4.a: Quiz Project Evaluation Technique Flashcards
(1) An IS auditor evaluating how the project manager has monitored the progress of the project.
Which of the following is MOST relevant in this context?
A. Critical Path Methodologies
B. PERT
C. Gantt Chart
D. Function Point Analysis (FPA
Answer: C. Gantt Chart
Explanation:
Progress of the entire project can be read from Gantt Chart to determine whether the project is
behind, ahead or on schedule compared to baseline project plan. Gantt Chart can also be used to
track the achievement of milestone. Gantt charts help to identify activities that have been completed early or late through comparison to a baseline.
(2)Which of the following should an IS auditor review to understand project progress in terms of
time, budget and deliverables and for projecting estimates at completion (EACs) ?
A. Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
B. PERT
C. Gantt Chart
D. Function Point Analysis (FPA)
Answer: A. Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
Explanation:
EVA compares following metrics at regular interval:
-Budget to date
-Actual spending to date
-Estimate to complete
-Estimate at completion
It compares the planned amount of work with what has actually been completed to determine if the
cost, schedule and work accomplished are progressing in accordance with the pl
(3)The purpose of Function Point Analysis (FPA) is:
A.to define functionalities of a software
B.to identify risk in software development program
C.to estimate efforts required to develop software
D.to monitor the progress the software development
Answer: C.To estimate efforts required to develop software
Explanation:
FPA is an indirect method of software size estimation. Function points are a unit measure for software size much like an hour is to measuring time, miles are to measuring distance or Celsius is to measuring temperature. FPA is arrived on the basis of number and complexity of inputs, outputs, files, interfaces and queries.
(4)Which of the following is a advantage of the program evaluation review technique (PERT) over other techniques? PERT:
A. considers single scenario for planning and control projects
B. considers different scenarios for planning and control projects
C.defines functionalities of the software under development
D.allows the user to define program and system parameters
Answer: B. considers different scenarios for planning and control projects.
Explanation:
Advantage of PERT over CPM is that in CPM only single duration is considered while PERT
considers three different scenarios i.e. optimistic (best), pessimistic (worst) and normal (most
likely) and on the basis of three scenarios, a single critical path is arrived.
PERT considers different scenarios for planning and controlling projects. Three time estimates—
optimistic, pessimistic and most likely—are used to create a level of uncertainty in the estimation of
the time for individual activities.
(5)A system under development has multiple linked modules which will handle several million
queries and transactions a year. Which of these techniques could the IS auditor use to estimate the
size of the development effort?
A. Critical Path Methodology (CPM)
B. Counting source lines of code (SLOC)
C. Function point analysis
D. Program evaluation review technique (PERT)
Answer: C. Function point analysis
Explanation:
FPA is an indirect method of software size estimation. FPA is arrived on the basis of number and
complexity of inputs, outputs, files, interfaces and queries. It is useful for evaluating complex
applications. SLOC gives a direct measure of program size, but does not allow for the complexity
that may be caused by having multiple, linked modules and a variety of inputs and outputs.
(6) Which of the following techniques would provide the GREATEST assistance in developing an
estimate of project duration?
A. Function point analysis
B. PERT
C. Critical Path Methodology (CPM)
D. Object-oriented system development
Answer: B. PERT
Explanation:
A PERT chart will help determine project duration once all the activities and the work involved in
the activities are known. PERT is more reliable than CPM for estimating project duration. Advantage
of PERT over CPM is that in CPM only single duration is considered while PERT considers three
different scenarios i.e. optimistic (best), pessimistic (worst) and normal (most likely) and on the
basis of three scenarios, a single critical path is arrived.
(7)When identifying an earlier project completion time, the activities that should be selected for early completion and more concentration are those:
A. activities with shortest completion time
B. activities with zero slack time
C. activities with longest completion time including slack time
D. activities with highest slack time
Answer: B. activities with zero slack time
Explanation:
Activities on Critical Path have zero slack time. Alternatively, it can be said that activities with zero
slack time are on a critical path. Slack time can be defined as the amount of time an activity can be
delayed without impacting the completion date of the project. Thus zero slack time makes an
activity critical and concentration on such activities will help to reduce overall project completion
time. This path is important because if everything goes as scheduled, its length gives the shortest
possible completion time for the overall project. Activities on the critical path become candidates
for crashing, i.e., for reduction in their time by payment of a premium for early completion.
(8) A project has budget of 16 hours (over 2 days). While reviewing, the IS auditor notes that the
development team has spent eight hours of activity at the end of first day. The projected time to complete the remainder of the activity is 12 hours. The IS auditor should report that the project:
A. is ahead schedule
B. is behind of schedule
C. is on schedule
D. to be evaluated only after activity is completed.
Answer: B. is behind schedule
Explanation:
In the given scenario, work should have completed at the end of day 1 is 8 hours (i.e. total 16 hours for 2 days and 8 hours per day). However actual work completed is only 4 hours i.e. 16 (total hours required) - 12 (work hours still pending). Hence it can be said against 8 hours of work required to be completed only 4 hours of work has been completed. So project is behind schedule. Earned value analysis (EVA) is based on the premise that if a project task is assigned 24 hours for
completion, it can be reasonably completed during that time frame. According to EVA, the project is
behind schedule because the value of the eight hours spent on the task should be only four hours,
considering that 12 hours of effort remain to be completed
(9)An IS auditor is reviewing a project controlled through timebox management. Which of the following is a characteristic of timebox management?
A. Not suitable for prototyping or rapid application development where project need to be completed within timeframe.
B. It prevents project cost overruns and delays from scheduled delivery
C. It requires separate system testing & user accepting testing
D. Performance can be evaluated only after activity is compl
Answer: B. It prevents project cost overruns and delays from scheduled delivery
Explanation:
The major advantage of timebox management approach is that it prevents project cost overruns
and delays from scheduled delivery .It is used for prototyping or rapid application development
where project need to be completed within timeframe. It integrates system and user acceptance
testing, but does not eliminate the need for a quality process
(10)An organization is planning to add personnel to activities imposing time constraints on the
duration of a project, which of the following should be revalidated FIRST?
A. budget of the project
B. critical path of the project
C. duration for remaining task
D. resources availability for the projec
Answer: B. critical path of the project
Explanation:
Critical path must be re-evaluated to ensure that additional resources will in fact shorten the project
duration. Given that there may be slack time available on some of the other tasks not on the critical path, factors such as the project budget, the length of other tasks and the personnel assigned to them may or may not be affected
(11) Which of the following would BEST help to determine the timeline for a project and prioritize
project activities ?
A.CPM
B. PERT
C. Gantt Chart
D. FPA (Function Point Analysis)
Answer: B. PERT
Explanation:
Both CPM & PERT is a technique for estimating project duration and timeline. However, PERT is
more reliable than CPM for estimating project duration. Advantage of PERT over CPM is that in
CPM only single duration is considered while PERT considers three different scenarios i.e.
optimistic (best), pessimistic (worst) and normal (most likely) and on the basis of three scenarios, a
single critical path is arrived.
