Question 1

An activity has an optimistic time estimate of 15 days, a most likely estimate of 24 days, and a pessimistic estimate of 40 days. What is the variance of the activity?
A) 4.17
B) 25.17
C) 17.36
D) 10.33

Accepted Answer

The variance is calculated by (Pessimistic time – Optimistic time)^2 / 6.
Plugging in the given values, we get: 
(40 – 15)^2 / 6 = 625 / 6 ≈ 104.17 / 6 ≈ 17.36.

Question 2

Which of these statements about this network is best? 
A) Activities A and B are serial activities.
B) Activities B and C are serial activities.
C) Activities A and C are serial activities.
D) Activity D is a merge activity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these statements about this network...

Question 3

An activity with two or more immediate predecessors is a(n):
A) merge activity.
B) burst activity.
C) float activity.
D) event.

Accepted Answer

A merge activity has two or more immediate predecessors, meaning it cannot start until all its predecessors have finished. A burst activity is a type of activity that has a short duration and is unrelated to other activities in the project. A float activity is an activity that can be delayed without affecting the overall project schedule. An event represents a significant point or milestone in the project.

Question 4

The term ordered activity means:
A) tasks must either precede or follow other tasks in project planning and management.
B) tasks cannot be performed unless the project manager issues a specific command to perform the work.
C) prior project planning removes the need for any rush so that tasks can be performed in a methodical fashion.
D) tasks are not performed unless the customer issues a specific request to perform the work.

Accepted Answer

Ordered activity refers to the sequencing of tasks in project planning and management. Tasks must be arranged in a logical order where one task must be completed before another one can begin. This ensures that the project is completed successfully and on time.

Question 5

The variance of an activity is given by: A) [1/6(b-a)]². B) 1/6[b-a]. C) [1/36(b-a)]². D) 1/36[b-a].

Accepted Answer

The variance of an activity in PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is calculated using the formula: [(b-a)/6]^2, which matches choice A.

Question 6

An activity has an optimistic time estimate of 15 days, a most likely estimate of 24 days, and a pessimistic estimate of 40 days. What is the expected duration of the activity?
A) less than 27 days but greater than or equal to 26 days
B) less than 26 days but greater than or equal to 25 days
C) less than 25 days but greater than or equal to 24 days
D) less than 24 days

Accepted Answer

To calculate the expected duration of the activity, we use the formula:
Expected duration = (Optimistic estimate + 4 x Most likely estimate + Pessimistic estimate) / 6

Expected duration = (15 + 4 x 24 + 40) / 6 = 25

Therefore, the expected duration of the activity is less than 26 days but greater than or equal to 25 days. The best choice is B.

Question 7

The length of time expected to complete an activity assuming that its development proceeds normally is called the:
A) optimistic duration.
B) pessimistic duration.
C) most likely duration.
D) normal duration.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The length of time expected to complete...

Question 8

Network logic suggests that: 
A) Activity D can start any time.
B) Activity A must be complete before Activity B can be done.
C) Activities A, B and C must be complete before Activity D can be done.
D) Activity C must begin before Activity B begins.

Accepted Answer

The logic notation "11eabc3c_80ff_3593_8797_03e69ece495e_TB2942_00" represents a network diagram, where each letter represents a task and the numbers represent the order in which they must be completed. The underscore (_) separates the specific task from its dependencies. In this case, Activities A, B, and C must be completed before Activity D can be done, which is represented by the line from C to D with the arrow pointing towards D. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Question 9

The least amount of float is found:
A) in a resource-limited schedule.
B) after a burst activity.
C) on the critical path.
D) after a merge activity.

Accepted Answer

The critical path is the longest path in the project network diagram, and all activities on this path have zero float. Therefore, the least amount of float is found on the critical path.

Question 10

Concurrent activities are:
A) activities that must be done one after the other.
B) activities that can be performed at the same time.
C) activities that use labor from the same group of workers.
D) activities that use resources from the same resource pool.

Accepted Answer

Concurrent activities can be performed simultaneously, meaning they do not have to be done in sequence. For example, painting the interior walls and installing light fixtures can be done at the same time by different workers. Option A implies that activities are done sequentially, option C refers to labor, and option D refers to resources, neither of which specifically defines concurrent activities.

Question 11

The amount of time an activity may be delayed from its early start without delaying the finish of the project is the:
A) delay.
B) float.
C) late start.
D) late finish.

Accepted Answer

The amount of time an activity may be delayed from its early start without delaying the finish of the project is known as float. Float, also referred to as slack, depicts the flexibility in the project schedule, and it is calculated as the difference between the late start and early start or late finish and early finish of an activity. Option A (delay) is incorrect as it does not refer to a specific term used in project management. Option C (late start) and Option D (late finish) refer to the schedule of an activity when it is delayed, which affects the overall project finish date.

Question 12

Prior to creating a network, it is important to:
A) identify all loops through activities.
B) identify the party responsible for each activity.
C) calculate the float for each activity.
D) understand the activity precedence.

Accepted Answer

Understanding the activity precedence is crucial in creating a network as it involves identifying the logical relationship between activities and sequencing them accordingly. Identifying loops and float calculation are secondary steps that can be done after the precedence relationships are established. Identifying the party responsible for each activity may also be important but it is not directly related to network creation.

Question 13

Ray's shipment of materials hit every red light and traffic jam on the way to the site. Upon arrival, half of the material was judged defective, necessitating a trip back to the supplier, and then the same arduous journey back to the site once the new materials were loaded. Traffic was a little better on the second round but the flat tire and subsequent repair caused as much if not more delay than the first trip. In the final analysis:
A) the project activity of Material Delivery was pretty close to the optimistic estimate.
B) the project activity of Material Delivery was pretty close to the most likely estimate.
C) the project activity of Material Delivery had a much higher variance than anticipated.
D) the project activity of Material Delivery was pretty close to the pessimistic estimate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ray's shipment of materials hit every red...

Question 14

Based on the activity network pictured, what is the best statement? 
A) Activity C is a burst activity.
B) Activity E has one predecessor, Activity B.
C) Activity A and Activity C are merge activities.
D) There are no serial activities in this network.

Accepted Answer

Activity E has only one predecessor, which is Activity B.

Question 15

These can be located by doing a backward pass through a network.
A) critical paths
B) merge activities
C) successors
D) burst activities

Accepted Answer

The answer of These can be located by doing a...

Question 16

What is the earliest that Activity D can begin if Activity A takes 3 days, Activity B takes 5 days, and Activity C takes 7 days? 
A) day 15
B) day 7
C) day 5
D) day 3

Accepted Answer

Activity D cannot begin until Activity C is completed, which takes 7 days. Therefore, the earliest that Activity D can begin is on day 8. However, Activity B takes 5 days, so it must be started at least 5 days before day 8, which is day 3. Activity A takes 3 days, so it can begin on day 1, allowing Activity B to begin on day 4 and Activity C to begin on day 9. This leaves day 8 open for Activity D to begin, making the answer B.

Question 17

Based on the activity network pictured, what is the best statement? 
A) Before starting Activity C, Activity A, and Activity B must be completed.
B) Before starting Activity D, Activity A, and Activity B need to be completed.
C) Before starting Activity E, Activity A, and Activity B need to be completed.
D) Before starting Activity C, Activity A, and Activity D must be completed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the activity network pictured, what...

Question 18

Serial activities are those that:
A) flow from one to the next in sequence.
B) have sequential numbers.
C) have the same numbers.
D) should be performed simultaneously.

Accepted Answer

Serial activities are those that follow each other in a specific sequence. This means that one activity has to be completed before another can start. Therefore, the best choice is A. The other options, B, C, and D, are not applicable to serial activities.

Question 19

A sequence of activities defined by the project network logic is a(n):
A) event.
B) path.
C) node.
D) route.

Accepted Answer

A sequence of activities defined by the project network logic is called a path. Paths represent the series of connected activities in a network diagram that must be completed in a particular order to achieve project completion.

Question 20

One of the defining points of a network, a junction point joined to some or all of the others by dependency lines, is called a(n):
A) event.
B) path.
C) node.
D) burst.

Accepted Answer

A junction point in a network is commonly referred to as a node.

Quiz 9: Project Scheduling: Networks, Duration Estimation, and Critical Path

An activity has an optimistic time estimate of 15 days, a most likely estimate of 24 days, and a pessimistic estimate of 40 days. What is the variance of the activity?

Which of these statements about this network is best?

An activity with two or more immediate predecessors is a(n) :

The term ordered activity means:

The variance of an activity is given by:

An activity has an optimistic time estimate of 15 days, a most likely estimate of 24 days, and a pessimistic estimate of 40 days. What is the expected duration of the activity?

The length of time expected to complete an activity assuming that its development proceeds normally is called the:

Network logic suggests that:

The least amount of float is found:

Concurrent activities are:

The amount of time an activity may be delayed from its early start without delaying the finish of the project is the:

Prior to creating a network, it is important to:

Based on the activity network pictured, what is the best statement?

These can be located by doing a backward pass through a network.

What is the earliest that Activity D can begin if Activity A takes 3 days, Activity B takes 5 days, and Activity C takes 7 days?

Based on the activity network pictured, what is the best statement?

Serial activities are those that:

A sequence of activities defined by the project network logic is a(n) :

One of the defining points of a network, a junction point joined to some or all of the others by dependency lines, is called a(n) :