Deck 9: Resource Allocation

Question 1

The tasks that logically precede a particular task in time are referred to as __________.

A)successors
B)followers
C)predecessors
D)priorities

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The standard practice with AOA and AON is to estimate activity times under the assumption of resource loadings that are __________.

A)probabilistic
B)crashed
C)normal
D)dynamic

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The points between the extreme points of the relationship between time use and resource use represent __________.

A)time constrained projects
B)resource constrained projects
C)alternative trade-offs between time and resources
D)a non-feasible solution space of trade-off alternatives related to time and resource use

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The formula for computing the cost/time slope for each activity that can be crashed is __________.

A)(crash cost + normal cost)/ (crash time + normal time)
B)(crash cost - normal cost)/ (crash time - normal time)
C)(normal cost + crash cost)/ (normal time + crash time)
D)(normal cost - crash cost)/ (normal time - crash time)

Question 5

Economically speaking, crashing a project creates a technology change in the __________ for an activity.

A)deliverable demand function
B)production function
C)audit function
D)deliverable supply function

Question 6

The two fundamental approaches to constrained allocation problems are __________.

A)heuristic approaches and rules of thumb
B)linear programming approaches and optimization models
C)heuristic approaches and optimization models
D)goal programming and trial and error

Question 7

The usual purpose of the __________ scheduling heuristic is to delay cash outflows as long as possible.

A)minimum slack first
B)shortest task first
C)most successors
D)as late as possible

Question 8

Using the __________ heuristic method, the project team can complete the maximum number of tasks during a given period of time.

A)as soon as possible
B)as late as possible
C)shortest task first
D)minimum slack first

Question 9

The principal reason why a project manager is surprised by resource constraints on a project is the failure to include __________ in risk identification activities.

A)resource availability
B)resource cost
C)resource mobility
D)resource skill

Question 10

In CPM, __________ are specified.

A)exact levels of uncertainty associated with activities
B)an expected time, a crash time, and the standard deviation time
C)three costs
D)Two activity times and two costs

Question 11

The __________ heuristic provides a general solution for critical path and time and is usually the default rule for a schedule.

A)as soon as possible
B)as late as possible
C)minimum slack first
D)shortest task first

Question 12

The __________ technique overlaps the design and build phases of a project to expedite its completion.

A)crashing
B)fast-tracking
C)leading
D)blitzing

Question 13

When using heuristic solutions to build a schedule, __________ will always take precedence.

A)technological necessities
B)time constraints
C)resource constraints
D)managerial preferences

Question 14

Most heuristic solution methods start with the __________ and analyze resource usage period by period, resource by resource.

A)GERT schedule
B)Gantt chart
C)PERT/CPM schedule
D)Master schedule

Question 15

When crashing a project, our first task is to develop __________.

A)a table or graph of the cost of a project as a function of the project's possible completion dates
B)a schedule that shows the risks associated with each activity in the project
C)a list that shows the activities and the events of a project without referring to the costs
D)a table showing the noncritical activities and the cost associated with each of those activities

Question 16

If deterministic time estimates are used, and if project deadlines are firm, there is a high likelihood that it will __________.

A)not be necessary to crash any activities in projects
B)be necessary to crash the last few activities of most projects
C)be completed on time and within budget
D)be completed as per schedule

Question 17

One of the problems that Goldratt observed was that if an activity has slack time, often times the start of the task is delayed until the slack is removed. This is referred to as __________.

A)Goldratt's Law
B)Murphy's Law
C)the delay game
D)the student syndrome

Question 18

The methods to find an optimal solution to the constrained resource scheduling problem fall into two categories. They are __________.

A)mathematical programming and linear programming
B)mathematical programming and enumeration
C)statistical analysis and simulation
D)quantified heuristics and gaming

Question 19

Which of the following effects will be observed in a network if a date-constrained project is scheduled from the ending date constraint using the "as late as possible" heuristic?

A)Each activity will make use of all the slack available to it.
B)The network will not have any critical activities.
C)It would never be possible to override the "as late as possible" heuristic with a "must start no later than" date constraint.
D)Many of the activities will be scheduled prior to the start date of the project.

Question 20

The __________ approach to constrained resource scheduling problems is the only feasible method of attacking large, nonlinear, complex problems that tend to occur in the real world of project management.

A)goal programming
B)heuristic
C)optimization modeling
D)linear programming

Question 21

If the appropriate scheduling equation for task A of a project were W = D * U, and it was initialized so that W = 40d, D = 10d, and U = 4 resources, and task A is an effort-driven activity, correctly balance this equation if the value for U is changed from 4 to 5. To balance the equation, the altered variable and its new value are __________.

Question 22

The use of __________ activity time estimates may reduce the chance that crashing the project will be needed.

Question 23

Three important parameters used to assess the effectiveness of a scheduling system include schedule slippage, in-process inventory, and __________.

Question 24

When we change technology, we may also be changing the level of __________ in carrying out the activity.

Question 25

Given W = D * U for an effort-driven task. Assume an 8-hour workday. Initially, task R was assigned to Bob. Bob was expected to accomplish 32 hours of work in five days. If Bob were 100 percent available to work on task R during the entire five days, his efficiency rate is __________%.

Question 26

__________ times result from an attempt to expedite the activity by the application of additional resources.

Question 27

__________ aims to minimize the period-by-period variations in resource loading by shifting tasks within their slack allowances. The purpose is to create a smoother distribution of resource usage.

Question 28

Given a scheduling equation W = D * U, if the equation for task J is initialized so that W = 20d, D= 5d, and U = 4 resources, and task J is a non-effort-driven activity (where D is held constant when resources are changed), correctly balance this equation if the value for U is changed from 4 to 5. To balance the equation, the altered variable and its new value are __________.

Question 29

__________ describes the amounts of individual resources an existing schedule requires during specific time periods.

Question 30

With respect to project scheduling, __________ is the amount of work waiting to be processed because there is a shortage of some resource.

Question 31

Given that task A will use three carpenters and have duration of six days, task A requires __________ labor days of work.

Question 32

Studies have shown that the __________ scheduling heuristic method usually results in the minimum amount of project schedule slippage, best utilization of facilities, and minimum total system occupancy time.

A)as soon as possible
B)as late as possible
C)shortest task first
D)minimum slack first

Question 33

Thoughtless optimism, the "student syndrome," and multitasking to reduce idle time can each contribute to __________.

A)slack
B)pessimistic bias
C)optimistic bias
D)feeder buffer

Question 34

One cannot save __________, rather one can only spend more or less of it.

Question 35

Given W = D * U for an effort-driven task. Assume an 8-hour workday. Initially, task R was assigned to Bob. Bob was expected to accomplish 32 hours of work in five days. Bob was expected to be 100% available to work on task R during the entire five days. However, Bob left the company and will be replaced by Sam. Sam's efficiency rate is 90%. If Sam is only 70% available, Sam will require __________ hours to complete task R.

Question 36

In some situations, two activities are scheduled to be carried out in parallel and using the same scarce resource. If the supply of the scarce resource is not sufficient to allow both activities to be carried out simultaneously, then whichever of the two is given priority immediately lengthens the other activity's path but not its actual __________.

A)duration
B)slack
C)float
D)buffer

Question 37

A project task is said to be __________ if it requires a fixed amount of time and known quantities of resources.

Question 38

The two principles to follow when crashing a project are __________.

Question 39

__________ are tasks that logically follow a particular task in time.

Question 40

__________ refers to the amount of time past a project's due or delivery date.

Question 41

Describe the extreme points of the relationship between time use and resource use.

Question 42

Suggest some options for leveling the load placed on resources.

Question 43

Describe the basic procedure for resource leveling.

Question 44

Discuss the advantages obtained from resource leveling.

Question 45

List some of the common priority rules utilized when following heuristic solution methods.

Question 46

Discuss some other causes of the strong optimistic bias in a project schedule.