Question 1

In network diagramming, arrows represent precedence relationships.

Accepted Answer

Arrows in network diagramming represent the order in which activities or tasks must be completed, indicating precedence relationships.

Question 2

For projects whose activities have probabilistic time estimates, the probability of completing the project in a specified amount of time is determined by the standard deviation for the critical path only.

Accepted Answer

The probability of completing a project in a specified time is determined by the standard deviation of the entire project network, not just the critical path.

Question 3

An approach for getting projects done faster and more consistently at or before the project due date is the critical chain approach.

Accepted Answer

The critical chain approach is a project management method that aims to complete projects faster and more consistently by identifying and managing the critical chain of tasks, which is the longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines the project's duration. This approach involves buffering the project schedule by adding extra time to tasks along the critical chain and managing project resources effectively to prevent delays and disruptions. Overall, the critical chain approach helps project teams focus on completing tasks on time and achieving the project deliverables within the project due date.

Question 4

The purpose of change control boards is to review and prioritize changes during the course of a project.

Accepted Answer

Change control boards are responsible for reviewing and prioritizing changes during a project in order to maintain control and reduce risk. This helps ensure that changes are properly evaluated and implemented in a timely and effective manner.

Question 5

In making a forward pass through a network, three activities are immediate predecessors for activity T. The early start time for activity T is the largest EF for the three activities that are immediate predecessors for activity T.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes how to calculate the early start time for activity T in the context of network analysis. It states that the early start time of T is determined by finding the largest EF (earliest finish time) among the three activities that directly precede T in the network. This is a correct application of the forward pass method, which is used to calculate the earliest start and finish times for all activities in a network diagram.

Question 6

If a delay in an activity will delay completion of the whole project, the activity has slack.

Accepted Answer

An activity with no slack is critical, meaning any delay in this activity will delay the completion of the whole project. Slack or float is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without causing a delay in the project completion date.

Question 7

The probability of completing a project in a specified amount of time is being calculated. For a particular path through the project, the z-value shows the path's number of standard deviations that the specified time is past the expected path completion time.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The z-value represents the number of standard deviations that the completion time for a path is past the expected completion time.

Question 8

When we are unsure about the duration of project activities, we use probabilistic time estimates.

Accepted Answer

Probabilistic time estimates are used when there is uncertainty about the duration of project activities. It involves using statistical techniques to calculate the probability of different durations for each activity, rather than relying on fixed estimates.

Question 9

A Gantt chart can be use to display graphically the scheduled times for activities.

Accepted Answer

Gantt charts are commonly used to visualize the start and end dates of tasks and activities in a project or schedule.

Question 10

Removing safety time from the individual activities and putting the total safety time at the end of the critical path creates a project buffer.

Accepted Answer

This is the concept of creating a project buffer in Critical Chain Project Management methodology. By removing safety time from individual activities and aggregating it into a single project buffer at the end of the critical path, it provides a safety net for the project as a whole to absorb delays or uncertainties.

Question 11

An activity in a network diagram has an optimistic time estimate of five days, a most likely time estimate of seven days, and a pessimistic time estimate of 15 days. Its expected time is eight days.

Accepted Answer

The expected time estimate is calculated using the formula: 
Expected time = (optimistic time + 4 * most likely time + pessimistic time) / 6.

Plugging in the given values, we get: 
Expected time = (5 + 4 * 7 + 15) / 6 = 8 days.

Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 12

In critical path scheduling, slack is computed as the difference between finish and start times.

Accepted Answer

In critical path scheduling, slack (or float) is computed as the difference between the earliest and latest start times of a task, or the difference between the earliest and latest finish times of a task, not simply the difference between finish and start times of the task itself.

Question 13

Crashing is shortening the total time for completing a project by incurring higher costs from shortening activities.

Accepted Answer

Crashing involves incurring additional costs in order to shorten the duration of a project. This trade-off between time and cost can help meet deadlines or mitigate delays.

Question 14

The sum of the activity times on the critical path determines the total slack available.

Accepted Answer

The total slack available is determined by the difference between the project's duration and the sum of the activity times on the critical path.

Question 15

Backward scheduling develops the LS and LF times.

Accepted Answer

Backward scheduling develops the Late Start (LS) and Late Finish (LF) times, but it is forward scheduling that develops the Early Start (ES) and Early Finish (EF) times.

Question 16

Accounting uses project management information to provide a time line for the marketing program.

Accepted Answer

Accounting is a separate function from project management and does not typically use project management information to provide a time line for marketing programs. However, accounting may use information from project management such as project costs and budget to inform financial reporting and performance analysis.

Question 17

A project schedule is a tool used to communicate what work needs to be performed, which resources are used to perform the work, and when the work needs to be performed.

Accepted Answer

A project schedule is a plan that outlines the tasks involved in completing a project, the timeline for completing these tasks, and who is responsible for each task. It is used to communicate the project plan to stakeholders and team members and to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and deadlines.

Question 18

With probabilistic time estimates for activities, (m) denotes the mean time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With probabilistic time estimates for activities, (m)...

Question 19

List and briefly describe the phases in the project life cycle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and briefly describe the phases in...

Question 20

The TOC focuses on correct placement of buffers.

Accepted Answer

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) focuses on identifying and managing the bottleneck or constraint in a process to improve overall system performance, not specifically on buffer placement.

Quiz 16: Project Management