Deck 6: The Work Breakdown Structure and Project Estimation

Question 1

The most common error in guesstimating is to be pessimistic and to overestimate the time and resources necessary to complete a project.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A work breakdown structure WBS)represents a logical decomposition of the work to be performed and how the product,service,or result is naturally subdivided.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Basing an estimate of activity durations on experience gained from working on similar projects is called analogous estimation.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Each phase of the project should provide at least one specific deliverable.

Question 5

In much the same fashion as the claim "you can never be too rich",when developing a WBS,one can never have too much detail in planning activities.

Question 6

Time boxing involves allocating a time segment for a task rather than attempting to estimate how long that task should take.

Question 7

Because function points are independent of technology,they provide a way to compare projects that may use different platforms or languages.

Question 8

The Delphi technique is a quick and economical way to estimate the duration and costs of project activities.

Question 9

The PMBOK area called project time management includes all of the following except:

A)Define Activities
B)Assign Activities
C)Estimate Activity Durations
D)Develop Schedule
E)Control Schedule

Question 10

The work breakdown structure WBS)decomposes,or subdivides,the project into smaller components and more manageable units of work called work packages.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the work breakdown structure WBS)is not ?

A)The WBS provides a hierarchical structure that outlines the activities or work that needs to be done in order to complete the project scope.
B)The WBS should support the project's MOV
C)The WBS should be developed by the project manager.
D)The WBS provides a framework for developing a tactical plan to structure the project work.
E)The WBS provides a bridge or link between the project's scope and the detailed project plan

Question 12

The 100 percent rule is the most important criterion in the developing and evaluating the WBS.The rule states: "The parent)element must represent 100 percent of the work applicable to next level decomposition of a WBS element child level)."

Question 13

The use of heuristics is based following immutable principles of project development and lead to highly accurate forecasts.

Question 14

According to the text,most real-world estimating is made using top-down estimating.

Question 15

A tangible and verifiable piece of work is called a milestone.

Question 16

The three major factors in estimating an IT application are: size,complexity,and constraints & influencers.

Question 17

One way to ensure that the WBS has the appropriate level of detail is to ensure that the people who do the work are involved in its development.

Question 18

Counting lines of code LOC)is a good way to encourage efficient programming.

Question 19

COCOMO is an example of a non-parametric model because it is characterized by a usually unlimited set of named parameters.

Question 20

Research suggests that projects that use a formal estimating tool have a better chance of delivering a system that is on time and within budget.

Question 21

Confidence in project estimates will be highest _____

A)before the project begins.
B)early in the project.
C)once the team members are assigned.
D)later in the project.
E)when the business case is complete.

Question 22

_____ can be very effective and provide reasonable assurance when the stakes are high and and the margin of error is low.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 23

This estimation technique may be driven by an upper management mandate.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 24

Too much detail in the WBS can lead to _____

A)clearly specified objectives.
B)guaranteed project delivery.
C)time constraints.
D)micromanagement.
E)there can never be too much detail.

Question 25

A significant event or achievement that provides evidence that a deliverable is complete is called a _____

A)work package
B)phase
C)milestone
D)checkpoint
E)phase gate

Question 26

With _____,activity estimates are usually provided by the team members.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 27

In the WBS context,a crux is best described by which of the following:

A)a risk metric
B)a phase gate
C)evidence of a phase completion
D)a deliverable
E)a proof of concept

Question 28

Project success will be determined in large part by _____

A)familiarity with project management software.
B)producing nice looking reports for management.
C)thinking carefully through activities and estimating their durations.
D)determining exact estimates of activity durations.
E)the skill sets of the project team.

Question 29

An estimation technique characterized by the dividing the project into smaller modules and then directly estimating the time and effort in terms of person-hours,person-weeks,or person-months for each module best describes

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 30

_____ is the most common,real-world method of estimating projects.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 31

To be effective,each project phase should provide at least ___ deliverables).

A)one
B)two
C)three
D)as many as needed
E)a project phase does not need to produce a deliverable

Question 32

_____ focuses on the processes,tools,and methods for developing a quality approach to developing software.

A)Software engineering
B)Metrics
C)Estimation
D)Work Breakdown Structure WBS)
E)Heuristics

Question 33

The _____ estimation method usually costs more and takes longer than other methods.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 34

An estimation technique characterized by schedule and cost estimates of how long something should take or should cost.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 35

An estimation technique characterized by picking numbers out of the air or "ballparking".

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 36

An estimation technique characterized by the recruitment of multiple experts who provide rounds of estimates until a consensus estimate emerges.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 37

The 100 percent rule relates to___

A)the next level decomposition of a WBS element must represent 100 percent of the work applicable to the parent element.
B)clearly defining 100 percent of deliverables before beginning the project.
C)ensuring that project requirements remain fully static over the course of the project.
D)everyone's project performance will impact the project.
E)resource requirements needed to complete the project.

Question 38

The Work Breakdown Structure is subdivided into smaller components called:

A)work packages
B)milestones
C)deliverables
D)tasks
E)activities

Question 39

_____ can be a very effective estimating technique by forcing examination of project risks so that specific budget or schedule targets can be achieved.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 40

_____ may result in long hours and frustration for the project team,which may lead to burnout.

A)Guesstimating
B)Delphi Technique
C)Time Boxing
D)Top-Down Estimating
E)Bottom-Up Estimating

Question 41

A screen that allows the user to input information using a keyboard and a mouse would be called an:

A)Internal Logical File ILF)
B)External Interface File EIF)
C)External Input EI)
D)External Output EO)
E)External Inquiry EQ)

Question 42

Function points in a software application program

A)can be used to illustrate the fact that experienced programmers tend to write more code than novice programmers would in coding the same project.
B)is a superior method of measuring programmer productivity.
C)is simpler because it does not need to consider user requirements.
D)are a high-level analysis of the application requirements.
E)focus on the functionality and complexity of an application system or module.

Question 43

What is the Delphi technique? When would it be an appropriate estimating technique for an IT project?

Question 44

Describe the PMBOK area of project time management.

Question 45

What is a work package?

Question 46

An entity in an Entity-Relationship Diagram ERD)would be considered an:

A)Internal Logical File ILF)
B)External Interface File EIF)
C)External Input EI)
D)External Output EO)
E)External Inquiry EQ)

Question 47

A management report and its accompanying graphs would be considered an:

A)Internal Logical File ILF)
B)External Interface File EIF)
C)External Input EI)
D)External Output EO)
E)External Inquiry EQ)

Question 48

With COCOMO,_____ projects are routine where the technology,processes,and people are expected to work together smoothly.

A)organic
B)embedded
C)detached
D)semi-detached
E)restrained

Question 49

With COCOMO,_____ projects are somewhat challenge and may integrate new processes and technology.

A)organic
B)embedded
C)detached
D)semi-detached
E)restrained

Question 50

The first step in accurately estimating an IT application is to _____.

A)determine the size
B)determine available resources
C)determine project budget
D)set the project deadline
E)determine project constraints

Question 51

What is a WBS? What purpose does it serve?

Question 52

Explain why people who do the work on a project should be involved in developing the project plan?

Question 53

What is the proper level of detail for a WBS?

Question 54

What is guesstimating? Why should a project manager not rely on this technique for estimating a project?

Question 55

_____ is a parametric model using dependent variables based upon one or more independent variables that are measures of performance or physical attributes of the system.

A)COCOMO
B)LOC
C)HEURISTICS.
D)CHECKPOINT
E)SLIM

Question 56

An entity or data set that includes customer names and addresses that is maintained by another application system would be called an:

A)Internal Logical File ILF)
B)External Interface File EIF)
C)External Input process EI)
D)External Output EO)
E)External Inquiry EQ)

Question 57

With COCOMO,_____ projects are challenging in that they may support a new business process or area that is new to the organization.

A)organic
B)embedded
C)detached
D)semi-detached
E)restrained

Question 58

Something that includes a combination of inputs and outputs for retrieving data from either the internal files or from files external to the application would be called an:

A)Internal Logical File ILF)
B)External Interface File EIF)
C)External Input EI)
D)External Output EO)
E)External Inquiry EQ)

Question 59

LOC in a software application program

A)can be used to illustrate the fact that experienced programmers tend to write more code than novice programmers would in coding the same project.
B)is a superior method of measuring programmer productivity.
C)would have a similar value for a program written in Assembler as would the same program written in Visual Basic.
D)is easier to count once the program is written than it is to estimate how many lines of code will be actually required to write the program.
E)takes into account the complexity,constraints,and influencers of a project.

Question 60

_____ refers to a broad range of measurements for objectively evaluating computer software.

A)Software engineering
B)Metrics
C)Estimation
D)Work Breakdown Structure WBS)
E)Heuristics

Question 61

Describe top-down estimating.What are some advantages and disadvantages of top-down estimating?

Question 62

What is time boxing? What are some advantages and disadvantages of time boxing project activities?

Question 63

Under the COCOMO model,describe the organic,semi-detached,and embedded models.

Question 64

Describe bottom-up estimating.What are some advantages and disadvantages of bottom-up estimating?

Question 65

How can function point analysis be used to help manage scope creep?

Question 66

What is a function point? What advantages do function points have over counting lines of code?