Chapter 3

Question 1

finish day/date

Answer 1

The time that task is scheduled to be

finished.

Question 2

concurrent task

Answer 2

If tasks can be completed at the same
time they are said to be concurrent, or
parallel.

Question 3

critical path

Answer 3

A series of events and activities with no
slack time. If any activity along the
critical path falls behind schedule, the
entire project schedule is similarly
delayed.

Question 4

Project planning

Answer 4

Project planning includes identifying
project tasks and estimating completion
time and costs

Question 5

Qualitative risk analysis

Answer 5

Evaluating risk by estimating the
probability that it will occur and the
degree of impact.

Question 6

Microsoft Project

Answer 6

A powerful, full-featured program that
holds the dominant share of the project
management software market.

Question 7

Brooks’ Law

Answer 7

This interesting concept was stated by
Frederick Brooks, Jr. an IBM engineer,
who observed that adding manpower to
a late software project only makes it
later

Question 8

event

Answer 8

An event, or milestone, is a reference
point that marks a major occurrence.
Events are used to monitor progress
and manage a project.

Question 9

worst-case estimate

Answer 9

The most pessimistic outcome is called

the worst-case estimate.

Question 10

task

Answer 10

A task, or activity, is any work that has a
beginning and an end, and requires the
use of company resources including
people, time, and/or money. Examples
include conducting a series of
interviews, designing a report, selecting
software

Question 11

Critical Path Method (CPM)

Answer 11

The Critical Path Method (CPM) was
developed by private industry, and
shows a project as a network diagram.
The activities are shown as vectors, and
the events are displayed graphically as
nodes

Question 12

activity

Answer 12

An activity, or task, is any work that has
a beginning and an end, and requires
the use of company resources including
people, time, and/or money.

Question 13

task name

Answer 13

A brief descriptive name for a task,
which does not have to be unique in the
project.

Question 14

structured walk-through

Answer 14

A review of a project team member’s
work by other members of the team.
Generally, systems analysts review the
work of other systems analysts, and
programmers review the work of other
programmers, as a form of peer rev

Question 15

duration

Answer 15

The amount of time it will take to

complete a task.

Question 16

Project scheduling

Answer 16

Project scheduling involves the creation
of a specific timetable to facilitate
completion of a project. Scheduling also
involves selecting and staffing the
project team and assigning specific
tasks to team members.

Question 17

network diagram

Answer 17

A PERT chart also is referred to as a

network diagram.

Question 18

weight

Answer 18

Weight is an important value that
managers add to estimates so they can
be analyzed.

Question 19

dependent tasks

Answer 19

A task is said to be dependent when it
has to be completed in a serial
sequence

Question 20

Program Evaluation Review Technique

PERT

Answer 20

The Program Evaluation Review
Technique (PERT) was developed by the
U.S. Navy to manage very complex
projects, such as the construction of
nuclear submarines.

Question 21

Project monitoring

Answer 21

Project monitoring requires guiding,
supervising, and coordinating the
project team’s workload.

Question 22

Risk identification

Answer 22

Listing each risk and assessing the

likelihood that it could affect a project

Question 23

PERT/CPM

Answer 23

The Program Evaluation Review
Technique (PERT) was developed by the
U.S. Navy to manage very complex
projects, such as the construction of
nuclear submarines. At approximately
the same time, the Critical Path Method
(CPM) was developed by private

Question 24

task pattern

Answer 24

A logical sequence of tasks in a work
breakdown structure. Task patterns can
involve sequential tasks, multiple
successor tasks, and multiple
predecessor tasks.

Question 25

task box

Answer 25

``` In project management, a task box is a component of a PERT/CPM chart that contains important scheduling and duration information about a task. Each task in a project is represented by its own task box in the PERT/CPM chart. ```

Question 26

project triangle

Answer 26

The three major components of a project: cost, scope, and time. A project manager tries to find the optimal balance among these factors.

Question 27

milestone

Answer 27

A milestone, or event, is a reference point that marks a major occurrence. Milestones are used to monitor progress and manage a project.

Question 28

task group

Answer 28

In task groups, each task represents | several activities.

Question 29

Risk management

Answer 29

The process of identifying, evaluating, tracking, and controlling risks to minimize their impact.

Question 30

design reviews

Answer 30

``` A design review, or structured walkthrough, is a review of a project team member’s work by other members of the team. Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analysts, and programmers review the work of other programmers ```

Question 31

open source

Answer 31

Software that is supported by a large | group of users and developers

Question 32

Testing reviews

Answer 32

``` A testing review, or structured walkthrough, is a review of a project team member’s work by other members of the team. Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analysts, and programmers review the work of other programmers ```

Question 33

Project reporting

Answer 33

Project reporting tasks include regular progress reports to management, users, and the project team itself.

Question 34

risk response plan

Answer 34

``` A proactive effort to anticipate a risk and describe an action plan to deal with it. An effective risk response plan can reduce the overall impact by triggering a timely and appropriate action ```

Question 35

predecessor tasks

Answer 35

Often, two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, which is called a predecessor task.

Question 36

work breakdown structure (WBS)

Answer 36

Breaking a project down into a series of | smaller tasks.

Question 37

Gantt chart

Answer 37

``` A horizontal bar chart that illustrates a schedule. Gantt charts were developed many years ago by Henry L. Gantt as a production control technique and still are in common use ```

Question 38

project coordinator

Answer 38

``` The project coordinator handles administrative responsibilities for the development team and negotiates with users who might have conflicting requirements or want changes that would require additional time or expense. ```

Question 39

risk management plan

Answer 39

``` Includes a review of the project’s scope, stakeholders, budget, schedule, and any other internal or external factors that might affect the project. The plan should define project roles and responsibilities, risk management methods and procedure ```

Question 40

code reviews

Answer 40

``` A code review, or structured walkthrough, is a review of a project team member’s work by other members of the team to spot logic errors. Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analyst ```

Question 41

best-case estimate

Answer 41

The most optimistic outcome is called | the best-case estimate.

Question 42

successor task

Answer 42

Each of the concurrent tasks of a predecessor task is called a successor task.

Question 43

Slack time

Answer 43

``` The slack time for an event is the amount of time by which an event can be late without delaying the project. The slack time for an event is the difference between its latest completion time (LCT) and earliest completion time (ECT). ```

Question 44

risk

Answer 44

An event that could affect the project | negatively

Question 45

task ID

Answer 45

A number or code that uniquely | identifies a task

Question 46

person-day

Answer 46

The amount of work that one person | can complete in one day.

Question 47

quantitative risk analysis

Answer 47

Evaluating risk in terms of the actual impact in terms of dollars, time, project scope, or quality.

Question 48

probable-case estimate

Answer 48

The most likely outcome is called a | probable case estimate.

Question 49

start day/date

Answer 49

The time that a task is scheduled to | begin.

Question 50

bottom-up technique

Answer 50

A bottom-up technique analyzes a large, complex project as a series of individual tasks, called project tasks

Question 51

dependent task

Answer 51

A task is said to be dependent when it has to be completed in a serial sequence

Question 52

gateway

Answer 52

``` (1) In business processing modeling notation, a fork in the process, allowing the flow to go one way or another. (2) A router or other network device used to connect to a larger, dissimilar type of network, such as the Internet. ```

Question 53

predecessor task

Answer 53

Often, two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, which is called a predecessor task

Question 54

project creep

Answer 54

The process by which projects with very general scope definitions expand gradually, without specific authorization.

Question 55

project management

Answer 55

The process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, controlling, and reporting upon the development of an information system.