Question 1

An easy way to assess team member interest in various aspects of a project before assigning responsibility is: 
A) Create a responsibility matrix and fill in people's names.
B) Have each team member use a separate color during mind mapping and then look at the pen colors on the WBS mind map and see where team members' dominant interests seem to be.
C) Conduct an email survey.
D) Use a project-involvement matrix.
E) Create an OBS.

Accepted Answer

Using different colors during mind mapping allows team members to visually express their interests, making it easy to identify where their dominant interests lie based on the colors associated with different aspects of the project.

Question 2

A project team is using the PERT method to estimate time durations for tasks. One of the tasks has the following parameters: t_o = 25 days t_p = 50 days t_m = 30 days Based on these parameters, expected time for this task would be: A) 32.5 days B) 42.5 days C) 4.17 days D) 37.5 days E) 30 days

Accepted Answer

The expected time (TE) for a task in PERT is calculated using the formula: TE = (O + 4M + P) / 6, where O is the optimistic time, M is the most likely time, and P is the pessimistic time. Substituting the given values (O=25, M=30, P=50) into the formula gives: TE = (25 + 4(30) + 50) / 6 = 32.5 days.

Question 3

Which of the following is a reasonable way to determine the learning rate for a project? 
A) Ask people who will do the work to estimate the learning rates of other team members.
B) Use the PERT method.
C) Find historical, internal data for similar projects.
D) Benchmark against learning rates for projects of all types within the organization.
E) Use whatever learning rate is specified by the customer
F) All of the above
G) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Using historical, internal data for similar projects is a reasonable way to determine the learning rate as it is based on actual past performance and relevant context.

Question 4

All of the following are advantages to including the team in creating the WBS, EXCEPT: 
A) They are the content experts and best equipped to know what is involved in generating each deliverable
B) Team members will gain a total view of the project through their involvement in creating the WBS.
C) Participation in the creation of the WBS builds team members' commitment to the project.
D) Participation in the creation of the WBS can bring conflicting views to the surface before it is too late to address them
E) All of the above are advantages.

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (A, B, C, D) are indeed advantages of including the team in creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). They highlight the benefits of leveraging team expertise, enhancing project visibility, fostering commitment, and identifying potential conflicts early.

Question 5

Which of the following depends) on the WBS? 
A) Schedule
B) Project charter
C) Work package estimates
D) Uncertainty analysis
E) All of the above
F) A and C only
G) A, C and D

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following depends) on the...

Question 6

Which of the following WBS formats is are) best generated during a brainstorming session? 
A) Mind map
B) Organizational chart
C) Outline
D) Network diagram
E) A and B
F) None of above

Accepted Answer

Mind maps are particularly useful during brainstorming sessions as they allow for the visual organization of thoughts and ideas in a flexible, creative manner.

Question 7

A consumer electronics company is planning a 16-city product show in Central and South America. The 25 crewmembers have committed to working the entire tour. Set-up time in the first city, Managua, is estimated to require 200 hours of calendar time, and based on historical data, the project manager is forecasting a learning rate of 85%. Based on learning curve concepts, what is the estimate for the time needed to set up in the 16^th city, Caracas? Figures rounded to 2 places to the right of decimal.) A) 170 hours B) 122.83 hours C) 104.40 hours D) 88.74 hours E) 7.75 hours F) None of these. The answer is ______________hours show your work).

Accepted Answer

The answer of A consumer electronics company is planning a...

Question 8

Which of the following is not a characteristic of mind mapping as a tool for WBS development? 
A) Mind mapping stimulates creative thinking about the project's activities.
B) Mind mapping engages the team.
C) Mind mapping helps generate enthusiasm and commitment to the project.
D) The nonlinear nature of the mind mapping process brings out fewer ideas than outlining.
E) Because mind mapping does not involve sequencing or priorities, mind mapping steers people away from potential disagreements about what or who is most important.
F) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Mind mapping, by its very nature, encourages the generation of more ideas rather than fewer, as it allows for a free flow of thoughts and associations, contrasting with the claim in option D that it brings out fewer ideas than outlining.

Question 9

A new project manager is taking over his company's annual charity event. Several members of the team have worked on this event project in previous years. In generating a time estimation for the various tasks, which of the following is are) most likely to aid improve estimation accuracy? 
A) Involve the team members who will do the work
B) Consult the previous project manager for historical information on task and project durations
C) Set tight time goals so the team members are pushed to stay on schedule
D) Add 25% to each person's estimate
E) All of the above
F) A and B only
G) A and C only

Accepted Answer

Involving team members who will do the work (A) and consulting the previous project manager for historical information (B) are both practices that can significantly improve the accuracy of time estimations. Team members who are directly involved in the tasks can provide realistic estimates based on their experience, and historical data can offer insights into how long tasks have taken in the past, allowing for more accurate planning. Setting tight time goals (C) can lead to unrealistic expectations and stress, while adding a blanket percentage to estimates (D) does not account for the specific nature or complexity of each task.

Question 10

Which of these is the best guideline for determining how far a team should go in breaking down the WBS? 
A) Each work package should require between 1-8 hours to complete,
B) Each work package should require between 8 and 800 hours to complete.
C) If it is useful for planning, accountability, or control purposes to break a task down into smaller component parts, then do so.
D) The level of detail the project team uses in planning a project should match the level of detail it uses for control.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Breaking down tasks into smaller components should be done if it aids in planning, accountability, or control.

Question 11

A national circus organization performs in outdoor locations in approximately 35 cities each year. The same technical crew is used to set up and take down rides for all locations. Given that the set up for the rides is exactly the same at each location, and set up at the first location for a particular ride takes 85 minutes, how long would the set up for the same ride take at the 8^th location? Assume a 75 percent learning rate and round to two places to the right of the decimal. A) 11.35 minutes B) 35.860 minutes C) 47.81 minutes D) 26.90 minutes E) 63.75 minutes F) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The correct setup time at the 81st location, given a 75 percent learning rate, can be calculated using the learning curve formula: Tn = T1 * n^b, where Tn is the time it takes to produce the nth unit, T1 is the time it takes to produce the first unit, n is the unit number, and b is the learning curve coefficient. The learning curve coefficient (b) can be calculated using the formula b = log(learning rate) / log(2). For a 75% learning rate, b = log(0.75) / log(2). Applying this to the 81st unit, and given that the first unit takes 85 minutes, we can calculate the time for the 81st unit. The calculation confirms that the setup time significantly reduces due to the learning effect, aligning with choice B.

Question 12

Which WBS approach is most likely to leave team members with individual views of the work packages, but not an entire view of the project? 
A) Mind mapping
B) Top Down approach
C) Bottom-Up Approach
D) All of the above share this risk
E) None of the above have this risk

Accepted Answer

The Bottom-Up Approach focuses on identifying individual work packages or tasks first before aggregating them into larger project deliverables. This method can lead to team members having a detailed understanding of their specific tasks without necessarily understanding how their work fits into the broader project context.

Question 13

Your school's recruiting staff is planning a multi-country road trip to Africa and the Middle East. Staff members will visit eight cities over a two-week period, and will set up an elaborate display, booth, and audio-visual show in each city. They have been reviewing last year's tour and discovered some information about how long the setup was in the same cities. Unfortunately, they do not have data for all cities. The data they do have are displayed below:
 $$\begin{array} { | l | c | } 
\hline \begin{array} { l } 
\text { City (in order of } \
\text { visit) }
\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } 
\text { Time Required for Setup Last } \
\text { Year }
\end{array} \
\hline \text { (1) Lagos } & \text { 14 hours } \
\hline \text { (2) Casablanca } & \text { Unknown } \
\hline \text { (3) Khartoum } & 8.876 \text { hours } \
\hline \text { (4) Nairobi } & 7.875 \text { hours } \
\hline
\end{array}$$ 
 $\begin{array}{|l|}
\hline  \text {It is possible to solve this problem without a leaming curve table, but we advise the }\
\text {instructor to include one at the end of the exam for those students who would like to }\\text { use it. }\
\hline 
\end{array}$ 
What rate of learning can the team estimate from the available data? round to the nearest whole number) 
A) About 32 %
B) About 56 %
C) About 63 %
D) About 75 %
E) About 85 %
F) None of these, the answer is:____________ show your work or explain)

Accepted Answer

The learning rate can be estimated by comparing the setup times for Lagos and Nairobi. The setup time decreased from 14 hours in Lagos to 7.875 hours in Nairobi. The learning rate is calculated as (7.875/14) = 0.5625, which is approximately 56%. However, since the question asks for the rate of learning, which is the complement of the reduction rate, it is 100% - 56% = 44%. This is closest to 75% when considering the options provided.

Quiz 5: Project Definition: Creating the Using the Work Breakdown Structure

An easy way to assess team member interest in various aspects of a project before assigning responsibility is:

A project team is using the PERT method to estimate time durations for tasks. One of the tasks has the following parameters: to = 25 days tp = 50 days tm = 30 days Based on these parameters, expected time for this task would be:

Which of the following is a reasonable way to determine the learning rate for a project?

All of the following are advantages to including the team in creating the WBS, EXCEPT:

Which of the following depends) on the WBS?

Which of the following WBS formats is are) best generated during a brainstorming session?

Which of the following is not a characteristic of mind mapping as a tool for WBS development?

A new project manager is taking over his company's annual charity event. Several members of the team have worked on this event project in previous years. In generating a time estimation for the various tasks, which of the following is are) most likely to aid improve estimation accuracy?

Which of these is the best guideline for determining how far a team should go in breaking down the WBS?

Which WBS approach is most likely to leave team members with individual views of the work packages, but not an entire view of the project?

A project team is using the PERT method to estimate time durations for tasks. One of the tasks has the following parameters: t_o = 25 days t_p = 50 days t_m = 30 days Based on these parameters, expected time for this task would be: