Question 1

When it is necessary to reduce project duration and resources are constrained, which of the following is NOT a reasonable option?
A) Establish a core project team
B) Fast-tracking
C) Reduce project scope
D) Compromise quality
E) Use critical-chain project management

Accepted Answer

The answer of When it is necessary to reduce project...

Question 2

When reducing project duration, the duration for a project that is optimal is at the point where
A) direct costs are the lowest.
B) indirect costs are the lowest.
C) direct costs equal indirect costs.
D) total project costs are the lowest.
E) the project changes from time-constrained to resource-constrained.

Accepted Answer

The optimal duration for a project is at the point where total project costs are the lowest. This includes both direct and indirect costs, and finding the balance between them is key to minimizing the overall cost of the project.

Question 3

When determining which activity to crash, there are other factors that should be assessed beyond cost. Which of the following is NOT one of these factors?
A) The inherent risk associated with the activity
B) How crashing will impact the morale and motivation of the individuals working on that activity
C) Resource availability after crashing that activity
D) The level of difficulty involved in completing the activity
E) When during the project the activity will occur

Accepted Answer

The level of difficulty involved in completing the activity is not typically a factor considered when deciding which project activity to crash. Crashing is primarily concerned with reducing the project duration for the least additional cost while considering factors like risk, resource availability, and the impact on team morale, rather than the difficulty of the tasks involved.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the more commonly used options for cutting project costs?
A) Reduce project scope
B) Have owner take more responsibility
C) Move the completion date further out
D) Brainstorm cost savings options
E) Outsource project activities

Accepted Answer

Moving the completion date further out typically increases costs due to extended labor and resource expenses, rather than cutting costs.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a technique for accelerating project completion when resources are not constrained?
A) Assign additional staff and equipment
B) Establish a core team
C) Do it twice-fast and correctly
D) Reduce project scope
E) Compromise quality

Accepted Answer

Compromising quality is not a technique for accelerating project completion when resources are not constrained.

Question 6

Which of the following correctly calculates an activity's cost slope?
A) (normal cost - crash cost) / (normal time - crash time)
B) (crash cost - normal cost) / (normal time - crash time)
C) (normal time - crash time) / (crash cost - normal cost)
D) (normal time - crash time) / (normal cost - crash cost)
E) (crash cost - normal cost) / (crash time - normal time)

Accepted Answer

The correct formula for calculating an activity's cost slope is (crash cost - normal cost) / (normal time - crash time), which represents the rate of cost increase per unit of time saved by crashing the activity.

Question 7

The relationship between the normal point and the crash point is assumed to be
A) linear.
B) curvilinear.
C) variable.
D) conversely related.
E) exponentially related.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between the normal point and the crash point in project management, particularly in the context of time-cost trade-offs, is generally assumed to be linear. This means that as you move from the normal point (standard completion time with standard cost) to the crash point (minimum possible time with maximum cost), the relationship between time and cost is direct and proportional.

Question 8

Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized before a project begins and reducing these costs through shorter project durations becomes a high priority.
A) labor
B) direct
C) project
D) overhead
E) interest

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized...

Question 9

Which of the following projects would be least benefited if additional resources were added?
A) Splitting and stacking a cord of wood
B) Developing new software
C) Harvesting a crop by hand
D) Building a cabin
E) Moving to a new house

Accepted Answer

The principle of diminishing returns applies most directly to software development (B) among the options given. Adding more resources (like personnel) to a software project beyond a certain point can actually slow down progress due to increased coordination and communication overhead, as described by Brooks' Law.

Question 10

When a project manager must reduce project duration but resources are constrained, creating a software program that will have less functionality than originally planned or building a house without the bonus room and the basement that the owner originally specified in the plans would both be examples of
A) fast-tracking.
B) use critical-chain project management.
C) reduce project scope.
D) compromise quality.
E) do it twice-fast and correctly.

Accepted Answer

Reducing project scope involves decreasing the number or complexity of tasks or features to be completed, as seen in the examples of creating a software program with less functionality or building a house without certain rooms. This approach helps in reducing project duration when resources are constrained.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a rational reason to reduce project duration?
A) Incentive contracts
B) High network sensitivity
C) Imposed deadlines
D) High overhead costs
E) Unforeseen delays

Accepted Answer

High network sensitivity is not a rational reason to reduce project duration. It refers to how much the overall project duration is affected by changes in the duration of any single activity. Reducing the project duration does not inherently address or mitigate the issue of high network sensitivity.

Question 12

Reducing project duration
A) involves crashing all activities to their crash point.
B) can only be done when resources are not constrained.
C) is always more expensive.
D) tends to increase network sensitivity.
E) should be considered for all projects.

Accepted Answer

Reducing project duration tends to increase network sensitivity because it often involves compressing the schedule, which can make the project more susceptible to delays if any issues arise.

Question 13

In selecting the best activity to crash you would first select the activity with the
A) least steep slope.
B) earliest start time.
C) longest duration.
D) most steep slope.
E) largest crash time.

Accepted Answer

The least steep slope indicates the lowest cost increase per unit of time saved, making it the most cost-effective option for crashing.

Question 14

One way of reducing project costs is identifying tasks that _________ can do themselves.
A) vendors
B) suppliers
C) customers
D) company employees
E) project teams

Accepted Answer

The answer of One way of reducing project costs is...

Question 15

All of the following are disadvantages of scheduling overtime EXCEPT
A) overtime is associated with additional costs of coordination and communication.
B) sustained overtime work by salaried employees may incur burnout.
C) productivity is reduced the longer one is working.
D) more hours results in higher expenses if paying workers hourly.
E) continued overtime can lead to a higher turnover rate.

Accepted Answer

Overtime is not typically associated with additional costs of coordination and communication; rather, it involves higher direct labor costs and potential productivity issues.

Question 16

When reducing project duration, the crash cost per unit has to be calculated and the maximum units each activity can be reduced must be known. After this, the critical path must be identified. What is the next step?
A) Find the activity with the lowest crash cost
B) Calculate the optimum cost-time point
C) Calculate the crash point
D) Calculate indirect cost per time unit
E) Find the activity with the steepest cost slope

Accepted Answer

Finding the activity with the lowest crash cost is the next step after identifying the critical path, as it helps in determining which activity can be shortened for the least additional cost, thereby reducing the project duration efficiently.

Question 17

According to Brooks' Law, adding more people to a late project is most likely to have which of the following impacts?
A) Keep the project from slipping any further
B) Get the project back on schedule
C) Make the project slip further
D) Lead to burnout
E) Decrease team motivation

Accepted Answer

Brooks' Law states that adding manpower to a late software project makes it later, due to the time required for the new team members to become productive and the increased communication overhead.

Question 18

An activity's normal time and cost are 10 and $120, respectively. Its estimated crash time and cost are 7 and $180, respectively. What is this activity's crash cost per time unit?
A) $20
B) $30
C) $40
D) $50
E) $60

Accepted Answer

The crash cost per time unit is calculated as (Crash cost - Normal cost) / (Crash time - Normal time) = ($180 - $120) / (7 - 10) = $60 / (-3) = $20.

Question 19

Helen has just learned that she needs to reduce the duration of her project to meet an imposed deadline. She has calculated the crash cost per unit and knows the maximum units each activity can be reduced. What is the next step?
A) Find the activity with the lowest crash cost
B) Calculate the optimum cost-time point
C) Calculate the crash point
D) Identify the critical path
E) Find the activity with the highest crash cost

Accepted Answer

Identifying the critical path is essential because it determines the project's minimum duration. Activities on the critical path directly impact the overall project timeline, so knowing this path helps in deciding which activities to crash for reducing the project duration.

Question 20

The less steep the cost slope of an activity, the
A) less it costs to shorten one time period.
B) more it costs to shorten one time period.
C) smaller the crash time is.
D) larger the crash time is.
E) cannot be determined by the information given.

Accepted Answer

The less steep the cost slope, the less it costs to shorten the duration of an activity by one time period, as the slope represents the rate of cost increase for reducing time.

Quiz 9: Reducing Project Duration

When it is necessary to reduce project duration and resources are constrained, which of the following is NOT a reasonable option?

When reducing project duration, the duration for a project that is optimal is at the point where

When determining which activity to crash, there are other factors that should be assessed beyond cost. Which of the following is NOT one of these factors?

Which of the following is NOT one of the more commonly used options for cutting project costs?

Which of the following is NOT a technique for accelerating project completion when resources are not constrained?

Which of the following correctly calculates an activity's cost slope?

The relationship between the normal point and the crash point is assumed to be

Sometimes very high __________ costs are recognized before a project begins and reducing these costs through shorter project durations becomes a high priority.

Which of the following projects would be least benefited if additional resources were added?

Which of the following is NOT a rational reason to reduce project duration?

Reducing project duration

In selecting the best activity to crash you would first select the activity with the

One way of reducing project costs is identifying tasks that _________ can do themselves.

All of the following are disadvantages of scheduling overtime EXCEPT

When reducing project duration, the crash cost per unit has to be calculated and the maximum units each activity can be reduced must be known. After this, the critical path must be identified. What is the next step?

According to Brooks' Law, adding more people to a late project is most likely to have which of the following impacts?

An activity's normal time and cost are 10 and $120, respectively. Its estimated crash time and cost are 7 and $180, respectively. What is this activity's crash cost per time unit?

Helen has just learned that she needs to reduce the duration of her project to meet an imposed deadline. She has calculated the crash cost per unit and knows the maximum units each activity can be reduced. What is the next step?

The less steep the cost slope of an activity, the