Project Management In Practice 6th Edition by Jack R. Meredith -Test Bank

Project Management In Practice 6th Edition by Jack R. Meredith -Test Bank   Instant Download - Complete Test Bank With Answers     Sample Questions Are Posted Below   Chapter 5: Scheduling the Project       True/False   When it was originally developed, PERT used certain (deterministic) methods to estimate activity duration.   Answer: …

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Project Management In Practice 6th Edition by Jack R. Meredith -Test Bank

 

Instant Download – Complete Test Bank With Answers

 

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Chapter 5: Scheduling the Project

 

 

 

True/False

 

  1. When it was originally developed, PERT used certain (deterministic) methods to estimate activity duration.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. AON and AOA networks can both be used to depict any project network.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The shortest time to complete a network is equal to the duration of the longest path through the network.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Critical path tasks always have zero slack.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. To manage a project successfully, the project manager need only pay close attention to tasks on the critical path.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. “Merger” is a term used to describe the situation in which two or more paths in a network join together.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.2

Level: easy

 

 

 

  1. If task duration estimates are carefully made, the project manager needs to only examine the critical path when conducting a risk analysis.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The actual project duration will be known with certainty after the project is completed.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.3

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Milestones cannot be identified on a Gantt Chart.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. It is easiest to see lead and lag time in a project task on a PERT/CPM networks.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.5

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A start-to-finish linkage is the most common way of linking to successive task.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.5

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The formula for the expected time of an activity in a network assumes that the optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely time estimates have a Beta distribution.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A project schedule is a project action plan converted into a timetable.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A Gantt chart cannot depict a critical path, only a PERT/CPM chart can.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The difference between the LST and EST is called slack.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A disadvantage of Gantt charts is that they are hard to draw.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The difference between LST and LFT is called slack.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Standard Pert/CPM networks can be use to resolve probabilistic concerns.

 

Answer:True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Technical dependencies are often harder to see on a Gantt chart than on a PERT/CPM network.

 

Answer: True

Response:See section 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The difference between EST and LFT is called slack.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The difference between LFT and EFT is called slack.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A big advantage of AON networks is that they are easier to draw.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

  1. The tasks of project planning, project budgeting, and project scheduling are largely separable from one another.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

  1. An event is a series of connected activities.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: easy

 

 

  1. A disadvantage of using beta distribution to approximate activity times is that it is generally less flexible than the normal distribution.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

  1. The simulation approach is generally preferred over the statistical method.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.3

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

  1. Technical dependencies are generally easier to see on a Gantt chart than on PERT/CPM networks.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.3

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The start-to-finish linkage is used in situations where is it desirable for two or more activities to finish at the same time.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.5

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Milestones are not depended upon the predecessor activities in the project plan.

 

Answer: false

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Another name for total slack is free slack.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. A diagram of nodes connected by directional arcs that defines the project and illustrates the technical of all activities is referred to as a network.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Networks are usually drawn with a “Start” node to the right and a “Finish” node to the left.

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. A situation where two or more activities have the same starting and finishing nodes or where a single activity connects to two or more nodes is called a dummy task

 

Answer: true

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The movement from left to right through the network beginning with the start node that calculates the LS and LF for each activity is known as “FORWARD PASS”

 

Answer: False

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Float refers to the amount of time a noncritical task can be delayed without causing a delay in the entire project.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the start time of any successor activity is known as free slack.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: easy

 

 

  1. Events in a project consume no resources or time.

 

Answer: True

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

Multiple Choice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Technical dependencies on a project plan are easiest to see on a:
  2. a) Gantt chart
  3. b) Cost chart
  4. c) PERT/CPM chart
  5. d) Work Breakdown Structure
  6. e) RACI Matrix

 

Answer: c

Response: Seesection 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. PERT was originally used for what type of project?
  2. a) construction
  3. b) R & D
  4. c) military
  5. d) computer software development
  6. e) advertising

 

Answer: c

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Which of the following terms is most closely associated with a task required by the project?
  2. a) activity
  3. b) event
  4. c) milestone
  5. d) network
  6. e) path

 

Answer: a

Response: See section 5.1

Level: easy

 

 

 

  1. What is the expected time to complete a task with an optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic times of 3, 4, and 7 days respectively?
  2. a) 3
  3. b) 4
  4. c) 4.3
  5. d) 4.7
  6. e) 7

 

Answer: c

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. What is the standard deviation of a task with optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic times of 3, 4, and 7 days respectively assuming the estimates were made at the 99% plus level?
  2. a) .444
  3. b) .667
  4. c) 1.212
  5. d) 1.469
  6. e) 1.540

 

Answer: b

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. The amount of time a noncritical task can be delayed without delaying the project is called?
  2. a) surplus
  3. b) flop
  4. c) slack
  5. d) critical time
  6. e) safety

 

Answer: c

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

  1. Slack is calculated as?
  2. a) LFT – EST
  3. b) LFT – LST
  4. c) LST – LFT
  5. d) LFT – EFT
  6. e) EFT – EST

 

Answer: d

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

 

  1. A Term not used in the discussion of PERT/CPM analysis is
  2. a) Activity
  3. b) Events
  4. c) Critical Path
  5. d) Sensitivity path
  6. e) networks

 

Answer: d

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. An identifiable state resulting from the completion of one or more activities is called?
  2. a) an event
  3. b) an activity
  4. c) a milestone
  5. d) a path
  6. e) the critical path

 

Answer: a

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Organ Bennett Inc., a public relations firm, is working on a project to improve the brand image of Sizil, a client firm, over a period of a year. The project requires Organ Bennett to organize a press conference to announce the launch of Sizil’s new product. The project members need to invite reporters for the same. In the context of the language of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM), inviting reporters is most likely a(n) _____.
  2. a) event
  3. b) activity
  4. c) network
  5. d) milestone
  6. e) float

 

Answer: b

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Rico Gen, a sports apparel manufacturing company, maintains a target of increasingits sales by 20 percent per month to achieve its goal of expanding its business in the international market. In the context of the language of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM), the monthly targets achieved by Rico Gen are known as _____.
  2. a) activities
  3. b) floats
  4. c) activity slacks
  5. d) milestones
  6. e) paths

 

Answer: d

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Paul, the marketing manager of a food company, created a diagram of nodes to represent the marketing process for a new product of the company. Each node represented an activity in the marketing process, and an arc joined each node. He used this diagram to demonstrate the objectives of the marketing process. In the context of the language of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM), the diagram used by Paul is known as a _____.
  2. a) network
  3. b) flowchart
  4. c) Gantt chart
  5. d) Smith chart
  6. e) control chart

 

Answer: a

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. VeritaNist, an automobile company, sought to improve the production time and quality of its products within a year. In the first month, the company installed five new assembling machines. This reduced the production time by 15 percent. In the context of the language of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM), this decrease in the production time of VeritaNist’s products is an example of a(n) _____.
  2. a) task
  3. b) activity
  4. c) critical path
  5. d) event
  6. e) throughput

 

Answer: d

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. MinksetBlu, a textile company, wants to improve its sales over a span of four years. In the first year, the company installs new looming machines that improve the production cost. However, it takes two years for the company to establish a liaison with online retailers to improve the accessibility of its products. This delays the company’s goal of improving sales by a year. In the context of the language of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and the Critical Path Method (CPM), the set of activities that cause the delay are part of _____.
  2. a) the Smith chart
  3. b) the Portolan chart
  4. c) thecritical path
  5. d) the throughput process

 

 

Answer: c

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. NessageMique, a niche fashion boutique, displays its production process by using a network of nodes and arrows. The nodes are used to depict the state of completion of various activities and the arrows are used to depict their order of precedence. Which of the following project networks is NessageMique using in the given scenario?
  2. a) An event-on-arrow network
  3. b) A time-on-arrow network
  4. c) An activity-on-node network
  5. d) A time-on-node network
  6. e) An activity-on-arrow network

 

Answer: e

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Miros Inc., a recording studio, displays its recording process by using a network of nodes and arrows. The nodes are used to depict the activities involved in recording a song, such as setting up the instruments, and the arrows are used to depict the order of precedence of the activities. Which of the following project networks is Miros using in the given scenario?
  2. a) A time-on-node network
  3. b) An activity-on-arrow network
  4. c) A time-on-arrow network
  5. d) An activity-on-node network
  6. e) An event-on-node network

 

Answer: d

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Ben is part of a new project in his company. He is asked to complete a task within two days, but he is only able to finish it in three days. Since the task assigned to him is noncritical in nature, the extra day taken by Ben does not cause a delay in the project. In this scenario, the additional day taken by Ben is known as _____.
  2. a) flow time
  3. b) throughput
  4. c) slack
  5. d) critical time
  6. e) flowgrind

 

Answer: c

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Consider a project network that begins with activity A and is followed by activity B. Activity A takes 6 days to finish. If the earliest start time for activity B is 6 days and the latest start time for it is 10 days, activity B has a slack of _____.
  2. a) 16 days
  3. b) 4 days
  4. c) 10 days
  5. d) 2 days
  6. e) 12 days

 

Answer: b

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

  1. Consider a project network that begins with activity X and is followed by activity Y. The earliest start time for activity X is 5 days and it will take 3 days to be completed. The earliest start time for activity Y is 12 days. Given this information, activity X has _____ of free slack.
  2. a) 20 days
  3. b) 4 days
  4. c) 12 days
  5. d) 9 days
  6. e) 15 days

 

Answer: b

Response: See section 5.1

Level: difficult

 

 

 

Short Answer

 

  1. Define the term critical path.

 

Answer:Critical path is the set of activities on a path from the project’s start event to its finish event that, if delayed, will delay the completion date of the project.

Response: See section 5.1

Level: easy

 

 

  1. What is activity slack?

 

Answer:The amount of time a noncritical task of a project can be delayed without delaying the project is called slack or float. The slack for any activity is easily calculated as latest start time (LS) – earliest start time (ES) = latest finish time (LF) – earliest finish time (EF) = slack.

It should be clear that for any task on the critical path, its LF must be the same as its EF. It therefore has zero slack. But for activities not on the critical path, the LF and EF (or the LS and ES) will differ and this difference is the activity slack.

Response: See section 5.1

Level: easy

 

 

  1. What is a Gantt chart?

 

Answer:A Gantt chart displays project activities as bars measured against a horizontal time scale. It is the most popular way of exhibiting sets of related activities in the form of schedules.It is easily constructed and read. It can contain a considerable amount of information and is an excellent communication device about the state of a project.

Response: See section 5.4

Level: easy

 

 

  1. What are the four methods of linking steps in a project using precedence diagramming?

 

Answer: The four methods of linking steps in a project using precedence diagramming are finish to start, start to start, finish to finish, and start to finish.

Response: See section 5.5

Level: easy

 

 

  1. Contrast total slack and free slack.

 

Answer: The amount of time a noncritical task can be delayed without delaying the project is called slack or float. Free slack is defined as the time an activity can be delayed without affecting the start time of any successor activity.

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Contrast the traditional statistical approach to calculating the probability of completing a project by a specified time with the simulation approach.

 

Answer:The simulation approach has a direct way of circumventing the assumption of statistical independence if the assumption is not realistic. With simulation, one simply includes the activity or path dependencies as a part of the simulation model. The dependencies are modeled by expressing the functional relationship between the activities or paths along with its distribution, mean, and variance so that it may become a variable in the simulation. While this can be done in the statistical approach also, it is much more difficult to handle.

Using the statistical process, the analyst must find the mean time and variance for each path. Using simulation, the computer selects a sample from the distribution of activity times for each activity and then calculates the path duration for each path enumerated.

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Why should we only draw the Gantt chart after we have drawn the network for the project?

 

Answer:The Gantt chart is an excellent device to aid in monitoring a project and/or in communicating information on its current state to others. Gantt charts, however, are not adequate replacements for networks. They are complementary scheduling and control devices.

Response: See section 5.4

Level: medium

 

 

  1. What assumptions are made about the probabilities of the optimistic and pessimistic times in the standard formula for calculating the variance of a particular activity?Explain how the formula can be modified to accommodate different assumptions.

 

Answer:Assume that all possible durations (or all possible costs) for some task can be represented by a statistical distribution.The individual or group making the estimates is asked for a task duration, a, such that the actual duration of the task will be a or lower. Thus a is an optimistic estimate. The pessimistic estimate, b, is an estimated duration for the same task such that the actual finish time will be b or greater. The most likely or normal duration is m, which is the mode of the distribution.The mean of this distribution, also referred to as the “expected time,” TE, can easily be found in the following way:

TE= (a+ 4m+b)/6

This calculation gives an approximation of the mean of a beta distribution.The calculation itself is merely a weighted average of the three time estimates, a, m, and b using weights of 1-4-1, respectively.We can also approximate the standard deviation, σ, of the beta distribution as:

σ = (ba)/6

In this case, the “6” is not a weighted average but rather an assumption that the range of the distribution covers six standard deviations (6σ). It follows that the variance ofthis distribution is estimated as:

Var = σ² = ((ba)/6)²

The assumption that the range of the distribution, ba, covers six standard deviations is important. It assumes that the estimator actually attempted to judge a andb so that 99.7 percent of all cases were greater than a and less than b.99.7 percent translates to “almost never outside the range,” (three standard deviations) leading to estimates of a and b that are so small and large, respectively, as to be nearly useless.

But estimators are not so uncomfortable making estimates at the 95 (or 90) percent levels where a is estimated so that 5 (or 10) percent of all cases are less than a, and 5(or 10) percent are greater than b. These estimates are within the range of everyday experience. These levels, however, do not cover 6σ, so using the above formula forfinding the standard deviation will result in a significant underestimation of theuncertainty associated with activity durations and cost estimates. Correcting for sucherrors is simple. If a andb estimates are made at the 95 percent level, the followingshould be used to find σ (and squared to find the variance):

σ = (ba)/3.3

If estimates of a and b are made at the 90 percent level

σ = (ba)/2.6

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Explain why the term critical path has less meaning in cases where the activity times are not known with certainty.

 

Answer:There are several problems with using probabilistic activity times to find the critical path. For example, given the uncertainty in path durations, we cannot be sure that a particular path is actually the critical path. One of the other paths may turn out to be longer when the project is actually carried out. We should remember that start and finish times are estimates and that the activity durations are ranges, not point estimates. We refer to a particular path as the critical path solely because it is customary to call the path with the longest expected time the “critical path.” Again, only after the fact do we know which path was actually the critical path. The managerial implication of this caveat is that the project manager must carefully manage all paths that have a reasonable chance of being the actual critical path. It is also well to remember that in reality all projects are characterized by uncertainty. Sometimes, with routine maintenance projects, for example, activity variances are quite small, but they are rarely zero.

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

  1. What is a merger and what problems do mergers create?

 

Answer:The term merger is used to describe a situation in which two or more paths in a network join.When two or more paths through a network join, even at the end of the network, paths that have little slack and/or high variance may become critical simply by chance.

Response: See section 5.2

Level: medium

 

 

  1. Why is it necessary for the project manager (PM) to be aware and to manage the slack in the project?

 

Answer:The PM’s primary attention must be paid to activities on the critical path. If anything delays one of these activities, the project will be late. At the start of the project, the PM should correctly note that activity a is on the critical path and b is not. The question at this stage would be whether or not any resources reserved for use on b can be borrowed for a few days to work on a and thereby shorten its duration. The nature of b’s resources and a’s technology will dictate whether or not this is possible. If a, for example, could be shortened a day by using b’s resources for 4 days, the critical path would be shortened by a day. This would cause no problem for b, which had 7 days of slack. If the delivery date for the project remains the same, the entire project would then have a day of slack. The presence of project slack tends to lower the PM’s pulse rate and blood pressure.

Response: See section 5.1

Level: medium

 

 

 

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