Question 1

The following describes which priority rule: This rule usually minimizes the number of late activities.

Accepted Answer

The "Minimum slack first" priority rule focuses on scheduling tasks with the least amount of slack (or float) first. This approach helps in minimizing delays and the number of late activities because tasks that have little to no room for delay are prioritized, reducing the risk of them becoming late as the project progresses.

Question 2

What is resource loading?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is resource loading?...

Question 3

The following describes which priority rule: With this rule, resources are made available so that activities start on their latest start times (LS) whenever possible without increasing the project's duration.

Accepted Answer

This describes the "As late as possible" priority rule, where activities are scheduled to start as late as possible without delaying the overall project, utilizing their latest start times (LS) to determine when resources should be allocated.

Question 4

The following describes which priority rule: Activities are scheduled to start on their earliest start times (ES), and resources are made available with that in mind.

Accepted Answer

This describes the "As soon as possible" priority rule, where tasks are scheduled to begin at the earliest opportunity, assuming resources are available to support this timing.

Question 5

Which of the following is a measure of the amount by which a project is delayed by application of a leveling rule?

Accepted Answer

Schedule slippage is the correct term used to describe the amount by which a project is delayed due to the application of a leveling rule, which involves adjusting the start and finish dates of tasks to balance resource allocation and avoid overallocation.

Question 6

The safety time added to chains other than the critical chain is called…

Accepted Answer

The safety time added to chains other than the critical chain is called a feeding buffer. This buffer is used to protect the critical chain from delays in the non-critical chains.

Question 7

All of the following are criteria available to help choose the priority rule mentioned in the textbook except;

Accepted Answer

Project cost is not typically a criterion for choosing a priority rule in scheduling; priority rules are more focused on operational aspects such as schedule adherence, resource utilization, and inventory levels.

Question 8

The following describes which priority rule: Always consistent with technological precedences, shorter tasks are given priority over longer tasks.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the "Shortest task duration first" priority rule, where tasks are prioritized based on their duration, with shorter tasks being scheduled before longer ones, assuming no technological or precedence constraints are violated.

Question 9

The following describes which priority rule: This is the standard rule in scheduling.

Accepted Answer

The "As soon as possible" rule is considered the standard rule in scheduling, aiming to start tasks as early as possible to allow for maximum flexibility later in the project.

Question 10

The following describes which priority rule: The number of successors on the critical path(s) for each activity is counted.

Accepted Answer

This describes the "Most critical followers" priority rule, where the focus is on the number of immediate successor tasks that are on the critical path, indicating their importance in the project's schedule.

Question 11

Arthur, a project manager, has multiple projects under him, and his team members are multitasking between these projects. When he planned these projects, Arthur asked his team members the number of hours they will take to complete their respective tasks. However, they are taking longer than discussed, which is preventing Arthur from taking on more projects. According to Goldratt, which of the following should Arthur do to fix this issue?

Accepted Answer

According to Goldratt's theory of constraints, one should identify and address the bottleneck in a process to improve overall performance. In this scenario, the bottleneck is the team members being spread too thin across multiple projects. Reducing the number of projects each team member is working on simultaneously would alleviate this bottleneck, allowing for more focused and efficient work, which aligns with Goldratt's principles.

Question 12

The following describes which priority rule: The number of successors for each activity is counted. Activities with a higher number of successors take precedence.

Accepted Answer

The "Most successors" rule prioritizes activities based on the number of activities that directly follow them. The more successors an activity has, the higher its priority, as it impacts a greater number of subsequent activities in the project schedule.

Question 13

The following describes which priority rule: This rule maximizes the number of tasks that can be completed by a system in a given time period.

Accepted Answer

The "Shortest task duration first" rule focuses on completing the tasks with the shortest duration first, thereby maximizing the number of tasks that can be completed in a given time period. This approach is efficient for increasing throughput in systems where task completion rate is a priority.

Question 14

What is fast-tracking a project?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is fast-tracking a project?...

Question 15

Vanessa, a student, has to submit two assignments, A and B, on the same day. Each assignment is divided into three tasks. She has to write the first draft, check it for accuracy, and let her friend review it before submission. Each of these tasks takes 5 hours. In order to multitask effectively, Vanessa should:

Accepted Answer

A allows Vanessa to work on assignment B while her friend reviews assignment A, making efficient use of time by multitasking.

Question 16

Walter, a project manager in a design agency, is using a project management software to manage his project. The agency he works for is currently prioritizing other projects and needs to conserve scarce resources. In the context of priority rules for allocating resources, which of the following rules should Walter use?

Accepted Answer

The "As late as possible" rule helps in conserving resources by delaying tasks until the last possible moment, which can be beneficial when resources are scarce and other projects are prioritized.

Question 17

The practice of assigning project team members to multiple projects is called…

Accepted Answer

The practice of assigning project team members to multiple projects is referred to as multitasking. This involves individuals working on various tasks or projects simultaneously, rather than focusing on a single project at a time.

Question 18

The following describes which priority rule: With this rule, the greater the use of a specific resource on a task, the higher the task's priority for the resource.

Accepted Answer

The "Most resources first" rule prioritizes tasks based on the amount of a specific resource they require. The more of the resource a task uses, the higher its priority, aligning with the description provided.

Question 19

The following describes which priority rule: asks are supplied with resources in inverse order of their slacks.

Accepted Answer

The minimum slack first priority rule allocates resources to tasks based on the amount of slack (or leeway) they have, with tasks having the least slack being given priority. This means tasks are supplied with resources in inverse order of their slacks, fitting the description provided.

Question 20

The following describes which priority rule: This rule is based on the assumption that more important activities have a greater demand for scarce resources.

Accepted Answer

The "Most resources first" priority rule is based on the assumption that activities deemed more important or critical will have a greater demand for scarce resources. This rule prioritizes tasks that require the most resources, under the belief that these tasks are crucial for the project's success.

Quiz 6: Allocating Resources to the Project