Question 1

Positive slack indicates the maximum amount of time
A) that the activities on the critical path should be accelerated to complete the project by the required completion time.
B) that each of the activities in the project can be delayed without jeopardizing completion of the project by the required completion time.
C) that the activities with the positive slack should be accelerated to complete the project by the required completion time.
D) that the activities on a particular path can be delayed without jeopardizing completion of the project by the required completion time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Positive slack indicates the maximum amount of...

Question 2

Total slack is calculated for each of the activities by finding the difference between
A) the ES of the activity and the LF of the activity or the difference between the EF and LS of the activity.
B) the EF of the activity and the LS of the activity or the difference between the ES and LF of the activity.
C) the EF of the activity and the LF of the activity or the difference between the ES and LS of the activity.
D) the ES of the activity and the LF of the activity or the difference between the ES and LF of the activity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Total slack is calculated for each of...

Question 3

As the project progresses, the actual finish times (AFs) of completed activities will determine
A) the earliest start and earliest finish times for the remaining activities in the network diagram, as well as the total slack.
B) the earliest start and earliest finish times for the completed activities in the network diagram, as well as the total slack.
C) the latest start and latest finish times for the remaining activities in the network diagram, as well as the total slack.
D) the latest start and latest finish times for the completed activities in the network diagram, as well as the total slack.

Accepted Answer

The actual finish times of completed activities will allow the project manager to calculate the earliest start and earliest finish times for the remaining activities in the network diagram, as well as the total slack. This is because the schedule can be updated based on the actual progress of the project, allowing for more accurate predictions of when activities will be completed and when subsequent activities can start. The latest start and finish times are determined based on the project deadline and the critical path, not the actual progress of the project.

Question 4

The project control process involves all of the following except
A) regularly gathering data on project performance.
B) comparing actual performance to planned performance.
C) taking corrective action immediately if actual performance is behind planned performance.
D) having social gatherings with the project team.

Accepted Answer

Having social gatherings with the project team is not a part of the formal project control process. It may be a helpful team-building activity, but it is not directly related to monitoring and adjusting project performance. A, B, and C are all essential steps in the project control process.

Question 5

The key to effective project control is measuring actual progress and comparing it to planned progress on a timely and regular basis and
A) taking any needed corrective action immediately.
B) leaving the project to self-correct.
C) fast tracking all the activities in the project until the project is ahead of schedule.
D) making sure the critical path doesn't change.

Accepted Answer

Taking any needed corrective action immediately is the best choice because it ensures that the project stays on track and any issues are resolved promptly, preventing further delays or problems. Comparing actual progress to planned progress regularly allows project managers to identify any discrepancies and take corrective action as necessary to keep the project moving forward. Leaving the project to self-correct or fast tracking all activities without proper analysis could lead to additional problems or delays, and making sure the critical path doesn't change is not always possible or advisable in complex projects.

Question 6

Schedule control involves four steps. Place these steps in their proper order by stating the letter sequence of their proper order.
A) A,B,C,D
B) A,D,C,B
C) D,A,C,B
D) D,A,B,C

Accepted Answer

The answer of Schedule control involves four steps. Place these...

Question 7

Schedule control involves four steps. List the four steps in order.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Schedule control involves four steps. List the...

Question 8

If the planned corrective actions do not result in an acceptable schedule, then
A) the project should be terminated.
B) the steps for schedule control need to be repeated.
C) the original project plan was best and should be used.
D) the customer should decide what should be done.

Accepted Answer

If the planned corrective actions do not result in an acceptable schedule, then the steps for schedule control need to be repeated. This might involve re-evaluating the initial estimates, reassessing priorities, looking for alternative solutions, and making adjustments as required. Terminating the project or reverting to the original plan without investigation may not be the best course of action. Involving the customer in making decisions about the project schedule needs to be done as part of stakeholder management, but it does not necessarily apply in this case.

Question 9

Free slack is the amount of time a specific activity can be
A) postponed without delaying the earliest start time of its immediately preceding activities.
B) postponed without delaying the earliest start time of its immediately succeeding activities.
C) accelerated without delaying the latest start time of its immediately succeeding activities.
D) accelerated without delaying the latest finish time of its immediately preceding activities.

Accepted Answer

Free slack (or free float) is the amount of time that a specific activity can be delayed without delaying the earliest start time of any immediately following activities. It does not affect the start times of activities that come after it in the schedule.

Question 10

A concentrated effort to accelerate project progress must be applied to the paths with negative slack to activities that
A) are near term and those with long durations.
B) are short in duration and can be easily completed.
C) have the lowest cost.
D) are scheduled at the end of the project.

Accepted Answer

Paths with negative slack are critical paths and therefore have the highest impact on project completion time. To accelerate project progress, focus on activities on these critical paths that have both short-term and long-term durations to ensure that the overall project completion time is reduced.

Question 11

The estimated duration for each activity is indicated by a bar spanning the period
A) during which the activity is expected to be accomplished.
B) of the part of the activity that has more than one work resource assigned.
C) during which the activity has waiting time for the activity to be accomplished.
D) during which the project is expected to be accomplished.

Accepted Answer

The bar in Gantt chart indicates the estimated duration for each activity which spans the period during which the activity is expected to be accomplished.

Question 12

Eliminating negative slack by reducing durations of activities will involve a trade-off in the form of
A) no change in costs and an increase in scope.
B) a decrease in costs and an expansion in scope.
C) an increase in costs or a reduction in scope.
D) an decrease in costs and no change in scope.

Accepted Answer

Reducing durations of activities will often require additional resources or acceleration techniques, which will increase costs. Alternatively, it may be possible to reduce scope, such as by eliminating non-essential features or functionality. However, this will also require trade-offs and may not always be feasible. Therefore, eliminating negative slack typically involves a trade-off between cost and scope.

Question 13

The total completion time is 25 days. Task A is planned to take seven days. Task B is planned to take five days. Task C is planned to take eight days. The tasks have a serial relationship. Task A takes nine days to be completed instead of seven days. How much slack does the project have now that Task A is finished?
A) Negative 5 days slack.
B) Positive 5 days slack.
C) Positive 16 days slack.
D) Positive 3 days slack.

Accepted Answer

The total planned completion time is 25 days. Task A took 9 days instead of 7, adding 2 extra days. The planned duration for Task B and C remains the same (5 + 8 = 13 days). The total time used or needed is now 9 (for A) + 13 (for B and C) = 22 days. Therefore, the project has 25 - 22 = 3 days of slack.

Question 14

The project control process must occur regularly throughout the project and include all of the following except
A) Record information on changes to the project scope, schedule, and budget.
B) Gather data on actual performance.
C) Having a single inspection of the project's deliverables at the end of the project.
D) Establish regular reporting meetings to compare actual to planned progress.

Accepted Answer

Inspecting the project's deliverables only at the end of the project is not enough for effective project control. Regular monitoring and control are necessary to identify and resolve issues as they arise. Choices A, B, and D are all essential components of the project control process.

Question 15

With respect to the project schedule, changes can result in any of the following except
A) the addition or deletion of activities.
B) the initial planning and sequencing of activities.
C) changes to estimated durations for specific activities.
D) a new required completion time for the project.

Accepted Answer

Changes can result in the addition or deletion of activities, changes to estimated durations for specific activities, and a new required completion time for the project. However, changes would not affect the initial planning and sequencing of activities, as this is typically established at the beginning of the project and may only be adjusted in response to significant changes in project scope or objectives.

Question 16

Negative slack indicates a lack of slack over the entire project and the amount of time
A) an activity must be accelerated to complete the project by the required completion time.
B) an activity must be delayed to complete the project by the required completion time.
C) each activity on the critical must be accelerated to complete the project by the required completion time.
D) all activities in the project must be accelerated to complete the project by the required completion time.

Accepted Answer

Negative slack means that an activity is behind schedule and needs to be accelerated to make up for lost time and complete the project by the required completion time.

Question 17

The total completion time is 25 days. Task A is planned to take seven days. Task B is planned to take five days. Task C is planned to take eight days. The tasks have a serial relationship. How much slack does the project have?
A) Negative 5 days slack.
B) Positive 5 days slack.
C) Positive 17 days slack.
D) Positive 3 days slack.

Accepted Answer

The critical path consists of tasks A, B, and C which have a total duration of 20 days (7+5+8). Therefore, the slack is the difference between the critical path and the total duration of the project, which is 5 days (25-20). Since this is a positive number, the project has 5 days of slack.

Question 18

The total completion time is 25 days. Task A is planned to take seven days. Task B is planned to take five days. Task C is planned to take eight days. The tasks have a serial relationship. Task A takes nine days to be completed instead of seven days. What are the ES and EF times for Task B now that Task A is complete?
A) ES = 9, EF = 14
B) ES = 7, EF = 12
C) ES = 5, EF = 14
D) ES = 5, EF = 12

Accepted Answer

Since Task A took 9 days instead of 7, Task B can only start after Task A is completed, making its earliest start (ES) day 9. Task B is planned to take 5 days, so its earliest finish (EF) would be day 14 (9 + 5 = 14).

Question 19

Free slack is calculated by finding the lowest of the values of total slack for all the activities entering into a specific activity and then
A) adding it from the values of total slack for the other activities also entering into that same activity.
B) subtracting it from the values of total slack for the other activities succeeding after that same activity.
C) subtracting it from the values of total slack for the other activities also entering into that same activity.
D) adding it from the values of total slack for the other activities succeeding after that same activity.

Accepted Answer

Free slack for an activity is defined as the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the start of any succeeding activity. To calculate free slack for a specific activity, we need to find the lowest value of total slack among all the activities that enter into that activity. Then, we subtract this lowest value from the total slack of each of those activities. The resulting values are the free slack values for those activities. Therefore, the correct choice is to subtract the lowest value from the values of total slack for the other activities also entering into that same activity (i.e. choice C).

Quiz 5: Developing the Schedule

Positive slack indicates the maximum amount of time

Total slack is calculated for each of the activities by finding the difference between

As the project progresses, the actual finish times (AFs) of completed activities will determine

The project control process involves all of the following except

The key to effective project control is measuring actual progress and comparing it to planned progress on a timely and regular basis and

Schedule control involves four steps. Place these steps in their proper order by stating the letter sequence of their proper order.

Schedule control involves four steps. List the four steps in order.

If the planned corrective actions do not result in an acceptable schedule, then

Free slack is the amount of time a specific activity can be

A concentrated effort to accelerate project progress must be applied to the paths with negative slack to activities that

The estimated duration for each activity is indicated by a bar spanning the period

Eliminating negative slack by reducing durations of activities will involve a trade-off in the form of

The project control process must occur regularly throughout the project and include all of the following except

With respect to the project schedule, changes can result in any of the following except

Negative slack indicates a lack of slack over the entire project and the amount of time

The total completion time is 25 days. Task A is planned to take seven days. Task B is planned to take five days. Task C is planned to take eight days. The tasks have a serial relationship. How much slack does the project have?

Free slack is calculated by finding the lowest of the values of total slack for all the activities entering into a specific activity and then