Question 1

To reduce the duration of a project using CPM, it is necessary to make a reduction on the activity with:

Accepted Answer

To reduce the duration of a project using Critical Path Method (CPM), it is most cost-effective to shorten the duration of activities with the smallest cost slope on the critical path. The cost slope indicates the cost increase per unit time reduction. Activities on the critical path directly affect the total project duration, hence focusing on these activities. Choosing the one with the smallest cost slope ensures the least additional cost for time reduction.

Question 2

When there are multiple critical paths and the project duration must be reduced, it is necessary to make reductions:

Accepted Answer

When there are multiple critical paths in a project, reducing the project duration requires shortening all of the critical paths. This is because each critical path represents a sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project duration. Shortening only one critical path, if there are multiple, would not reduce the overall project duration since the other critical paths would still dictate the project's length. Shortening non-critical paths would not affect the project duration since these paths have slack and do not determine the project's minimum duration.

Question 3

To find the shortest possible project duration for the least cost:

Accepted Answer

Crashing all activities in the project and then relaxing those not on the critical path ensures that the project duration is minimized while focusing on the critical path, which determines the shortest possible project duration.

Question 4

Which statement is correct: In the CPM, as the duration of a project is decreased, usually:

Accepted Answer

In the Critical Path Method (CPM) of project management, reducing the duration of a project typically involves increasing the resources allocated to critical tasks to complete them faster. This increase in resources leads to an increase in direct costs (such as labor and materials). However, because the project duration is shorter, indirect costs (such as overheads and administrative expenses, which are often time-dependent) decrease.

Question 5

If a = 3, m = 5, and b = 6, then:

Accepted Answer

Given the variables and the options, without specific formulas or context relating to "te" and "V", it's impossible to accurately determine the values of "te" and "V" based solely on the values of a, m, and b. Therefore, without additional information or context, neither option can be confirmed as correct.

Question 6

If the project completion has a distribution with Te = 15 weeks and Vp = 9, what is the probability that the project will be completed in less than 18 weeks? To answer this, the correct z value is:

Accepted Answer

The z value is calculated using the formula z = (X - Te) / sqrt(Vp), where X is the target time. Here, z = (18 - 15) / sqrt(9) = 1.

Question 7

Which statement is correct. The critical chain method:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is correct. The critical chain...

Question 8

Which statement is incorrect:

Accepted Answer

The critical chain method often shortens the project duration compared to the critical path method by taking into account resource constraints and incorporating buffers to manage uncertainties, rather than extending the project duration.

Question 9

A project cannot have more than one ___________buffer.

Accepted Answer

A project can have multiple milestone, feeding, and resource buffers, but it typically has only one project buffer, which is used to protect the overall project timeline from delays in individual tasks or paths.

Question 10

Contingencies should be built in at the following level:

Accepted Answer

Contingencies are typically built at the project level to manage risks and uncertainties that may affect the project's scope, schedule, or budget.

Question 11

The following type of buffer does not add time to a schedule:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following type of buffer does not...

Question 12

The following buffer enables the project manager to focus on critical activities by ensuring that the critical chain does not change during project execution:

Accepted Answer

Feeding buffers are used in critical chain project management to protect the critical chain from delays in non-critical tasks, allowing the project manager to focus on critical activities.

Question 13

Resource buffers are always placed:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Resource buffers are always placed:
...

Question 14

An approach to accelerate a project by simply eliminating discretionary dependencies is called:

Accepted Answer

Fast tracking is a technique used in project management to speed up the project schedule by performing tasks or phases in parallel that were originally planned to be done sequentially. This often involves reevaluating and possibly eliminating discretionary dependencies, which are dependencies that are not mandatory and can be modified or removed to save time.

Question 15

GERT (circle all that are true):

Accepted Answer

GERT (Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique) utilizes branching nodes to represent different paths and allows for multiple possible outcomes in a project, unlike PERT/CPM which do not allow for repeating activities or multiple outcomes.

Question 16

Statement: PERT requires three time estimates for every activity.

Accepted Answer

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) indeed requires three time estimates for every activity: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic, to calculate the expected time for project completion.

Question 17

Statement: Given the assumptions of PERT, it is possible to determine the probability that a project will be completed by a specified date.

Accepted Answer

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) allows for the estimation of project completion times using probabilistic time estimates for each task, enabling the calculation of the probability that a project will be completed by a certain date.

Question 18

Statement: In PERT, the mean (expected) time for each activity is determined by using a formula that gives the greatest weight to the "optimistic" time estimate.

Accepted Answer

In PERT, the mean (expected) time for each activity is calculated using a formula that gives the greatest weight to the "most likely" time estimate, not the "optimistic" time estimate. The formula is (optimistic + 4(most likely) + pessimistic) / 6.

Question 19

Statement: Although the times used in PERT are "estimates," the resulting probabilities are highly credible, especially in cases where little or no previous experience exists.

Accepted Answer

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) estimates, especially in cases with little or no previous experience, can be quite uncertain. The credibility of the resulting probabilities heavily depends on the accuracy of these estimates, which can be challenging to ascertain without prior data or experience.

Question 20

Statement: In the critical path method (CPM), the direct cost of an activity is assumed to be proportional to its time, so shortening it to its "crash" time reduces its cost.

Accepted Answer

In the critical path method (CPM), shortening an activity's duration to its "crash" time typically increases its direct cost, not reduces it. The assumption is that accelerating an activity requires additional resources, which increases costs.

Quiz 8: Advanced Project Network Analysis and Scheduling