Deck 14: Managing Projects

Question 1

An expectation that a new building's foundation would be poured and cured by the end of the year is an example of a(n):

A)activity.
B)scope.
C)milestone.
D)precedence.

Answer 1

milestone.

Question 2

In what ways are projects distinct from typical business activities?

Answer 2

Projects are distinct from typical business activities in four ways. First, projects are nonroutine. Second, the nonroutine nature of a project makes it very difficult to manage. Third, projects typically require significant levels of cross-functional and interorganizational coordination. Fourth, projects have a defined ending point at which time the project is complete.

Question 3

During the ________, project planners identify how to accomplish the work, how to organize for the project, and the key personnel and resources needed.

Answer 3

project definition phase

Question 4

A performance or time target for each major group of activities in a project is a(n)________.

Question 5

Execution of the project's constituent activities begins in the project's:

A)planning phase.
B)concept phase.
C)post-completion phase.
D)performance phase.

Question 6

A project is a temporary undertaking designed to create a unique, product, service or results.

Question 7

The Triskaidekaphobia Project is starting its tenth week and the Gantt chart appears below. Which of these statements about the project is incorrect?

A)The critical path is BCEF.
B)Five of the activities are complete.
C)Activity D had one week of slack.
D)The project is behind schedule.

Question 8

This Gantt chart can be used to show:

A)activity D must come before activity C.
B)activity F can be done at the same time as D.
C)activity E can begin as soon as activity A is complete.
D)activities D and B can be done simultaneously.

Question 9

One of the primary characteristics of projects as a form of work is the movement of personnel from project to project.

Question 10

Discuss the recent business trends that have increased the attention and interest in project management skills.

Question 11

In what way are projects and typical business activities similar?

A)For most companies, projects and typical business activities can be described as routine.
B)Both projects and typical business activities have a defined ending point at which time they are complete.
C)Projects and routine business activities require significant levels of cross-functional and interorganizational coordination.
D)The successful completion of projects and business activities is essential to a firm's competitive position.

Question 12

Performance or time targets for each major group of activities in a project are set during the planning phase of a project.

Question 13

There are more resources required during the performance phase of a project than the project definition phase.

Question 14

Key points in a project, such as when a major activity or phase should be completed, are referred to as lodestones.

Question 15

PERT is an acronym meaning:

A)Project Evaluation and Review Technique.
B)Project Execution and Review Technique.
C)Program Evaluation and Review Technique.
D)Plan Estimation and Review Technique.

Question 16

Project planners develop a broad definition of what the project is and what its scope will be during the:

A)concept phase.
B)project definition phase.
C)planning phase.
D)performance phase.

Question 17

The actual work gets done during the ________ phase of a project.

Question 18

What are the phases of a project and the activities within each?

Question 19

The budget estimates made during the concept phase are usually accurate to within:

A)20 percent.
B)30 percent.
C)40 percent.
D)50 percent.

Question 20

In the project definition phase, project planners identify, among other tasks, how to accomplish the work and how to organize for the project.

Question 21

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan. However, the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Use this fragmentary record to unlock the ancient project's secrets and answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time } & \text { ES } & \text { EF } & \text { LS } & \text { LF } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 7 & & & & 12 \\\hline \text { B } & \cdots & 8 & & & & \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & & & & 13 & 20 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { A } & 11 & & & 12 & \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B } & & & 14 & 17 & \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 & & & & \\\hline \text { G } & \text { D, E } & 6 & & & & \\\hline \text { H } & \text { C } & & & & 20 & \\\hline \text { K } & \text { F } & & & 29 & & \\\hline \text { L } & G , H , K & 9 & & & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. What is the earliest start time for activity H?

A)Week 14
B)Week 15
C)Week 16
D)Week 17

Question 22

A Gantt chart provides both a planning function and a control function.

Question 23

A hatmaker, fresh off a very successful showing at Lidzapalooza is excited about the prospects of providing the finest chapeaus to meet the needs of his energized customer base in the coming year. He and his space designer have identified seven activities that are necessary to expand his small shop. For the sake of simplicity, and to avoid giving away any trade secrets, the activities have been identified by letters A-G. The activities, their time estimates, and the precedence requirements are listed in the table immediately below. Use this scenario to answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & - & 7 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 6 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 10 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 12 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B, C } & 5 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { D, E } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { F } & 8 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. Which of these statements is BEST?

A)Only four of these activities have zero slack.
B)The late finish of D minus the latest finish of C is less than the slack of B.
C)B's latest start plus its slack equals F's latest finish.
D)The sum of the latest start times for activities A through E is less than the sum of the latest start times for F and G.

Question 24

A Gantt chart explicitly shows precedence requirements for a project's constituent activities.

Question 25

A project is composed of 6 activities that have durations and precedence requirements shown in the table. Which of these activities is NOT on the critical path? $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Length } & \text { Predecessor } \\\hline \text { A } & 5 & \cdots \\\hline \text { B } & 7 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { C } & 4 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { D } & 7 & \text { B,C } \\\hline \text { E } & 7 & \text { B } \\\hline \text { F } & 6 & \text { D, E } \\\hline\end{array}$$

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 26

Construction of the cattery could be distilled to eight distinct steps, from the official groundbreaking ceremony to the cutting of the litterbox ribbon. The activities, their durations and predecessors are shown in the table below. Use this scenario to answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 10 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 8 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 7 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 11 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { D } & 12 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { E, F } & 6 \\\hline \text { H } & \text { E, F } & 9 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. The fastest the project can be completed is:

A)49 weeks
B)46 weeks
C)38 weeks
D)35 weeks

Question 27

Construction of the cattery could be distilled to eight distinct steps, from the official groundbreaking ceremony to the cutting of the litterbox ribbon. The activities, their durations and predecessors are shown in the table below. Use this scenario to answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 10 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 8 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 7 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 11 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { D } & 12 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { E, F } & 6 \\\hline \text { H } & \text { E, F } & 9 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. Which of these activities has the least slack?

A)E
B)B
C)G
D)F

Question 28

Program evaluation and review technique, PERT, is a network-based technique in which there are multiple time estimates for each activity.

Question 29

Most project management software represents a project in AON format.

Question 30

Construction of the cattery could be distilled to eight distinct steps, from the official groundbreaking ceremony to the cutting of the litterbox ribbon. The activities, their durations and predecessors are shown in the table below. Use this scenario to answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 10 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 8 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 7 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 11 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { D } & 12 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { E, F } & 6 \\\hline \text { H } & \text { E, F } & 9 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. What is the slack for activity G?

A)4 weeks
B)3 weeks
C)2 weeks
D)1 week

Question 31

Construction of the cattery could be distilled to eight distinct steps, from the official groundbreaking ceremony to the cutting of the litterbox ribbon. The activities, their durations and predecessors are shown in the table below. Use this scenario to answer the following question. $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 10 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 8 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 7 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 11 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { D } & 12 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { E, F } & 6 \\\hline \text { H } & \text { E, F } & 9 \\\hline\end{array}$$ Refer to the scenario above. One activity has identical earliest finish and latest start times. What is the common number for this unusual activity?

A)17
B)18
C)21
D)29

Question 32

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan. However, the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Use this fragmentary record to unlock the ancient project's secrets and answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time } & \text { ES } & \text { EF } & \text { LS } & \text { LF } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 7 & & & & 12 \\\hline \text { B } & \cdots & 8 & & & & \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & & & & 13 & 20 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { A } & 11 & & & 12 & \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B } & & & 14 & 17 & \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 & & & & \\\hline \text { G } & \text { D, E } & 6 & & & & \\\hline \text { H } & \text { C } & & & & 20 & \\\hline \text { K } & \text { F } & & & 29 & & \\\hline \text { L } & G , H , K & 9 & & & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. What is the duration of activity H?

A)7 weeks
B)8 weeks
C)9 weeks
D)10 weeks

Question 33

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan. However, the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Use this fragmentary record to unlock the ancient project's secrets and answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time } & \text { ES } & \text { EF } & \text { LS } & \text { LF } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 7 & & & & 12 \\\hline \text { B } & \cdots & 8 & & & & \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & & & & 13 & 20 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { A } & 11 & & & 12 & \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B } & & & 14 & 17 & \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 & & & & \\\hline \text { G } & \text { D, E } & 6 & & & & \\\hline \text { H } & \text { C } & & & & 20 & \\\hline \text { K } & \text { F } & & & 29 & & \\\hline \text { L } & G , H , K & 9 & & & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. What is the latest start time for activity K?

A)Week 20
B)Week 19
C)Week 18
D)Week 17

Question 34

What is the latest that activity B can start if A lasts 35 days, B lasts 5, days C lasts 6 days, and D lasts 7 days?

A)35
B)36
C)40
D)41

Question 35

A hatmaker, fresh off a very successful showing at Lidzapalooza is excited about the prospects of providing the finest chapeaus to meet the needs of his energized customer base in the coming year. He and his space designer have identified seven activities that are necessary to expand his small shop. For the sake of simplicity, and to avoid giving away any trade secrets, the activities have been identified by letters A-G. The activities, their time estimates, and the precedence requirements are listed in the table immediately below. Use this scenario to answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time (weeks) } \\\hline \text { A } & - & 7 \\\hline \text { B } & \text { A } & 6 \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & 10 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { C } & 12 \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B, C } & 5 \\\hline \text { F } & \text { D, E } & 11 \\\hline \text { G } & \text { F } & 8 \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. Which of these activities has slack?

A)G
B)E
C)F
D)D

Question 36

What is the latest that activity D can start if A lasts 5 days, B lasts 7 days, C lasts 4 days, D lasts 5 days, E lasts 7 days, and F is 6 days long?

A)14
B)15
C)16
D)17

Question 37

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan. However, the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Use this fragmentary record to unlock the ancient project's secrets and answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time } & \text { ES } & \text { EF } & \text { LS } & \text { LF } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 7 & & & & 12 \\\hline \text { B } & \cdots & 8 & & & & \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & & & & 13 & 20 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { A } & 11 & & & 12 & \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B } & & & 14 & 17 & \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 & & & & \\\hline \text { G } & \text { D, E } & 6 & & & & \\\hline \text { H } & \text { C } & & & & 20 & \\\hline \text { K } & \text { F } & & & 29 & & \\\hline \text { L } & G , H , K & 9 & & & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. What is the earliest finish time for activity G?

A)Week 21
B)Week 22
C)Week 23
D)Week 24

Question 38

What is the fastest completion time of the project with activity lengths (in days)and precedence requirements as shown in the table? $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Length } & \text { Predecessor } \\\hline \text { A } & 15 & \cdots \\\hline \text { B } & 7 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { C } & 4 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { D } & 8 & \text { B, C } \\\hline\end{array}$$

A)22
B)25
C)27
D)30

Question 39

Which of the activities in this project has the greatest amount of slack? $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Length } & \text { Predecessor } \\\hline \text { A } & 7 & \cdots \\\hline \text { B } & 4 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { C } & 8 & \text { A } \\\hline \text { D } & 3 & B , C \\\hline \text { E } & 2 & B \\\hline \text { F } & 8 & \text { D, E } \\\hline\end{array}$$

A)B
B)C
C)D
D)E

Question 40

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan. However, the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Use this fragmentary record to unlock the ancient project's secrets and answer the following question(s).
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | c | c | c | } \hline \text { Activity } & \text { Predecessors } & \text { Time } & \text { ES } & \text { EF } & \text { LS } & \text { LF } \\\hline \text { A } & \cdots & 7 & & & & 12 \\\hline \text { B } & \cdots & 8 & & & & \\\hline \text { C } & \text { A } & & & & 13 & 20 \\\hline \text { D } & \text { A } & 11 & & & 12 & \\\hline \text { E } & \text { B } & & & 14 & 17 & \\\hline \text { F } & \text { B } & 11 & & & & \\\hline \text { G } & \text { D, E } & 6 & & & & \\\hline \text { H } & \text { C } & & & & 20 & \\\hline \text { K } & \text { F } & & & 29 & & \\\hline \text { L } & G , H , K & 9 & & & & \\\hline\end{array}$$

-Refer to the scenario above. The project's duration is:

A)32 weeks.
B)33 weeks.
C)36 weeks.
D)38 weeks.

Question 41

The earliest start time of an activity is dependent on the earliest finish time of its immediate predecessors.

Question 42

The longest path in a network from the start of a project to the end of a project is the ________.

Question 43

An activity's duration added to its earliest start time yields the ________.

Question 44

The earliest finish time of an activity is always later than its latest start time.

Question 45

The university president concocts a thirteen-step sinister plan to lower morale to zero during his last year in office. The duration of each step (in days)and the required predecessor(s)are displayed in the table.
What are the early and late start and finish times for this morale-lowering project?

Question 46

A hatmaker, fresh off a very successful showing at Lidzapalooza is excited about the prospects of providing the finest chapeaus to meet the needs of his energized customer base in the coming year. He and his space designer have identified seven activities that are necessary to expand his small shop. For the sake of simplicity, and to avoid giving away any trade secrets, the activities have been identified by letters A-G. The activities, their time estimates, and the precedence requirements structure are listed in the table immediately below. Use this table to answer the following question.
Refer to the scenario above. What are the earliest and latest start and finish times for all of these activities?

Question 47

The earliest finish time is calculated by adding the activity's duration to the predecessor's earliest finish time.

Question 48

A hatmaker, fresh off a very successful showing at Lidzapalooza is excited about the prospects of providing the finest chapeaus (hats, for those of you without a thesaurus)to meet the needs of his energized customer base in the coming year. He and his space designer have identified seven activities that are necessary to expand his small shop. For the sake of simplicity, and to avoid giving away any trade secrets, the activities have been identified by letters A-G. The activities, their time estimates, and the precedence requirements structure are listed in the table immediately below. Use this table to answer the following question(s).

Refer to the scenario above. Develop a Gantt chart for this project and indicate the finish times for each activity.

Question 49

A forward pass through a network is used to determine the earliest start times and earliest finish times for each project activity.

Question 50

Complete this table containing earliest and latest start times and activity lengths.

Question 51

Given the earliest and latest finish times for each of these activities, what are the activity lengths?

Question 52

For critical path activities, slack is equal to ________.

Question 53

A critical path is composed entirely of critical activities.

Question 54

Construction of the cattery could be distilled to eight distinct steps, from the official groundbreaking ceremony to the cutting of the litterbox ribbon. The activities, their durations and predecessors are shown in the table below. Determine earliest and latest start and finish times for all of the activities.

Question 55

A project is composed of the twelve activities shown in the table. What are the earliest and latest start times for each of these activities?

Question 56

A Gantt chart can be used for project planning and also project ________ .

Question 57

A hatmaker, fresh off a very successful showing at Lidzapalooza is excited about the prospects of providing the finest chapeaus (hats, for those of you without a thesaurus)to meet the needs of his energized customer base in the coming year. He and his space designer have identified seven activities that are necessary to expand his small shop. For the sake of simplicity, and to avoid giving away any trade secrets, the activities have been identified by letters A-G. The activities, their time estimates, and the precedence requirements structure are listed in the table immediately below. Use this table to answer the following question(s).

Refer to the scenario above. Develop a Gantt chart for this project and indicate the finish times for each activity.

Question 58

Activities on the critical path may have positive or negative slack as long as the overall slack time of the critical path is zero.

Question 59

The tablet unearthed by the archaeologist revealed an ancient culture's project plan, however the sands of time had erased much of the information that the table once contained. Unlock the ancient project's secrets by completing all of the information missing from this fragmentary record.

Question 60

A(n)________ is a graphical tool used to show a project's progress as time elapses.

Question 61

The professional organization that serves the needs of project management professionals is ________.

Question 62

Which of these needs does the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge NOT serve?

A)It provides a common language for discussing project management issues.
B)It provides a blueprint for ISO certification of the project management process.
C)It identifies and disseminates generally accepted project management knowledge and practices.
D)It serves as a basic reference source for project management.

Question 63

The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®)is divided into two main parts, the various business processes that organizations follow in carrying out projects and the nine knowledge areas applicable to nearly all projects.

Question 64

Describe some of the key features and advantages of project management software.
The university president concocts a thirteen-step sinister plan to lower morale to zero during his last year in office. The duration of each step (in days)and the required predecessor(s)are displayed in the table.

Identify the activities that have slack and the amount of slack each has for this morale-lowering project?

Question 65

Describe some of the key features and advantages of project management software.
The university president concocts a thirteen-step sinister plan to lower morale to zero during his last year in office. The duration of each step (in days)and the required predecessor(s)are displayed in the table.

What is the critical path for this morale-lowering project?