Deck 6: The Work Breakdown Structure and Project Estimation

Question 1

Identifying the critical path is important because any change in the duration of the activities or tasks on the critical path will affect the project's schedule.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The direct costs of using a resource is the only type of cost that should be considered when developing the project budget.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A parallel activity is a task that can be worked on at the same time as another activity.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Once the project schedule and budget are accepted by the client or sponsor, the project plan becomes the baseline plan that will be used as a benchmark to track the project's actual progress.

Question 5

A start-to-finish activity is the most common relationship between two activities.

Question 6

Project network diagrams provide valuable information about the logical sequence and dependencies among the various activities and tasks so that a completion date or deadline can be determined.

Question 7

The critical path has zero slack (or float)

Question 8

Predecessor activities are activities that must be completed before another activity can be started.

Question 9

A reserve can provide a cushion when unexpected situations arise.

Question 10

Installing a server before loading the operating system is an example of a finish-to-start relationship.

Question 11

Start-to-Start and Finish-to-Finish relationships allow activities to be worked on in parallel.

Question 12

Sunk costs include such things as rent, utilities, insurance, and other administrative costs.

Question 13

The critical path is the shortest path in the project network and also is the longest time in which the project can be completed.

Question 14

Identifying the critical path is important because a project can only have one critical path and it never changes.

Question 15

Predecessor activities are activities that can be worked on at the same time as another activity.

Question 16

Parallel activities can shorten the project schedule, but can have an impact on project resources if a resource is assigned to two tasks at the same time.

Question 17

The critical path is the longest path in the project network and also is the shortest time in which the project can be completed.

Question 18

The project budget is determined by the project schedule, the cost of the resources assigned to each of the tasks, and by any other direct or indirect costs and reserves.

Question 19

An over allocated resource would arise when Mary is assigned to work on two tasks scheduled at the same time.

Question 20

PERT was developed in the 1950s to create a visual representation of scheduled activities, their logical sequence, and interrelationships using a statistical probability distribution.

Question 21

The kick-off meeting brings closure to the planning phase of the project.

Question 22

An activity being analyzed under PERT was judged to most likely have a duration of 40 days.When considering the time it would take to complete the activity if every relevant factor went well, it was estimated to be able to be doable in 20 days and even under the worst case imaginable, the task would be take 50 days.The estimates PERT duration of that activity is:

A) 36.67 days
B) 38.33 days
C) 37.50 days
D) 28.33 days
E) 32.67 days

Question 23

The tool most closely associated with activity bars across a horizontal time axis is:

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 24

A kick-off meeting is often held to develop the project plan.

Question 25

The technique used to find the sequence of tasks with zero slack (or float) is most closely associated with:

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 26

Starting the next task before the first task is complete is _____

A) lead
B) lag
C) negative lead
D) slack
E) float

Question 27

The Critical Path is:

A) the longest path in the project network.
B) the shortest path in the project network.
C) the longest time in which the project can be completed.
D) the interrelationships of project activities.
E) the most important identified tasks within the project.

Question 28

Adding resources to an activity to shorten the critical path is called_____

A) slacking.
B) floating.
C) diverting.
D) crashing.
E) fast tracking

Question 29

The amount of time an activity can be delayed before affecting the project deadline is _____

A) slack
B) crash
C) fast-track
D) diversion
E) delay in any activity will delay the project

Question 30

Under the Precedence Diagramming Method, the most common relationship between two activities which implies a logical sequence is called:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 31

The technique used to help manage the Polaris submarine project and which bases activity estimates on probabilistic estimates of three scenarios is most closely associated with:

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 32

Based upon the following diagram and activity durations, the Critical Path is:

A) A+B+C+F+H+J
B) A+B+D+F+H+J
C) A+B+D+G+H+J
D) A+B+D+G+I+J
E) A+B+E+G+I+J

Question 33

Completing activities in parallel is called_____

A) slacking.
B) floating.
C) diverting.
D) crashing.
E) fast tracking

Question 34

_____ can be useful for tracking and monitoring project progress because because they are simple and straightforward.

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 35

_____ is well suited for developing simulations where the project manager can conduct sensitivity analysis for schedule planning and risk analysis.

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 36

Which of the following statements are true?:

A) Milestones are logical units of work.
B) Baseline plans are approved project plans.
C) All tasks are linear, i.e. have to be completed in a particular sequence.
D) The kick-off meeting typically begins the planning phase of a project.
E) MOV are readily changed through change control processes.

Question 37

_____ can help manage the Critical Path by providing information about which activities can be delayed without affecting the deadline target date.

A) Work Breakdown Schedule
B) Gantt Charts
C) PART
D) Project Network Diagrams
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 38

_____ is considered the most useful and widely used project management tool.

A) Project Network Diagrams
B) Gantt Charts
C) PERT
D) Activity on the Node
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 39

Under the Precedence Diagramming Method, the situation which occurs when a relationship between two tasks that can or must start at the same time is called:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 40

_____ provide valuable information about the logical sequence and dependencies among the various activities and tasks:

A) Work Breakdown Schedule
B) Gantt Charts
C) PART
D) Project Network Diagrams
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 41

Time and effort needed to gather experience on a technology or process are _____

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 42

Waiting to leave your shift until another person shows up is an example of:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 43

Rolling wave planning is:

A) developing a large plan encompassing all project items.
B) including the highest level of detail in project plans
C) preparing a summary plan and developing incremental detailed schedules
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 44

Under the Precedence Diagramming Method, the situation which occurs when two activities can start at different times, have different durations, but are planned to be competed at the same time is called:
A) Finish-To-Start (FS)

A) none of these
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)

Question 45

Costs incurred prior to the current project are _____

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 46

Once the project schedule and project budget are approved they become the _____

A) derivative plan
B) actual plan
C) baseline plan
D) project plan
E) schedule plan

Question 47

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is based on the idea that

A) people often inflate or add cushioning to their time estimates
B) PERT/CPM was developed in the 1950s so it is too old to be of any use
C) Precedence Diagramming only considers the critical path of a project
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 48

Define predecessor, successor, and parallel activities.Give a real world example of each.

Question 49

Scheduling other projects so that resources may be shared is_____

A) Critical Chain Project Management
B) Precedence Diagramming
C) PERT
D) Theory of Constraints
E) Critical Path Analysis

Question 50

Rent, utilities, insurance and administrative costs are examples of:

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 51

Under the Precedence Diagramming Method, the least common relationship between two activities which occurs when they must complete at the same time is called:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 52

The cost of labor for using a resource are _____

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 53

The final step in determining the cost of an activity is:

A) determine necessary resources.
B) determining resource quantity
C) determining the cost of each resource
D) ensuring resources are leveled
E) none of these

Question 54

Installing the operating system on a computer before loading any application packages is an example of:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 55

Many organizations have a kick-off meeting because

A) It brings closure to the planning phase of the project
B) It signals the initiation of the next phase of the IT project methodology
C) It communicates to everyone what the project is about
D) It can energize the stakeholders and get everyone excited about working on the project
E) All of these

Question 56

To make a decision to attempt to build an application system based on what was left after a previous attempt ended in failure primarily because of the large investment the company made in the failed project most likely was made by a manager who did not fully understand:

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 57

Under the Precedence Diagramming Method, the situation which occurs when task A cannot end until task B starts is called:

A) Finish-To-Start (FS)
B) Start-To-Start (SS)
C) Finish-To-Finish (FF)
D) Start-To-Finish (SF)
E) none of these

Question 58

Funds allocated for unexpected expenses are _____

A) Direct Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 59

The idea that there is a cost associated with using a resource is _____

A) Prorated Costs
B) Indirect Costs
C) Sunk Costs
D) Learning Curve Costs
E) Reserves Costs

Question 60

_____is ensuring that project resources are not overallocated.

A) Resource leveling
B) Resource constraining
C) Resource starving
D) Resource management
E) Resource addition

Question 61

When does the project manager or team have the authority to begin executing the project plan?

Question 62

Why do many people inflate their estimates?

Question 63

What are the benefits and disadvantages of using Gantt charts as a project management tool?

Question 64

What is meant by slack (or float)?

Question 65

What is a kick-off meeting? What purpose does it serve?

Question 66

Construct an Activity on the Node (AON) network diagram with at least 5 tasks that illustrate predecessors, successors and parallel activities.Label the nodes appropriately and assuming your tasks show estimated durations in days, state the estimated time for completing your project.

Question 67

Describe the steps necessary for estimating the cost of a particular activity or task that has an estimated duration.

Question 68

In what ways are project network diagrams similar to Gantt charts and what additional strengths do they have?

Question 69

Three team members are given the task of estimating activity durations.Mr.Optimist estimates the activity to take 2 days to complete.Ms.Pessimist estimates the activity to take 5 days.Mrs.Realist claims that the most likely estimate is 4 days.What should their PERT analysis assign as an expected duration for the activity and what are the benefits and implications of deploying this tool?

Question 70

In the context of critical chain project management, what is resource contention?

Question 71

What is the difference between crashing and fast tracking a project's schedule?

Question 72

How can parallel activities help shorten the project schedule? Are there any trade-offs?

Question 73

Define the following and give a real world example of each (other than the ones described in this book): Finish-to-Start; Start-to-Start; Finish-to-Finish; Start-to-Finish.

Question 74

How does the work breakdown structure (WBS) link the project's scope to the schedule and budget?

Question 75

Why should the project manager ensure that the project resources are leveled?

Question 76

Assume the following activities for a project along with their estimated durations and predecessors.Describe how critical path analysis would be applied to this project, and calculate the critical path.Define the concepts: slack/float, expedite/crash, and fast tracking and explain what their implications are for this project?

Question 77

What is a baseline plan?

Question 78

What does prorating the cost of a resource mean?

Question 79

Why should assumptions used in estimating be documented?

Question 80

What is the critical chain? How is it different from the concept of a critical path?