Exam 18: Procuring Professional Services

___________ is described as follows: CPM is usually used for projects with predictable task times. CPM is a deterministic model that does not take into account variation in the completion time, so only one number is used for an activity's time estimate.

The CPM network consists of arcs and nodes. The ______ represent the actual activities while the ______ (events) represent when the activity starts and finishes.

The CPM establishes:

The ___________ is an agreement between the project owner (the Federal Highway Administration and a specific state department of transportation) and the contractor.

If the ______ is adequate, the right contractor is selected, and the ultimate price is reasonable, then a good management effort will secure the project. A poor management effort will undo all three pre-execution achievements.

___________ are all other expenditures, sometimes referred to as hidden costs.

One of the tasks involved in a typical complex project is given below: The master schedule is generally a logical network-type schedule that reflects perfect execution plans, the strategy, equipment delivery estimates, and engineering plans. Project milestones must be reviewed and assessed.

In recent years, many manufacturing and service firms have been challenged to increase their focus on ___________ and _____________. At the same time, these organizations have had to increase productivity and quality, decrease cost of service, and deal with the demands of changing technology.

The need for ____________ in all types of organizations to recognize and be able to provide high-quality, efficient service to customers has become essential. The importance of a responsive workforce, able to execute procurement activities in keeping with organizational objectives, cannot be understated.

___________ is/are identified as the longest-duration path through the network.

The critical path is the path through the project network in which none of the activities have _______, that is, the path for which ________ for all activities in the path.

___________ is described as follows: Once the activities and their sequencing have been defined, the CPM diagram can be drawn.

One of the tasks involved in a typical complex project is given below: Good schedule control is to develop a plan, implement the plan, monitor execution of the plan, and make changes to the plan when necessary in order to meet target.

The steps in the CPM project planning process are: 1. Specify each individual activity. 2. Sequence the activities. 3. Draw a network diagram. 4. Estimate the completion time for each activity. 5. Identify the critical path (longest path through the network). 6. Update the CPM diagram as the project progresses.

_____________ include materials, labor, and subcontract expenditures associated with the actual implementation.

In order to be successful, the project must come in meeting the SPA, on time and within budget.

Planning must be done before performing any function. A schedule is a time-phased plan. The principal uses of schedules in the implementation process are outlined in the textbook. The list below contains items from the section entitled, During Project. One does not belong. Which one is incorrect?

Some of the tasks involved in a typical complex project are given below: .Labor productivity, or effectiveness, should be tracked for each of the direct labor accounts. .Schedule control is essential to the success of any complex project. .Major projects are a complex effort to mobilize and coordinate large numbers of personnel, materials, and equipment.

Some of the tasks involved in a typical complex project are given below, with one exception. Which one is not an appropriate task?

Progress curves are useful tools when a project is under way. Progress curves: .Monitor progress. You can immediately see what should have been achieved at a point in time. .Allow you to see how proactive action may keep the project on course.