5 - Creating the Project Schedule Flashcards
What is the primary purpose of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
To define all the work of the project in a deliverables-oriented hierarchy
The WBS helps in estimating activity duration, assigning resources, and creating a budget.
What is decomposition in the context of a WBS?
The process of breaking down high-level deliverables into smaller, manageable work units.
What is the lowest level of a WBS called?
Work package level.
What should a WBS be used as a reference for?
Numerous other planning processes.
What is a key component of the WBS that helps clarify project deliverables?
The graphical representation of the WBS.
What does the code of accounts refer to in a WBS?
A numeric identifier used to sum and track costs, schedule, and resources associated with WBS elements.
Fill in the blank: The WBS dictionary includes _______.
[Code of accounts identifier, description of work, organization responsible, resources, cost estimates, criteria for acceptance].
What is the scope baseline?
The approved scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary used throughout project documentation.
True or False: The project management plan is static and does not change once approved.
False.
What are the components included in the project management plan?
- Scope management plan
- Scope statement
- WBS
- WBS dictionary
- Schedule
- Cost management plan
- Quality management plan
- Risk plans
- Change management plan.
What is the main goal of constructing a WBS?
To ensure resources can be assigned and held accountable for completing work and determining estimates.
What should you avoid when creating a WBS?
Creating a to-do list of individual activities.
What does the project management plan define?
How the project is executed, how performance is measured, and how it is closed.
What is the significance of involving knowledgeable team members in the WBS creation process?
To ensure all key elements are identified and to communicate the project effectively.
What are the three types of baselines mentioned in the project management plan?
- Scope baseline
- Schedule baseline
- Cost baseline.
What is a benefit of having a detailed WBS?
It prevents critical work from being overlooked and helps control change.
How can the WBS assist in onboarding new team members?
By providing a clear visual representation of project deliverables and components.
What is the relationship between a WBS and customer communication?
The WBS helps convey the magnitude of the project and the necessary components to stakeholders.
What should be documented in the WBS dictionary?
- Code of accounts identifier
- Description of work
- Organization responsible
- Resources
- Cost estimates
- Criteria for acceptance.
What does the project management plan include regarding methodology?
The life cycle methodology used for the project, such as waterfall, agile, or hybrid.
What is the purpose of the project management plan?
It serves as a roadmap for the project, guiding decisions, work efforts, change requests, and corrective actions
It is used in waterfall or hybrid methodologies.
Who collaborates to create the project management plan?
The project manager, project team, and key stakeholders
Collaboration helps manage customer expectations and align stakeholder needs.
What are the objectives of documenting the project management plan?
- Manage customer expectations
- Optimize alignment between stakeholder needs and project objectives
- Survey stakeholders for consensus
This documentation is crucial for project success.
What is the first step in developing a project schedule after completing the WBS?
Determine tasks
This is followed by sequencing tasks, allocating resources, and determining task durations.
What does WBS stand for?
Work Breakdown Structure
It outlines the project deliverables and their decomposition into tasks.
What is the significance of task sequencing?
It identifies dependency relationships between project activities and sequences them in the proper order
Proper sequencing is critical for effective project scheduling.
What are the four types of dependencies in task scheduling?
- Mandatory dependencies
- Discretionary dependencies
- External dependencies
- Internal dependencies
Each type influences task scheduling differently.
What is a mandatory dependency?
A dependency that must be scheduled in successive order due to the nature of the work
Also known as hard logic.
What defines a discretionary dependency?
It is defined by the project team and is usually process- or procedure-driven
Known as soft logic.
What is the difference between a predecessor activity and a successor activity?
A predecessor activity comes before another activity, while a successor activity comes after
Understanding these relationships is crucial for scheduling.
What is the most frequently used logical relationship in project scheduling?
Finish-to-Start (FS)
This relationship means the successor activity cannot begin until the predecessor activity has completed.
What is a network diagram?
A technique used to sequence activities that depicts project activities and their interrelationships
It helps visualize workflow and dependencies.
What is the precedence diagramming method (PDM)?
A method that uses boxes to represent milestones and arrows to represent activities and their dependencies
Commonly used in network diagrams.
What does resource allocation refer to in project scheduling?
Assigning human resources or consulting resources to tasks
Involves using expertise to determine task estimates.
What is a resource calendar?
A document that describes the time frames in which resources are available and their skills
It helps manage resource availability and scheduling.
What is the difference between workdays and calendar days in estimating duration?
Workdays refer to days when work is performed, while calendar days include all days
Accurate duration estimates must distinguish between these two.
What is analogous estimating?
A technique that uses actual durations from similar tasks on previous projects to estimate task duration
It is most accurate when the projects are closely related.
What is expert judgment in the context of estimating task durations?
A technique where knowledgeable team members provide estimates based on their experience
Ideally, estimates come from those who will perform the tasks.
What is the ideal source for providing estimates for a task?
The project team member who will perform the task
This ensures that the estimate is grounded in practical experience.
What is parametric estimating?
A quantitatively based estimating method that multiplies the quantity of work by the rate
Requires knowledge of the productivity rate of the resource involved.
In parametric estimating, how is duration calculated?
By multiplying the unit of work produced by the productivity rate.
What is bottom-up estimating?
Obtaining individual estimates for each project activity and adding them to arrive at a total estimate for the work package.
When should bottom-up estimating be used?
When there is uncertainty about the type or quantity of resources needed for the project.
What is the total estimated duration for the bathroom remodel project?
120 days
What does creating a project schedule involve?
Defining tasks, sequencing tasks, and determining duration estimates.
What is a predecessor activity?
An activity that must be completed before another activity can start.
What is a milestone in project management?
A major accomplishment that marks the completion of major deliverables or key events in the project.
How is a milestone typically denoted on a project schedule?
As an event that has a duration of 0.
What is the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)?
A method developed by the U.S. Navy to manage complex projects and forecast project schedules.
What does PERT use to calculate estimates for task duration?
Three-point estimates: optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely.
What is the formula for calculating the weighted average in PERT?
(Optimistic + 4 * Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 6
What is a Gantt chart?
A bar chart that displays project schedules over the entire project timeline.
What are the main differences between PERT charts and Gantt charts?
PERT charts focus on dependencies using nodes and arrows, while Gantt charts show all tasks over the timeline without focusing on dependencies.
What is the critical path method (CPM)?
A technique that determines float time for each activity by calculating earliest and latest start and finish dates.
What does float time indicate?
The amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project end date.
What happens if a critical path task does not finish as scheduled?
The project end date will be affected.
How is the critical path determined?
By identifying the longest full path through the project.
What is a contingency reserve in project scheduling?
A cushion of extra time added to milestone completion dates to account for unforeseen delays.
What is the significance of milestone dates?
They serve as communication triggers for stakeholders regarding project progress.
True or False: Tasks with zero float are critical path tasks.
True
What are contingency reserves in project scheduling?
Contingency reserves are cushions of extra time added to milestone dates to provide flexibility if things don’t go as planned.
Useful when the team is inexperienced or the project is high risk.
What is the purpose of analyzing project risks in scheduling?
To determine how much additional time to add as buffer to milestone completion dates.
What can happen if too much buffer time is consistently added to project schedules?
Stakeholders may begin to adjust project schedules based on past experiences.
What is duration compression?
Techniques used to shorten the planned duration of a project when it exceeds the target completion date.
What are the two main techniques of duration compression?
- Crashing
- Fast Tracking
What is crashing in project management?
A technique that involves adding more resources to critical path tasks to complete the project more quickly.
True or False: Adding resources to a project always halves the project duration.
False
What is fast tracking?
Performing multiple tasks in parallel that were previously scheduled to start sequentially.
What should be done when using fast tracking to compress a project schedule?
Get input from team members about potential risks and document them.
What is resource loading?
The process of assigning resources to activities and adjusting the schedule according to resource constraints.
What is resource leveling?
A technique used to balance out resource assignments to prevent overallocation.
What is resource smoothing?
Modifying activities within their float times without changing the critical path or project end date.
What is reverse resource allocation scheduling?
A technique used to schedule key resources required at specific points in the project in reverse order.
What is the purpose of project scheduling software?
To create schedules, assign resources, and generate graphical representations of the project.
What is a schedule baseline?
The final, approved version of the project schedule that includes start and finish dates and resource assignments.
Why is it important to obtain sign-off on the project schedule?
To ensure stakeholders understand the schedule and resource commitments.
What should be done if changes occur that impact the project end date?
Re-baseline the schedule to include new dates and obtain approvals for the revised schedule.
What are quality gates in project scheduling?
Checks at strategic points to ensure the work meets quality standards.
What are governance gates?
Approval points in the project schedule that ensure adherence to the project plan.
What is an epic in agile methodologies?
A large unit of work that is not well-defined and needs to be decomposed into smaller user stories.
What is a user story in agile project management?
Requirements of the project that are prioritized and worked on during each iteration.
How are estimating techniques in agile initiated?
By breaking down epics into user stories and then into individual tasks.
What is an epic in Agile methodology?
An epic is a high-level description of a feature or functionality that provides an overview without detailed information.
What are the two main components of estimating techniques in Agile?
Breaking down epics into user stories and user stories into individual tasks.
What is a sprint in Scrum methodology?
A short, time-bound period of work, usually lasting two to four weeks.
What is the purpose of a sprint planning meeting?
To identify user stories to work on during the sprint and to estimate the time for completing tasks.
What is the role of the Scrum master during sprint planning?
To work with team members to estimate how many iterations will be required to complete all user stories.
How is the total number of team days calculated?
By multiplying the number of team members by the number of hours they work in a day.
What is a burndown chart?
A visual tool that shows the remaining time and work effort for an iteration.
True or False: Burndown charts show changes to scope.
False
What are story points in Agile?
Units of measure agreed upon by the team to estimate the amount of work needed to complete a user story.
What is velocity in the context of Scrum?
The speed at which the team is working, used to estimate the duration to complete the backlog.
Fill in the blank: In Kanban, work is pulled from the backlog according to the team’s _______.
[capacity to perform the work]
What is a Kanban board?
A visual process that displays work on a board with columns representing stages of work and cards representing units of work.
What is the main difference between a Scrum board and a Kanban board?
A Scrum board is time-bound and only shows the work of the current sprint, while a Kanban board is capacity-bound and used by all teams.
What does Agile release planning involve?
Defining releases that represent significant features or portions of functionality in the final product.
In Agile, what is the product vision?
A high-level description that drives the roadmap for the project.
True or False: User stories for Agile releases are defined only at the beginning of the project.
False
What is an example of a task in the seating chart project?
Obtain floor plans for the Main Street Office Building.
What is the significance of dependencies in task sequencing?
They determine the order in which tasks must be completed based on their relationships.
Fill in the blank: The maximum number of cards in a Kanban board column is determined by the team’s _______.
[capacity]
How does Kanban encourage continuous improvement?
By visualizing work stages and identifying bottlenecks in the process.
What happens to work that isn’t completed in a sprint?
It becomes the first priority in the next sprint unless stated otherwise by the product owner.
What is the purpose of a Scrum board?
To track work during a sprint and ensure important tasks are not forgotten.
What happens to velocity estimates as iterations are completed?
They improve as the team gains experience and accuracy with their estimates.
What does the term ‘pull-based scheduling’ refer to?
A scheduling technique in Kanban where work is pulled from the backlog based on team capacity.
What is a key characteristic of Kanban boards?
They are not time-bound and focus on capacity limits.
How are user stories organized in a Scrum board?
They are divided into categories such as to-do, in progress, review, and done.
What is the purpose of a work breakdown structure (WBS)?
The WBS describes the work required to complete the project in a deliverable-oriented hierarchy.
What is the lowest level of decomposition in a WBS?
Work package.
What is included in a WBS dictionary?
Description of deliverables, code of account identifiers, responsible party, estimates, criteria for acceptance.
What are the four types of logical relationships in task sequencing?
- Finish-to-start
- Start-to-start
- Start-to-finish
- Finish-to-finish
What is the critical path in project management?
The longest full path in the project schedule that determines the project’s finish date.
True or False: Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion date.
True.
What are the two techniques used for duration compression?
- Crashing
- Fast tracking
What is analogous estimating?
A top-down technique that uses expert judgment and historical information.
What does resource leveling do?
It may change the critical path and project end date due to resource over-allocation.
What is the purpose of duration estimating?
To determine how long each activity will take using various techniques.
Fill in the blank: The critical path method (CPM) calculates the __________ in the project.
longest full path.
What is a Gantt chart?
A common method to display schedule data as a bar chart.
What is resource smoothing?
It modifies activities within their floats without changing the critical path or project end date.
What is the significance of a baseline schedule?
It becomes the approved schedule for tracking and reporting project progress.
What is the function of a Kanban board?
It visually displays the work of the project using cards or tasks.
In an agile project, what is used to determine the number of iterations needed?
Total story points divided by the team’s average velocity per iteration.
What are the three commonly used estimating techniques for activity duration?
- Expert judgment
- Analogous estimating
- Parametric estimating
What is the difference between predecessor and successor tasks?
A predecessor is a task that occurs before another task, while a successor occurs after.
What is the purpose of the change management process in project scheduling?
To manage any changes to the approved schedule.
True or False: Fast tracking involves starting tasks in parallel that were previously scheduled to start sequentially.
True.
What is the role of the IT team in agile release planning?
To manage the release of various data center activities.
What is the significance of milestones in a project schedule?
They mark major project events such as the completion of key deliverables or phases.
What is the total duration of the task in workdays if no work is done on Saturdays or Sundays?
9 days
What methodology is Grapevine Vineyards using for their project?
Agile methodology
What is the purpose of the programming routine developed for customers at Grapevine?
To establish legal age for wine ordering
Which technique is most beneficial for completing the work of the Grapevine project?
Using agile release planning
How many miles of paving are required for the task?
4 miles
How many hours will it take to complete one mile of paving?
30 hours
What is the total estimate for the paving task derived from parametric estimating?
120 hours
What is true regarding milestone charts?
Milestone charts list major deliverables or phases of a project
What is the velocity rate of the Scrum team per iteration?
24 story points
How many iterations are needed to complete all of the work of the project?
7 iterations
What describes the difference between a Kanban board and a Scrum board?
A Kanban board is known as on-demand scheduling
What is iterative scheduling?
User stories are pulled from the product backlog as the team has the capacity to work on them
Which statement describes the sprint planning meeting?
The product owner will pull the user stories that should be worked on during the upcoming sprint
What happens at the beginning of the sprint according to the described app project?
Team members break down user stories into tasks and estimate their durations
What does the Scrum master provide the team during sprint planning?
Tools and techniques for breaking down tasks and determining estimates
Fill in the blank: A Kanban board is _______.
known as on-demand scheduling
True or False: Milestone charts show the actual completion dates.
False
Which estimating technique was used if the total estimate for a task is 150 hours?
Analogous estimating
