3.4 Project Evaluation Technique (Doshi)

Question 1

Critical Path Methodology (CPM)

Answer 1

A technique for estimating project duration. All projects have at least one critical path

Question 2

What is a critical path for a project

Answer 2

A sequence of activities where duration is longest as compared other path

Question 3

What does CPM represents

Answer 3

The shortest possible time required for completing the project. Activities on Critical Path have zero slack time.

Question 4

What is slack time?

Answer 4

The amount of time an activity can be delayed without

impacting the completion date of the project

Question 5

Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)

Answer 5

PERT is a CPM type technique. PERT is a technique for estimating project duration.

PERT provides a visual representation of project tasks, timelines, and dependencies.

Question 6

Advantage of PERT over CPM

Answer 6

In CPM only single duration is considered

PERT considered three senarios (best, worst, and normal), then one is chosen

PERT is more reliable than CPM for estimating project duration

Question 7

Grantt chart

Answer 7

A Gantt chart is a visual representation of a project where individual tasks occupy rows on a worksheet and horizontal time bars depict the time required to complete each task relative to other tasks in the project.

Question 8

Grantt chart is used for :

Answer 8

(1) to determine whether the project is behind, ahead or on schedule compared to baseline project plan
(2) to track the achievement of milestone
(3) show schedule dependencies and
(4) percent completion of each task.

Question 9

Function Point Analysis (FPA)

Answer 9

A time -proven estimation technique for larger software projects.

Question 10

Reliability

Answer 10

FPA is more reliable than SLOC

Question 11

Counting source lines of code (SLOC)

Answer 11

· SLOC is a direct method of software size estimation.

· FPA is more reliable as compared to SLOC specially for complex projects.

Question 12

Earned Value Analysis

Answer 12

EVA compares following metrics at regular interval:

(1) Budget to date
(2) Actual spending to date
(3) Estimate to complete
(4) Estimate at completion

Question 13

Time box Management

Answer 13

A timebox is a period in which a project (or a set of tasks within a project) must be completed.

Question 14

Time box Management advantage can:

Answer 14

(1) it prevents project cost overruns and delays from
scheduled delivery.

(2) It is used for prototyping or rapid application development where project need to be completed within timeframe.

(3) It integrates system and user acceptance testing, but does not eliminate the need for a
quality process

Question 15

To estimate project duration, use:

Answer 15

First Preference is PERT, then CPM

Question 16

To monitor progress of the project, use:

Answer 16

Gantt chart

Question 17

To monitor Budget to date, estimate to complete , estimate at completion, actual spending to date, use:

Answer 17

Earned Value Analysis EVA

Question 18

To estimate size of software development efforts, use:

Answer 18

Function Point Analysis

Question 19

To prevent cost over runs & delivery delays, use:

Answer 19

TimeBox Management

Question 20

In any given scenario, when objective is to estimate project duration or timeless

Answer 20

, answer should be PERT or CPM. However first preference to be given to PERT.

Question 21

In any given scenario, when objective is to monitor the project or track any milestone, answer should be

Answer 21

Gantt Chart.

Question 22

In any given scenario, when objective is to consider earned value by calculating any of the following, answer should be

Answer 22

Earned Value Analysis (EVA).

Question 23

Earned Value Analysis (EVA) is

Answer 23

(1) Budget to date
(2) Actual spending to date
(3) Estimate to complete
(4) Estimate at completion

Question 24

In any given scenario, when objective is to estimate software size, answer should be

Answer 24

FPA or SLOC. However first preference to be given to FPA.

Question 25

In any given scenario, when objective is to prevents project cost overruns and delays from scheduled delivery, answer should be

Answer 25

Timebox Management.