Deck 9: Resource Allocation

Question 1

The two principles to follow when crashing a project focuses on the __________.

A)critical path and selects the least expensive alternative
B)critical path and selects the most expensive alternative
C)shortest path and selects the least expensive alternative
D)critical path and selects the most expensive alternative

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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)

Answer 2

B

Question 3

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

A)risk
B)money
C)time
D)all of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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

A)time
B)money
C)scope
D)risk

Question 5

If the crash cost is $1,000,the normal cost is $500,the crash time is 3,and the normal time is 5,what is the slope?

A)-500
B)-250
C)250
D)500

Question 6

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 7

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 8

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

A)Resource loading
B)Resource leveling
C)Scope loading
D)Resource succeeding

Question 9

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

A)Leveling
B)Crash
C)Post
D)Constraint

Question 10

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 11

If the crash cost is $2,500,the normal cost is $1,500,the crash time is 4,and the normal time is 6,what is the slope?

A)-1,500
B)-1,000
C)-750
D)-500

Question 12

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

A)scope constrained
B)time constrained
C)resource constrained
D)system constrained

Question 13

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

A)one probabilistic
B)two probabilistic
C)three probabilistic
D)four probabilistic

Question 14

If the crash cost is $2,500,the normal cost is $2,000,the crash time is 1,and the normal time is 6,what is the slope?

A)-300
B)-200
C)-100
D)None of the above are correct

Question 15

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 16

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 17

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

Question 18

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

Question 19

Fast-tracking is a partial use of the basic concept in ______ project management and is dependent on effective feedback and feedforward communication.

A)crashing
B)construction
C)IT
D)phase-gate

Question 20

_____ itself is always a critical resource in project management,one that is unique because it can neither be inventoried nor renewed.

A)Crashed resources
B)Labor
C)Manpower
D)Time

Question 21

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 22

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 23

Using Goldratt's meaning of the word "dependent," the activities of a project can be ordered into paths based on their resource dependencies as well as on their technological precedence requirements.The longest of these paths of sequentially time-dependent activities is known as the ______________.

A)priority chain
B)critical chain
C)dependency path
D)heuristic path

Question 24

One of the problems that Goldratt observed was that if an activity has slack time,the task might become 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 25

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 26

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 27

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 28

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 29

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 30

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 31

If a contradiction or conflict between constraints is detected,__________ should always take precedence.

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

Question 32

Which of the following describes a situation where priorities are assigned to activities according to some rule not associated with task length,slack,or resource requirements?

A)student's syndrome
B)arbitrary
C)most successors
D)most resources

Question 33

Using the __________ heuristic method,the project team should be able to 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 34

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 35

Because the project _____ is the source of information on activity precedence's,durations,and resources requirements,it is the primary input for both the project schedule and its budget.

A)schedules
B)Gantt chart
C)WBS
D)charter

Question 36

Assume two activities,printing and binding.Printing is a predecessor of binding.If printing is _______,then binding will start late by whatever amount of lateness is bequeathed to it by printing.

A)necessary
B)early
C)late
D)time-neutral

Question 37

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 38

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

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

Question 39

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

A)resource utilization
B)time utilization
C)management delay
D)schedule utilization

Question 40

__________ 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.

A)Resource loading
B)Resource leveling
C)Scope loading
D)Resource succeeding

Question 41

Discuss the advantages obtained from resource leveling.

Question 42

Describe the basic procedure for resource leveling.

Question 43

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

Question 44

Match the following priority rules with their descriptions.

A)As Soon As Possible
B)As Late As Possible
C)Shortest Task First
D)Most Resources First
1)Activities are ordered by use of a specific resource,with the largest user heading the list.
2)Tasks are ordered in terms of duration,with the shortest first.
3)All activities are scheduled as late as possible without delaying the project.
4)The default rule for scheduling.This provides the general solution for critical path and time.

Question 45

Match the following priority rules with additional information provided about them.

A)As Soon As Possible
B)As Late As Possible
C)Shortest Task First
D)Most Resources First
1)The usual purpose of this heuristic is to defer cash outflows as long as possible.
2)The assumption behind this rule is that more important tasks usually place a higher demand on scarce resources.
3)This provides the general solution for critical path and time.
4)In general,this rule will maximize the number of tasks that can be completed by a system during some time period.

Question 46

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

Question 47

List the factors that lead to strong optimistic bias.

Question 48

If a predecessor activity finishes early,will the following activity start early? Why?

Question 49

Match the following priority rules with their descriptions.

A)Minimum Slack First
B)Most Critical Followers
C)Most Successors
D)Arbitrary
1)This heuristic orders activities by the amount of slack,least slack going first.
2)Tasks are arranged by number of activities following them.
3)Priorities are assigned to activities according to some rule not associated with task length,slack,or resource requirements.
4)Tasks are arranged by number of critical activities following them.

Question 50

Suggest some options for leveling the load placed on resources.

Question 51

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

A)Successor
B)Strays
C)Predecessors
D)Critical

Question 52

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

A)in-process inventory
B)schedule slippage
C)resource utilization
D)management delay

Question 53

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