PROJECT SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT Flashcards
(42 cards)
Your project sponsor is considering pulling a resource off your project and has asked that you determine what the impact to the schedule would be. Which of the following techniques would you use to determine this impact?
a. Variance analysis
b. Fast-tracking
c. Resource levelling
d. What-if scenario analysis
D
A what-if scenario analysis will show how the schedule will be affected by losing a resource.
Brenda is working on a network diagram for her project schedule on a project management textbook her company is publishing. Her writers are working on the text and she wants to get the available drafts to her editors as soon as possible. She has determined that it is not necessary for the writers to complete the entire draft before the editors begin. How should Brenda show this relationship on her network diagram?
a. FS
b. SS
c. FS + 1
d. SF
B
The best answer choice is B. Although Brenda can supply her editors with the partial manuscript
and have them begin editing before the manuscript is complete, this should be shown as a Start-to-Start
relationship because the editors cannot begin their work before the writers have started their work. If
Brenda wished to wait until the manuscript was complete before giving it to her editors, this would be
shown as a Finish-to-Start relationship.
You are developing duration estimates for your schedule. What input would you use to identify the working days and shifts upon which each specific resource is available?
a. The project management plan
b. A precedence diagram
c. A network diagram
d. A resource calendar
D
A resource calendar can be quite complex. Information you might compile for a resource calendar includes the skill levels of human resources, the geographic location of work, resource availability, the corporate calendar, and constraints on the number of hours per day a resource can be used.
“I cannot continue the next part of my project until a vendor shipment arrives onsite.” This statement best
describes which of the following relationship types?
a. Reliant relationship
b. External dependency
c. Discretionary dependency
d. Mandatory dependency
B
Per the PMBOK® Guide definition, an external dependency is a relationship between project
activities and non-project activities.
The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any
successor or violating a schedule constraint is called:
a. Total float
b. Free float
c. Schedule compression
d. Lag time
B
Per the PMBOK® Guide definition, free float is the amount of time that a schedule activity can be
delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor or violating a schedule constraint.
Variance analysis is conducted periodically throughout the project. In addition to identifying variances, a
variance analysis should also address which of the following?
a. The cost of taking corrective action
b. The root cause of the variance
c. How best to communicate the variance to a client
d. Who should be held responsible for the variance
B
Variance analysis shouldn’t just identify variances; it should also address the root cause of the variance and whether corrective or preventive actions are desired or even possible.
You are evaluating ways to compress your project schedule. In doing so, you determine that you can overlap part of the development phase with part of the testing phase. What technique are you using to compress the schedule?
a. Fast-tracking
b. Crashing
c. Resource levelling
d. Contract renegotiation
A
Per the PMBOK® Guide definition, fast-tracking is a schedule compression technique in which
activities or phases normally done in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their
duration.
A critical path method for calculating the late start and late finish dates by working backward through the
schedule model from the project end date is called:
a. Backwards scheduling
b. Backwards planning
c. Backward pass
d. Float calculations
C
The forward pass of the critical path method is used to calculate the early dates in the schedule model; the backward pass is used to calculate the late dates.
On your construction project, you’ve scheduled the “frame house” activity to immediately follow the “pour
foundation” task. By definition, this is an example of what type of scheduling relationship?
a. Finish-to-start
b. Start-to-start
c. Finish-to-finish
d. Cannot be determined at this point
A
The start of the framing is dependent upon completion of the pour foundation task.
Which of the following should be included in the project charter?
a. The communication plan
b. The business need the project will address
c. The unidentified risks
d. The stakeholder management plan
B
The best answer choice is B. The project begins with a business need, which should be included in the project charter.
A milestone list identifies all project milestones and indicates whether the milestone is mandatory, such as
those required by contract, or optional, such as those based on historical information. Which of the following
best describes a milestone?
a. A summary of the project schedule
b. A list of project constraints
c. Documented assumptions
d. A significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio
D
By definition, a milestone is a significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio.
The technique of compressing a project schedule resulting in an incremental cost increase defines which of the following techniques?
a. Fast tracking
b. Crashing
c. Resource levelling
d. All of the above
B
The best answer choice is B because crashing can provide schedule compression but typically
results in increased project costs.
There is an issue with your project schedule. As the project manager, you need to determine whether you need to initiate a change request, take corrective action, or implement a preventive action. From the following options, select the answer that led you to believe there was an issue with the schedule.
a. Activity resources
b. Earned Value
c. Planned value
d. Schedule data
D
The best answer choice is D because it is the only option that is an input to the Control Schedule
process.
Xavier is concerned with the project schedule and needs to perform some analysis. Which of the following tools and techniques should he consider for his analysis?
a. CPI and CV
b. SV and SPI
c. EV and PV
d. AC and BAC
B
The best answer choice is B. Tools used in the variance analysis activity for the Control Schedule
process include Schedule Variance (SV) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI).
You’ve been assigned a project that is in the early stages of estimating. At this point, you only have a high-level understanding of the requirements and the WBS is decomposed only to level two. You have previously done this type of project before and the project sponsor is asking for an initial timeline along with milestone dates and minimal detail. Which of the following techniques should provide you the duration estimate?
a. Analogous estimating
b. Parametric estimating
c. Three-point risk analysis
d. Monte Carlo simulation
A
Analogous estimating is used for projects during the early phases when there aren’t a lot of details.
The PMO at your organization requires project managers to use the Critical Path Method to create their project schedules. Which of the following best describes this requirement?
a. Enterprise environmental factor
b. Organizational process asset
c. Project scheduling methodology
d. Projectized organizational structure
C
The best answer choice is C because the Critical Path Method represents a project scheduling methodology.
Pamela is working on her project schedule. She is including all of the work packages from the WBS and
developing a network diagram. She has determined the longest path through the project resulting in the
shortest duration. What has she determined?
a. The critical chain
b. The critical path
c. The milestone list
d. The free float and total float
B
The best answer choice is B. The critical path is the sequence of activities representing the longest path through the project, which determines the shortest duration.
Tom is working in a weak matrix organization and is managing a new project. He is experiencing some issues with resource availability coinciding with his resource requirements at specific times in the project execution. After considering his options, and realizing he does not have any additional budget to use for acquiring more human resources, Tom has decided to optimize the resources he has. Which of the following methods would be most appropriate based on this scenario?
a. Crashing
b. Update schedule baseline
c. Resource levelling
d. Update project budget
C
The best answer choice is C. Because resource availability is typically low in a weak matrix
organization, resource leveling is Tom’s best option because critical resources are only available at
certain times.
Which of the following are outputs of the Control Schedule process?
a. Schedule forecasts
b. Work performance data
c. Project calendars
d. Schedule data
A
The best answer choice is A because all of the other choices are inputs to the Control Schedule process.
Paul is working on scheduling his project. He is in the early stage and will perform a progressive elaboration
later in the week as more information becomes available. At this point, he is only interested in the planned dates of the major deliverables. Which of the following is Paul creating?
a. PERT
b. Critical Chain Method
c. Critical Path Method
d. Milestone schedule
D
The best answer choice is D because a milestone schedule presents milestones with planned dates.
Plan Schedule Management is the process of establishing the policies, procedures, and documentation for the planning, development, management, execution, and controlling of the project schedule. The key inputs to this process include each of the following EXCEPT:
a. The project charter
b. The scope management plan
c. The development approach
d. The schedule management plan
D
The schedule management plan is an output to the process, not an input.
Joan is managing a new project tasked with creating, developing, and launching a new social media site on the Internet. There is a lot to do, and it appears to be an overwhelming task with multiple phases of work and deliverables. In order to get a better idea of the overall scope, Joan has decided to concentrate on the work that needs to be accomplished in the near term, plan that work out in detail, and develop a lesser degree of detail for the work that will be accomplished in the future. What type of iterative planning technique is Joan using?
a. Monte Carlo simulation
b. Rolling stone planning
c. Progressive iteration
d. Rolling wave planning
D
The best answer choice is D. Joan is using an Iterative process and a form of progressive elaboration known as rolling wave planning, in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while the work in the future is planned at a higher level.
A technique used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by adding resources is called:
a. Schedule compression
b. Crashing the schedule
c. Fast-tracking the schedule
d. Floating the schedule
B
Bringing in more resources, working overtime, and paying to expedite deliverables are all ways to crash the schedule.
The unanticipated absence of a key project team member is threatening to put your project behind schedule. From the following choices, select the one that is the best method for maintaining your project schedule baseline without increasing costs.
a. Schedule baseline revision
b. Resource levelling
c. Crashing the project
d. SPI
B
The best answer choice is B because resource levelling is the best choice for maintaining the project schedule baseline without increasing cost.
