Ch. 8 Flashcards
When can the first draft of a project schedule be constructed?
After the WBS has been constructed which will provide a layout for the project schedule.
What is the difference between an activity and a work package?
An activity is a distinct, scheduled portion of work performed during the course of a project while a work package is the work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost and duration can be estimated and managed.
What is another name for activity on node diagramming?
Precedence diagram
What purpose do project milestones serve?
They keep everyone involved in the project aware of where they are both with time and finances.
Describe the relationship between a predecessor activity and a successor activity.
The relationship is called a dependency. Successor activity starts after and is dependent on the predecessor (comes before) activity.
Describe the four most common types of logical dependency.
Finish-to-start
Start-to-start
Start-to-finish
Finish-to-finish
One potential problem that can occur with activity duration estimating is having omissions. What are three potential remedies for this problem?
Refining the WBS
Making checklists
Having someone play the Devil’s Advocate
What two methods can be used to determine the critical path of a schedule?
Two pass method
Enumeration method
If an activity on the critical path falls behind schedule, what effect will this have on the entire project?
The end-date for the project will change. Its completion will occur at a later date.
If a painted room must dry for four hours before work can continue, the result is a delay in the successor activity. The wait for the paint to dry is an example of
A lag
A professor cannot grade his students’ exams until the students have completed taking the test. What kind of relationship is this?
Finish - to - start
What is one advantage and one disadvantage of Monte Carlo analysis for predicting a project schedule?
Advantage: flexibility
Disadvantage: special software and skill are necessary to effectively use technique
How can a Gantt chart be helpful in project planning?
Help assess how long a project should take
Determine the resources needed
Plan the order in which you’ll complete tasks.
Helpful for managing the dependencies between tasks.
A lead is a change in the logical relationship that results in the _______ of the successor activity.
Acceleration
How do you calculate float? What is the difference between free float and total float?
Float = (Late Start date - Early Start date) or (Late Finish date - Early Finish date)
Total Float: amount of time that an activity can be delayed from its early start date without delaying the project finish date.
Free Float: amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor activity.
