity you would crash and how many days can you crash it?

Compressing activities on a project with a sensitive project network will:

Which of the following is NOT one of the more commonly used options for cutting project costs?

What does it mean to say that a project network is sensitive and why is that important to a project manager who needs to reduce the duration of his or her project?

Incentive contracts can make the reduction of project time rewarding-usually for both the project contractor and owner.

Total cost for specific project durations is computed and then compared with the benefits of reducing project time, before the project begins or while it is in progress.

Modern Project Management

Organization Strategy and Project Selection

Organization: Structure and Culture

Defining the Project

Estimating Project Times and Costs

Developing a Project Schedule

Managing Risk

Scheduling Resources and Costs

Being an Effective Project Manager

Managing Project Teams

Outsourcing: Managing Interorganizational Relations

Progress and Performance Measurement and Evaluation

Project Closure

Agile Project Management

International Projects

Filters

Exam 9: Reducing Project Duration

The easiest way to add more labor to a project is not to add more people, but to schedule overtime. What are the disadvantages of scheduling overtime?

An activity's normal time and cost are 12 and $150, respectively. Its estimated crash time and cost are 9 and $300, respectively. This activity's crash cost per time unit is ________.

An activity's ________ is calculated by dividing the rise by the run.

In selecting the best activity to crash you would first select the activity with the

A project that has several near-critical or critical paths is said to be

Because direct costs are assumed to be developed from normal methods and in a normal amount of time, any reduction in activity time should ________ the direct cost of the activity.

Helen has just learned that she needs to reduce the duration of her project to meet an imposed deadline. She has calculated the crash cost per unit and knows the maximum units each activity can be reduced. What is the next step?

Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized before a project begins and reducing these costs through shorter project durations becomes a high priority.

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. What is the first activity you would crash?

Insensitive networks are a rarity; Planning for a sensitive network is more practical.

Cost slope can be determined by dividing the

An activity must be crashed on each critical path in order to reduce project duration.

Consider the following table of activities that describes a project network. Without causing the critical path to become noncritical or otherwise wasting money, what would be the second activity you would crash and how many days can you crash it?

Compressing activities on a project with a sensitive project network will:

Which of the following is NOT one of the more commonly used options for cutting project costs?

What does it mean to say that a project network is sensitive and why is that important to a project manager who needs to reduce the duration of his or her project?

Incentive contracts can make the reduction of project time rewarding-usually for both the project contractor and owner.

Total cost for specific project durations is computed and then compared with the benefits of reducing project time, before the project begins or while it is in progress.

Modern Project Management

Organization Strategy and Project Selection

Organization: Structure and Culture

Defining the Project

Estimating Project Times and Costs

Developing a Project Schedule

Managing Risk

Scheduling Resources and Costs

Being an Effective Project Manager

Managing Project Teams

Outsourcing: Managing Interorganizational Relations

Progress and Performance Measurement and Evaluation

Project Closure

Agile Project Management

International Projects

Filters