Deck 10: Project Scheduling: Lagging, Crashing, and Activity Networks

Question 1

Activity X has the start to finish relationship shown with activity Y and both have early start and finish times as shown. Which statement is BEST?

A) a < d
B) a < c
C) b < c
D) d < a

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Activities A and B have a finish to finish relationship and early start and finish times as shown. What is the result of incorporating a 4-day lag between activities C and B?

A) The early finish for A increases to 31.
B) The early start time for A increases to 24.
C) The early finish time for B increases to 31.
D) The early start time for D falls to 23.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine which resource is used the least.

A) Resource 1
B) Resource 3
C) Resource 4
D) Resource 2

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine when resource 2 is free.

A) Between 0 and 15
B) Between 15 and 30
C) Between 30 and 45
D) Between 45 and 60

Question 5

Finish to start lags are the same as additional activity slack.

Question 6

What is the early start time for activity C if it has the start to start relationship shown?

A) Day 20
B) Day 25
C) Day 27
D) Day 29

Question 7

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine when resource 5 is free.

A) Between 0 and 15
B) Between 15 and 30
C) Between 30 and 45
D) Between 45 and 60

Question 8

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource is used the least.

A) Resource 1
B) Resource 2
C) Resource 4
D) Resource 5

Question 9

Consider the Gantt chart shown below where the time scale is in minutes and all activities are performed on an early start basis. How much slack is available in The Great Hair Washing project?

A) 10 minutes
B) 15 minutes
C) 0 minutes
D) 5 minutes

Question 10

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine which resource is free for use in another project before the others.

A) Resource 4
B) Resource 3
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 2

Question 11

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine which resource is used the most.

A) Resource 4
B) Resource 3
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 2

Question 12

The least common type of lag relationship occurs when a successor's finish is dependent upon a predecessor's start.

Question 13

The most common type of logical sequencing between tasks is referred to as the:

A) Finish to start relationship.
B) Finish to finish relationship.
C) Start to start relationship.
D) Start to finish relationship.

Question 14

A finish to start lag delay is usually shown:

A) As an added value in the predecessor's activity time.
B) On the line adjoining the two activity nodes.
C) As an added value in the predecessors early start time.
D) As a subtracted value in the follower's early finish time.

Question 15

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource has the greatest continual use.

A) Resource 3
B) Resource 1
C) Resource 2
D) Resource 4

Question 16

Which statement about this Gantt chart is BEST?

A) Activity a has a duration that could be as short as 1 day and as long as 10.
B) Activity b probably has activity a as a predecessor.
C) No progress has been made on activity c.
D) Activity d is the longest activity.

Question 17

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource has the greatest continual use.

A) Resource 4
B) Resource 2
C) Resource 3
D) Resource 5

Question 18

Sketch a network and use it as an example as you discuss the four different logical relationships between activities.

Question 19

Use the Gantt chart and the activity list to determine which resource is needed earliest in this project.

A) Resource 2
B) Resource 3
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 4

Question 20

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine when resource 3 is free.

A) Between 0 and 10
B) Between 10 and 20
C) Between 20 and 30
D) Between 30 and 40

Question 21

A basic Gantt chart:

A) Clearly displays early and late start and finish times for all activities.
B) Cannot be used to track the project's progress.
C) Permits scheduling resources well before they are needed.
D) Shows dummy activities to preserve network logic.

Question 22

Which of these approaches will NOT accelerate the completion of a project?

A) Improve the productivity of existing project resources.
B) Increase the bureaucratic oversight.
C) Improve the working method.
D) Increase the quantity of personnel and equipment.

Question 23

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource is released from this project for use in another project the earliest.

A) Resource 2
B) Resource 4
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 3

Question 24

One reason for crashing a project is:

A) The project has slipped behind schedule.
B) That the initial schedule may be too pessimistic.
C) Market needs change and the project is not in demand any more.
D) There are no repercussions for delivering the project late.

Question 25

A project manager ascertained that five different resources are needed to complete a project that has been estimated to last 37 days. Just to be on the safe side, the project manager told the client that the project would definitely be delivered in 40 days and 40 nights and arranged to rent the resources for that period of time. The project manager goes to the local rental center at the start of day 1 of the project, signs a 40-day lease agreement for all five resources, and brings them to the site to begin the project. Analyze the Gantt chart and resource list (activity durations are in parenthesis) and determine how much money is being wasted with this rental plan. If each resource could be rented for just the time it takes to complete each activity, what would the charge to the project be?

Question 26

An activity performed by a subcontractor is scheduled for 20 weeks at an anticipated cost of $100,000. Due to slippage on the critical path you need to reduce this activity by three weeks. If the subcontractor informs you that the activity can be completed in 16 weeks for $200,000, what is the slope for the activity?

A) $5,000 per week
B) $33,333 per week
C) $25,000 per week
D) $12,500 per week

Question 27

Gantt charts cannot depict float.

Question 28

The process of accelerating a project is referred to as:

A) Streamlining.
B) Expediting.
C) Rushing.
D) Crashing.

Question 29

The most common method for shortening activity durations involves the decision to:

A) Eliminate bureaucracy.
B) Alter the technology used in the activity.
C) Assign more senior personnel to the activity.
D) Increase project resources.

Question 30

The critical path may not contain a dummy activity.

Question 31

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource is used the least.

A) Resource 4
B) Resource 2
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 3

Question 32

In order to accelerate completion of a project, the manager must crash critical path activities.

Question 33

Use the information in the table to create a baseline Gantt chart for the project where activity lengths are given in days.

Question 34

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource is used the most.

A) Resource 4
B) Resource 2
C) Resource 1
D) Resource 5

Question 35

In an actual project, one means of crashing critical path activities would be to perform at a lower level of quality.

Question 36

Brook's Law states that the typical crashing decision to add more resources to an activity only delays the activity further.

Question 37

Use the Gantt chart and activity list to determine which resource is used the most.

A) Resource 1
B) Resource 2
C) Resource 4
D) Resource 5

Question 38

If an activity's cost is plotted against its duration on axes with zeros at the origin:

A) The slope of the line is positive because it costs more to finish an activity more quickly.
B) The slope of the line is negative because a shorter activity costs less than a longer one.
C) The slope of the line is negative because it costs more to finish an activity more quickly.
D) The slope of the line is positive because a longer activity costs more than a shorter one.

Question 39

Gantt charts can display early start or late start logic.

Question 40

What is a Gantt chart, what information does one provide, and what are the benefits of using one?

Question 41

Quite often the marginal gains in employee productivity decrease dramatically with the increased use of overtime.

Question 42

It costs $75 per day for each day that a construction crew is on site. The project manager determines that most activities can be crashed and has listed the crashing costs next to the minimum time for each activity. Use this information to determine the lowest cost for this project. All times given are in days.

A) $1,720
B) $1,750
C) $1,780
D) $1,810

Question 43

Use the information in the table (all times are in days) to determine the lowest cost minimum completion time if the base cost for each activity finished in normal time is $1,000.

A) $7,120
B) $6,910
C) $6,790
D) $6,830

Question 44

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. There is a penalty of $250 per week for every week the project extends beyond 32 weeks. What is the cost of the least expensive project possible?

A) $11,450
B) $12,450
C) $13,450.
D) $14,450

Question 45

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. What is the total cost for completing this project as quickly as possible?

A) $244,000
B) $255,600
C) $258,333
D) $262,000

Question 46

Given the cost information in the table, what is the cheapest activity to crash on a per week basis?

A) Activity A
B) Activity B
C) Activity C
D) Activity D

Question 47

Use the information in the table (all times are in days) to determine the lowest total cost for a 20-day project if the base cost for each activity finished in normal time is $1,000.

A) $6,280
B) $6,390
C) $6,530
D) $6,740

Question 48

What is project crashing and what are three reasons why it might be important to do so?

Question 49

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. What is the lowest total cost for completing this project in 33 weeks?

A) $11,250
B) $11,500
C) $12,250
D) $12,500

Question 50

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. What is the total cost for completing this project in 40 days?

A) $172,000
B) $218,000
C) $192,000
D) $159,000

Question 51

What is the cost to finish this project (all activity durations are in weeks and costs in US dollars) as quickly as possible?

Question 52

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. There is a penalty of $250 per week for every week the project extends beyond 32 weeks. What is the duration of the least expensive project possible?

A) 38 weeks
B) 37 weeks
C) 36 weeks
D) 35 weeks

Question 53

Crashing costs for a project are governed by the function:
50t² + 100t
where t represents the number of days crashed (see graph). The project manager wants to crash the project, and is willing to pay up to $1,000 per day saved. How many days can be saved before the per-day cost is too high?

Question 54

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. For every week longer than 30 weeks, there is a penalty of $300. What is the highest total cost for completing this project?

A) $14,250
B) $13,950
C) $13,550
D) $13,150

Question 55

Use the information in the table (all times are in days) to determine the lowest extra cost for an 18-day project if the base cost for each activity finished in normal time is $1,000.

A) $400
B) $420
C) $440
D) $460

Question 56

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. What is the lowest total cost for completing this project in 33 weeks?

Question 57

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. There is a penalty of $6,000 per week for every week the project extends beyond 25 weeks. What is the lowest total cost duration for completing this project?

A) 34 weeks
B) 36 weeks
C) 40 weeks
D) 43 weeks

Question 58

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. What is the lowest total cost for completing this project in 35 days?

A) $211,500
B) $197,500
C) $203,500
D) $194,500

Question 59

A project has the activity duration and cost information indicated in the table where all times are in weeks. There is a penalty of $4,000 per week for every week the project exceeds 37 weeks. What is the lowest total cost for completing this project?

A) $172,000
B) $184,000
C) $187,000
D) $192,500

Question 60

What are the three principal methods for accelerating a project and under what circumstances might these methods yield little gain?

Question 61

AOA is a more useful technique than AON if the project is complex and has many significant milestones.

Question 62

The heir to the throne was due 56 days from now and the first-time father had a serious construction project on his hands converting his man cave into a nursery. The seven activities, their normal and expedited times (in days) and costs appear in the table. What is the minimum cost to ensure that this project is completed in 56 days? Which activities should be reduced and by how many days?

Question 63

The fastest completion time for this project is:

A) 14.
B) 15.
C) 16.
D) 17.

Question 64

What is the duration of the project shown in the network?

A) 36
B) 37
C) 38
D) 39

Question 65

The AOA network described by this table needs:

A) Zero dummy activities.
B) One dummy activity.
C) Two dummy activities.
D) Three dummy activities.

Question 66

An AOA network:

A) Cannot show a merge activity.
B) Cannot show a burst activity.
C) Cannot have consecutive merge and burst activities.
D) Can have all of the features described in A-C above.

Question 67

Consider the project described by the table where all durations are in days and the costs in dollars. What is the minimum cost of completing this project in 150 days?

Question 68

The heir to the throne was due 60 days from now and the first-time father had a serious construction project on his hands converting his man cave into a nursery. The seven activities, their normal and expedited times (in days) and costs appear in the table. Just to be on the safe side, he decided to bring the project in at 53 days in case the delivery was a week early. Tell him what the least expensive 53-day project is; which activities should be reduced in duration, by how many days, and at the total cost, so he can roll up the sleeves on his "World's Greatest Dad" sweatshirt, and get to work.

Question 69

What information is NOT included in the nodes for an AOA network?

A) Label
B) Early start time
C) Late finish time
D) Early finish time

Question 70

What is the minimum cost completion time for this project if the activities have normal and crash costs as indicated and there is a $1,000 fixed cost for each day on site plus a $500 penalty for each activity that is crashed? The crash costs represent the cost of a fully expedited activity. For example, reducing activity Y from 13 days to 12 days costs an extra $100 on top of the $500 expediting cost for a total cost of $2,600. Reducing Y from 13 days to 10 days costs an extra $300 on top of the $500 expediting cost, for a total activity cost of $2,800.

Question 71

What is the minimum completion cost of this project if there is a penalty of $1,000 for each day the project lasts longer than 27 days? Activity durations in days and crash costs in dollars are given in the table.

Question 72

Dummy activities have a duration equal to the:

A) Slack on the critical path.
B) Length of the predecessor.
C) Length of the successor.
D) Lag needed to preserve network logic.

Question 73

AON networks have an advantage over AOA networks:

A) If the project under study is complex.
B) Because they don't need dummy activities.
C) In the construction industry because they are the norm.
D) When it is critical to highlight milestones.

Question 74

AOA networks have an advantage over AON networks:

A) If the project is complex.
B) Because they are easier to read for novices.
C) When it comes to software packages for project management.
D) When the task of network labeling is considered.

Question 75

The AOA network described by this table needs:

A) Zero dummy activities.
B) One dummy activity.
C) Two dummy activities.
D) Three dummy activities.

Question 76

The critical path of this network is:

A) 14.
B) 15.
C) 12.
D) 13.

Question 77

An activity on an arrow network:

A) Cannot have more arrows than nodes.
B) Cannot have more nodes than arrows.
C) Has one more node than arrows.
D) Has one more arrow than nodes.

Question 78

Which of the activities in the diagram have slack?

A) C and D
B) B and D
C) C and E
D) B and E

Question 79

What is the late finish for activity D in the network shown in the diagram?

A) 15
B) 16
C) 17
D) 18

Question 80

Most project management software employs AOA diagramming.