Deck 8: Scheduling Resources and Costs

Question 1

All resource leveling techniques involve

A) Delaying noncritical activities.
B) Delaying critical activities.
C) Using negative slack.
D) Delaying the project.
E) Adding resources.

Answer 1

A
Explanation: All leveling techniques delay noncritical activities by using positive slack to reduce peak demand and fill in the valleys for the resources.

Question 2

Jan is trying to reallocate resources in a time-constrained project to create smoother resource utilization.She should first identify activities with the

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

Answer 2

C
Explanation: Activities with the most slack may be delayed to reduce the level of resources needed at a particular time.

Question 3

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 3

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 4

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

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

Question 5

Rachel is working on a project that technically allows three activities to be done at the same time.If they were to be implemented at the same time,she would need 5 contractors in order for the activities to be completed on time.There are only 3 available for her to use.This is an example of what type of constraint?

A) Technical
B) People
C) Equipment
D) Physical
E) Materials

Question 6

Resources are adequate,but demand varies widely over the life of the project.Delaying noncritical activities to lower peak demand on resources is known as resource

A) Shifting.
B) Effectiveness.
C) Manipulating.
D) Smoothing.
E) Allocation.

Question 7

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 what type of resource constraint?

A) Physical
B) Technical
C) People
D) Equipment
E) Time

Question 8

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 that could impact the sequence and timing of activities in a project network.What type of constraint is it?

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

Question 9

Technical constraints have been carefully considered when developing a project network.Which of the following is true at this point?

A) Resources have been assigned to each activity so they are adequate to complete the project on time
B) Technical dependencies between activities are known
C) The project completion date can be established
D) The project is ready to be implemented
E) All of these are true statements once technical constraints have been established

Question 10

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 classified as ________ constrained.

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

Question 11

When developing a new software package,logically,the software must be designed before the code is written,and the code must be written before it is tested.These activities are dependent on each other by _________ constraints.

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

Question 12

Resource leveling or smoothing can have all the following results on a project EXCEPT

A) Lower peak resource demand.
B) Reduced resource need over the life of the project.
C) Reduced fluctuations in resource demand.
D) A longer project duration.
E) A more sensitive network.

Question 13

All of the following are types of resource constraints EXCEPT

A) Materials.
B) People.
C) Equipment.
D) Information.
E) Human.

Question 14

Gene is trying to order the concrete needed to continue his project.However,the supplier will not be able to deliver it until next week.This is an example of what kind of resource constraint?

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

Question 15

When considering the sequence and timing of activities,which of the following is NOT one of the types of project network constraints?

A) Physical
B) Technical
C) Resource
D) Time
E) All of these are types of constraints that could impact structure of the project network

Question 16

A special truck that George needs on his project has been scheduled on another project.This is an example of what type of resource constraint?

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

Question 17

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) Resource levels
E) Scope creep

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of failing to identify limited resources before project implementation?

A) Activity delays
B) Project delays
C) Difficulty in taking quick corrective action
D) Increase costs
E) Scope creep

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

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 21

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 22

A(n)________ constraint addresses the sequence in which project activities must occur even after considering resource constraints.

Question 23

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

Question 24

These are all guidelines a project manager should consider when assigning project work EXCEPT

A) Select people with compatible work habits and personalities.
B) Always assign the best people to the most difficult tasks.
C) When possible,team veterans up with new hires.
D) Select individuals with skillsets that complement each other.
E) Have people work together early so that they can become familiar with each other.

Question 25

All of the following are benefits of scheduling resources before project implementation EXCEPT

A) It allows time for considering reasonable options if resource constraints do exist.
B) The project completion date can be established.
C) Work packages can be time-phased.
D) It allows managers to share resources with other project managers if it is requested without negatively impacting their project.
E) It ensures low network sensitivity.

Question 26

Splitting an activity can result in all of the following EXCEPT

A) More people working on the same activity.
B) Possible startup and shutdown costs.
C) A resource being moved from one activity to another and then back.
D) Activity work being placed on hold for a period until more resources are available.
E) A better project schedule.

Question 27

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

Question 28

Resource dependency takes priority over the technological dependency but does not violate ___________ dependencies.

Question 29

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

Question 30

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

A) Resource schedules
B) Work packages
C) The network diagram
D) Critical activities
E) None of these are time-phased to develop a project budget

Question 31

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 32

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

Question 33

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) Referring.

Question 34

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) Decline in project quality
D) Resource bottlenecks
E) Delays in one project causing delays in other projects

Question 35

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

Question 36

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) We have more money to put into budget reserves
E) We can't be sure how the project is going

Question 37

Tony has realized that two activities in his project cannot be done at the same time because not enough resources are available.Activity 3 is critical and has a duration of 5 days.Activity 4 has 2 days of slack and a duration of 2 days.How will he decide which activity should be scheduled first?

A) The activity with the smallest duration
B) The activity with the least slack
C) The activity with the most slack
D) The activity with the lowest identification number
E) The activity with the highest cost

Question 38

Why is it necessary to have a time-phased budget baseline?

A) It allows proper resource allocation
B) It shows how much work was accomplished for the money spent
C) It reduces schedule slippage when scheduling multiproject resources
D) It is not necessary to have a time-phased budget baseline
E) It reduces fluctuations in cash flow during the project

Question 39

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 40

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 41

After resource leveling or smoothing one goal is that the amount of resources needed over the life of the project will be ___________.

Question 42

The fact that you must pour foundation before you frame the house and that you have to frame the house before you can put on the roof demonstrates scheduling constraints.

Question 43

A project cost baseline is also called __________.

Question 44

Beth has two engineers assigned to her project and does not have access to more even if the result means extending the completion date on her project.She is managing a(n)________ -constrained project.

Question 45

Since resource leveling or smoothing delays noncritical activities,a common result is an increase in network ___________.

Question 46

When a project is classified as resource-constrained and a resource constraint exists,the project duration is typically __________.

Question 47

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

Question 48

The level of resources each activity will need to be completed in the given amount of time has been estimated;therefore,there are no resource constraints.

Question 49

When scheduling activities in a resource-constrained project,typically the activity scheduled first has the __________ amount of slack.

Question 50

Startup and shutdown costs are major considerations when using the ________________ scheduling technique.

Question 51

In reality resource allocation generally occurs in a(n)___________ environment where the demands of one project have to be reconciled with the needs of other projects.

Question 52

Without a __________ budget a good project schedule and cost control are impossible.

Question 53

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

Question 54

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

Question 55

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

Question 56

When the work in an activity is interrupted to work on another activity and is then resumed at a later point in time,it is called _________.

Question 57

When classifying projects,________ constrained means that project duration is fixed and resources are flexible.

Question 58

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

Question 59

When classifying projects,________ constrained means that a specific resource is fixed and the duration of the project is flexible.

Question 60

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

Question 61

Sequential activities hold just as much potential for resource conflicts as parallel activities.

Question 62

When resource constraints are added to technical constraints the original project network may change as well as the completion date.

Question 63

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

Question 64

Since resource leveling or smoothing delays noncritical activities,a common result is a decrease in network sensitivity.

Question 65

The inability to fit more than two earth movers on a construction site at the same time when more are needed to complete the activity on time is an example of a physical constraint.

Question 66

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

Question 67

A project budget report is showing our project as spending $35,000 against a budgeted amount of $40,000.We can assume that everything is going as planned and that we are under budget.

Question 68

In a resource-constrained project,the completion date is most likely to change.

Question 69

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

Question 70

Identify and briefly describe the three types of project constraints that could impact or change the structure of project network.

Question 71

Resource dependency takes priority over technological dependency but it does not violate it.

Question 72

Project managers should always assign the best people to the most difficult tasks.

Question 73

When scheduling activities in a resource-constrained project typically the activity scheduled first has the most amount of slack.

Question 74

Splitting is a scheduling technique used to get a better schedule or better resource utilization and should be used without hesitation.

Question 75

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

Question 76

A lack of readily available engineers is a technical constraint.

Question 77

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

Question 78

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

Question 79

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

Question 80

If resources are truly limited and activity time estimates are accurate,the resource-constrained schedule will materialize as the project is implemented,not the time-constrained schedule.