Question 1

A merge activity is one that merges with other activities into a succeeding activity.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

An activity can include only one work package.

Accepted Answer

An activity can include multiple work packages, as it represents a further breakdown of project tasks into more manageable components.

Question 3

The backward pass through a project network determines slack or how long an activity can be delayed without impacting the completion date of the project.

Accepted Answer

The backward pass calculates the latest start and finish times for each activity, determining the amount of slack or float time available without delaying the project's overall completion date.

Question 4

An activity is an element of the project that always requires time.

Accepted Answer

Activities in a project are tasks or work packages that require time to complete, as they represent the effort needed to achieve a specific part of the project's objectives.

Question 5

Different activities along the same path can have different total slack.

Accepted Answer

Total slack can vary for different activities along the same path due to differences in their start and finish times, dependencies, and constraints.

Question 6

The backward pass determines project duration.

Accepted Answer

The backward pass is used to determine the latest start and finish times for project activities, not the project duration itself. The project duration is primarily determined during the forward pass, which calculates the earliest start and finish times for all activities.

Question 7

Burst activities have more than one activity immediately following them (more than one dependency arrow flowing from them).

Accepted Answer

Burst activities are characterized by having more than one activity immediately following them, indicating multiple paths diverging from a single point in a project network diagram.

Question 8

If a network has more than one critical path but noncritical activities have very little slack, the network is considered to have a high level of sensitivity.

Accepted Answer

A network is considered to have a high level of sensitivity when it has more than one critical path or when noncritical activities have very little slack, as small changes can significantly impact the project's schedule.

Question 9

Gantt charts are popular because they represent an easy-to-understand, clear picture on a time-scaled horizon.

Accepted Answer

Gantt charts are popular because they visually display project timelines, tasks, and their durations on a time-scaled horizon, making it easy for users to understand project schedules and progress.

Question 10

In developing a project network, neither looping nor conditional statements are permitted.

Accepted Answer

In project network diagrams, which are used for planning and scheduling project activities, looping (circular dependencies) and conditional statements are not permitted because they complicate the scheduling process and make it difficult to determine the project's critical path and overall duration.

Question 11

It is possible for a project network to have more than one critical path.

Accepted Answer

A project network can have multiple critical paths if there are different sequences of activities that all have the same longest duration, meaning any delay in any of these paths would delay the project's completion.

Question 12

Experience suggests that when there are multiple starts, a common start node should be used to indicate a clear project beginning on the network. Similarly, a single project end node can be used to indicate a clear ending.

Accepted Answer

Using a common start node and a single project end node in network diagrams helps in simplifying the visualization and understanding of the project's flow, ensuring clarity in identifying the project's beginning and end.

Question 13

The critical path is the shortest path through a network and indicates activities that cannot be delayed without delaying the project.

Accepted Answer

The critical path is the longest duration path through a network, indicating activities that directly impact the project completion time. Any delay in these activities will delay the project.

Question 14

The WBS identifies dependencies, the sequencing of activities, and the timing of activities.

Accepted Answer

The WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) is primarily focused on breaking down the project into smaller, more manageable components or deliverables. It does not identify dependencies, the sequencing, or the timing of activities; that is the role of a project schedule or a Gantt chart.

Question 15

An activity cannot begin until ALL preceding connected activities have been completed.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a fundamental principle of project management, particularly in methodologies that use network diagrams such as the Critical Path Method (CPM) or Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). These methodologies ensure that dependencies between tasks are identified and managed, meaning an activity cannot start until all its preceding tasks are completed.

Question 16

When completing a forward pass, you carry the early finish to the next activity where it becomes its early start unless the next succeeding activity is a merge activity. In this case you select the smallest early finish number of all its immediate predecessor activities.

Accepted Answer

In a forward pass, when you reach a merge activity (an activity with multiple predecessors), you select the largest early finish number from all its immediate predecessor activities to determine its early start, not the smallest. This ensures that all preceding activities are completed before the merge activity begins.

Question 17

It is acceptable for arrows to cross one another in a network diagram.

Accepted Answer

In network diagrams, arrows represent dependencies or the flow from one activity to another, and it is acceptable for them to cross if it accurately represents the project's or system's structure without altering the meaning or creating confusion.

Question 18

If the project has a duration of 8 days, the project should be completed 8 days from the day it starts.

Accepted Answer

The project duration of 8 days means it will take 8 working days to complete, not necessarily 8 calendar days, as weekends or holidays might extend the timeline.

Question 19

Using free slack does not delay any following activities and requires no coordination with managers of other activities.

Accepted Answer

Free slack is the amount of time that a task can be delayed without delaying the start of any subsequent tasks, meaning it doesn't affect other activities and doesn't require coordination with other managers.

Question 20

The forward pass through a project network determines the critical path.

Accepted Answer

The forward pass determines the earliest start and finish times for each activity, but the critical path is identified by both forward and backward passes.

Quiz 6: Developing a Project Schedule