Deck 8: Scheduling Resources and Costs

Question 1

Most of the scheduling methods available today require the project manager to classify the project as either _______ constrained or ______ constrained.

A)Time, quality
B)Quality, resource
C)Cost, time
D)Quality, cost
E)Time, resource

Answer 1

E
Explanation: Most of the scheduling methods available today require the project manager to classify the project as either time constrained or resource constrained.

Question 2

Susan is to conduct environmental testing but the chamber cannot hold all the equipment that she wants to test.This is an example of a _________ constraint.

A)Physical
B)Technical
C)Resource
D)Scheduling
E)Time

Answer 2

A
Explanation: Since space allows only one person to work at one time, all tasks have to be performed sequentially this is a physical constraint.

Question 3

Resource leveling can provide

A)Lower peak demand
B)Reduced resource need over the life of the project
C)Reduced fluctuations in resource demand
D)Both A and B are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Answer 3

E
Explanation: Practitioners have attacked the utilization problem using resource leveling techniques that balance or smooth demand for a resource.Basically, all leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using positive slack to reduce peak demand and fill in the valleys for the resources.

Question 4

Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand on resources is known as resource

A)Shifting
B)Effectiveness
C)Manipulating
D)Resource smoothing
E)Allocation

Question 5

Jan is trying to reallocate resources in a time-constrained project to create smoother resource utilization with a low level of risk.She should move to activities with the

A)Smallest duration
B)Least slack
C)Most slack
D)Lowest identification number
E)Highest cost

Question 6

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on resource

A)Demands
B)Increases
C)Assumptions
D)Utilization
E)All are correct

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the types of project constraints?

A)Physical
B)Technical
C)Resource
D)Time
E)All of these are types of project constraints

Question 8

In reviewing the status of her project with top management, Shirley was told that there only were two programmers that she could use for her project.Her project is __________ constrained.

A)Time
B)Quality
C)Cost
D)Performance
E)Resource

Question 9

All resource leveling techniques involve

A)Delaying noncritical activities
B)Delaying critical activities
C)Using negative slack
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 10

If resources are not adequate to meet peak demands, the resulting reschedule is termed

A)Resource-constrained scheduling
B)Time-constrained scheduling
C)Mandatory leveling
D)Project resource adjustment
E)Allocation

Question 11

The most widely used approach to apply heuristics, which have been found to consistently minimize project delay over a large variety of projects is the

A)Parallel method
B)Resource method
C)Materials
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 12

Which of the following is a potential consequence of failing to schedule limited resources?

A)Costly activity delays
B)Costly project delays
C)Difficulty in taking quick corrective action
D)Both A and B are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 13

Sam is trying to order the concrete needed to continue his project.However, the supplier won't be able to deliver it until next week.This is an example of a _______ constraint.

A)Working capital
B)People
C)Equipment
D)Information
E)Materials

Question 14

Regina's boss has told her that her project is very important.If the critical path is delayed, she will be given whatever she needs to get it back on schedule.Her project is ________ constrained.

A)Time
B)Quality
C)Cost
D)Performance
E)Resource

Question 15

In a resource-constrained project, which of the following is most likely to be changed?

A)The completion date
B)The budget
C)Project quality
D)Both A and B are equally likely
E)A, B, and C are all equally likely

Question 16

A special truck that George needs on his project has been scheduled on another project.This is a ______ constraint.

A)Working capital
B)People
C)Equipment
D)Information
E)Materials

Question 17

When developing a new software package, the software must be designed, the code must be written, and the code must be tested.This is an example of a ______ constraint.

A)Physical
B)Technical
C)Resource
D)Schedule
E)Time

Question 18

All of the following are kinds of resource constraints except

A)Materials
B)People
C)Equipment
D)Information
E)All of the above are resource constraints

Question 19

In a resource-constrained project, the first priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the

A)Smallest duration
B)Least slack
C)Most slack
D)Lowest identification number
E)Highest cost

Question 20

Sam the project engineer has been scheduled to run the product system test at the same time he is to build a marketing prototype.This is an example of a ______ constraint.

A)Physical
B)Technical
C)Resource
D)Scheduling
E)Time

Question 21

Having one person responsible for performing several activities, all due at the same time, is an example of a(n) ________ constraint.

Question 22

Project budgets are developed by time-phasing which of the following?

A)Resource schedules
B)Work packages
C)The network diagram
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 23

The shortage of computer chips to produce a circuit board is an example of a(n) ________ type of resource constraint.

Question 24

If three copiers are needed to produce a final report on time and only two are available, the project is facing a(n) ________ type of resource constraint.

Question 25

The U.S.Forest Service "snapshot from practice" illustrated the importance of

A)Time constraints
B)Resource constraints
C)Cost constraints
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 26

Hector wants to bring on another programmer to work on the project but the company does not have anyone who has the needed skills.Hector's project is facing a(n) ________ constraint.

Question 27

More common problems associated with managing multiproject resources include all of the following except

A)Inefficient resource utilization
B)Delays in one project cause delays in other projects
C)Reducing "downtime" created by lack of tasks to perform
D)Resource bottlenecks
E)All of these are common problems

Question 28

Which of the following is not one of the more common problems associated with scheduling multiproject resources?

A)Overall schedule slippage
B)Inefficient resource utilization
C)Resource bottlenecks
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 29

In a resource-constrained project the second priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the

A)Smallest duration
B)Least slack
C)Most slack
D)Lowest identification number
E)Highest cost

Question 30

A project budget report is showing our project as spending $35,000 against a budgeted amount of $40,000.Which of the following is true?

A)We are spending less than we should for the project
B)We are doing a good job managing the project
C)We should check to see if all the bills have been paid
D)Both A and B are correct
E)We can't be sure how the project is going

Question 31

In a resource-constrained project the third priority in assigning resources is usually given to activities with the

A)Smallest duration
B)Least slack
C)Most slack
D)Lowest identification number
E)Highest cost

Question 32

In order that the new product is on the shelf for the Christmas buying season, the development of the new product would be classified as a(n) ________ constrained project.

Question 33

In the Botanical Garden example, which of the following was used to solve the resource problem?

A)Resource allocation
B)Smoothing resource demand
C)The parallel method
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 34

Trying to renovate a ship compartment that is too small for more than one person is an example of a(n) ________ constraint.

Question 35

Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand and, thus, increase resource utilization is called _______ leveling.

Question 36

The word Heuristics means

A)Resource constraints
B)Flexibility
C)The critical path changed
D)Parallel activities become sequential
E)Rule of thumb

Question 37

Splitting an activity creates the following situation:

A)More people working on the same activity
B)There are possible startup and shutdown costs
C)A resource may be moved from one activity to another and then back
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 38

A(n) ________ constraint addresses the sequence in which project activities must occur.

Question 39

A shortage of programmers to write software is an example of a(n) ________ type of resource constraint.

Question 40

When a company will reduce the number of projects they have to manage internally to only core projects and send noncritical projects to contractors and consulting firms this is called

A)Outsourcing
B)Redistribution of projects
C)Project allocation
D)Task sharing
E)Both B and D are correct

Question 41

When using the ________ scheduling technique, the work in an activity is interrupted to work on another activity and is then resumed at a later point in time.

Question 42

In scheduling resource-constrained projects, _________ are typically used rather than optimum mathematical solutions.

Question 43

Without a time-phased __________ good project schedule and cost control are impossible.

Question 44

Resource Bottlenecks are one of the three more common problems encountered in managing multiproject resource schedules.

Question 45

Scheduling activities in a constrained project typically has ________ as the top heuristic rule.

Question 46

The ________ is the most widely used approach to apply heuristic rules to scheduling activities in a constrained project.

Question 47

Many companies are using ________ from contractors and consultants as a means of dealing with the peaks and valleys of resource allocation among projects.

Question 48

The ______________ is the most widely used approach to apply heuristics in resource-constrained projects.

Question 49

Beth has two engineers assigned to her project and cannot get any more even if it means slipping the due date on her project.She is managing a(n) ________ constrained project.

Question 50

To deal with problems related to having several concurrent projects, companies are creating ________ to oversee the scheduling of resources across multiple projects.

Question 51

In scheduling terms, ________ constrained means that a specific resource is fixed and the duration of the project is flexible.

Question 52

A project cost baseline is also called __________.

Question 53

The ability to more efficiently manage the ebbs and flows of project work is one of the major driving forces behind ____________ today.

Question 54

Start-up and shutdown costs are major considerations when using the ________________ scheduling technique.

Question 55

A project that is not resource-constrained is time-constrained.

Question 56

Resource leveling is only used on projects which are resource-constrained.

Question 57

Too many parallel activities for one individual are an example of a resource constraint.

Question 58

The sequence of (1) pour foundation, (2) build frame, and (3) cover roof is a type of physical constraint.

Question 59

In scheduling terms, ________ constrained means that project duration is fixed and resources are flexible.

Question 60

All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using ________ to reduce peak demand.

Question 61

All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using positive slack to smooth out the resource requirements.

Question 62

What is the difference in project goals when using resource leveling on time-constrained projects and using it on resource-constrained projects?

Question 63

Having too few programmers and too many engineers is an example of a people resource constraint.

Question 64

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on the optimal utilization of resources.

Question 65

The most obvious and important kind of resource constraint is a lack of materials.

Question 66

The critical path in a resource-constrained schedule can be a group of disjointed, unconnected activities.

Question 67

To determine if a project is time-constrained or resource-constrained you would consult the project priority matrix.

Question 68

If a project needs one earth-mover six months from now and the organization has four such machines, there is no equipment resource constraint.

Question 69

The inability to get more than two earth movers on a construction site at the same time is an example of a physical constraint.

Question 70

Splitting is a scheduling technique used to get a better schedule or better resource utilization.

Question 71

Identify and briefly describe the three types of project constraints.

Question 72

A lack of readily available engineers is a technical constraint.

Question 73

The top priority in using heuristics to allocate scare resources is those activities with the smallest duration.

Question 74

Without a time-phased budget good project schedule and cost control are impossible.

Question 75

Scheduling resource-constrained projects focuses on completing the project as soon as possible under the given constraints.

Question 76

Identify the potential impacts of project constraints.

Question 77

All projects are usually either time-constrained or resource-constrained.

Question 78

Heuristics are used in resource-constrained projects to develop the optimal schedule.

Question 79

Many companies are using outsourcing as a means for dealing with their resource allocation problems associated with managing multiproject resources.

Question 80

Scheduling time-constrained projects focuses on resource utilization.