5. Project Schedule Management Flashcards
1
Q
What is the main focus of Project Schedule Management?
A
Developing and controlling the project schedule to complete the project work in time.
2
Q
What are the two main components of a project?
A
- Project work that needs to be performed
- Schedule to perform that work
3
Q
What are work packages?
A
Components in the WBS that can be rearranged or decomposed into smaller components called activities.
4
Q
Define ‘Activity’ in project management.
A
A component of project work.
5
Q
What is ‘Activity Duration’?
A
The time measured in calendar units between the start and finish of a schedule activity.
6
Q
What does a ‘Schedule Activity’ refer to?
A
A scheduled task performed during the lifecycle of a project.
7
Q
What is a ‘Logical Relationship’?
A
A dependency between two project schedule activities or between a schedule activity and a schedule milestone.
8
Q
What is a ‘Schedule Milestone’?
A
A significant point in the life of a project that marks the completion of an activity, with zero duration.
9
Q
List the processes included in project time management.
A
- Plan Schedule Management
- Define Activities
- Sequence Activities
- Estimate Activity Duration
- Develop Schedule
- Control Schedule
10
Q
What is the purpose of the Plan Schedule Management process?
A
Plans how to develop, execute, and control the project schedule.
11
Q
What is the output of the Plan Schedule Management process?
A
Schedule management plan.
12
Q
What is the first step in developing the schedule management plan?
A
Start with the scope management plan.
13
Q
What information does the project scope baseline provide for defining activities?
A
- WBS and WBS dictionary
- Project scope statement
14
Q
What is the main output of the Defining Activities process?
A
A comprehensive list of all the activities that need to be performed to produce the project deliverables.
15
Q
What is an Activity List?
A
A list of all the activities necessary to produce the project deliverables, each with a unique identifier.
16
Q
What are Activity Attributes?
A
- Unique activity identifier (ID) and WBS ID
- Activity description
- Assumptions and constraints
- Predecessor and successor activities
- Resource requirements
- Team member responsible for performing the work
17
Q
What is a Milestone List?
A
A list derived from the WBS dictionary indicating points in time by which project work will be finished.
18
Q
True or False: The Define Activities process outputs deliverables.
A
False.
19
Q
Fill in the blank: The process of estimating activity resources belongs to the ______.
A
[resource management area].
20
Q
What is the role of expert judgment in the Defining Activities process?
A
To assist in decomposing work packages into schedule activities.
21
Q
What is the significance of understanding dependencies among activities?
A
It helps in sequencing activities and developing a realistic project schedule.
22
Q
What techniques can be used in the Plan Schedule Management process?
A
- Data-analysis techniques
- Alternative analysis
23
Q
What should be considered when identifying activities?
A
- Assumptions related to the activities
- Constraints limiting schedule options
- Project deliverables
24
Q
What is the general approach to developing a project schedule?
A
Identify activities, estimate resources, and determine time for each activity.
25
What does the Control Schedule process involve?
Monitoring the project's progress to manage changes in the project schedule.
26
What is a milestone list in project management?
A list derived from the WBS dictionary that indicates points in time for project work completion
## Footnote
Milestones can include major deliverables and can be mandatory or optional.
27
What is the purpose of a change request?
To modify any baseline, which may affect the cost baseline, and is processed through the Perform Integrated Change Control process
## Footnote
If approved, scope and cost baseline documents may need updating.
28
What is rolling wave planning?
A technique of progressive elaboration where planning is done in increments as more information becomes available
## Footnote
It allows for the project team to be involved in the initial stages even when full resources are not assigned.
29
What is activity sequencing?
The process of arranging project activities in the correct order based on their dependencies
## Footnote
It aims to identify and order activities to handle project constraints efficiently.
30
What is the main goal of the activity sequencing process?
To generate schedule network diagrams
## Footnote
These diagrams visually represent the relationships and order of activities.
31
What are mandatory dependencies?
Dependencies that are inherent to the activities or required by law and contracts
## Footnote
Also known as hard logic or hard dependencies.
32
What are discretionary dependencies?
Dependencies that are established at the discretion of the project team
## Footnote
They can be influenced by best practices or previous project experiences.
33
What are external dependencies?
Relationships between a project activity and a non-project activity
## Footnote
An example is a project activity relying on external events or conditions.
34
What are internal dependencies?
Relationships between two project activities that are controlled within the project
## Footnote
They allow for convenient sequencing of activities.
35
What is the precedence diagramming method (PDM)?
A method used to construct project schedule network diagrams by connecting activities through their logical relationships
## Footnote
It typically uses boxes to represent activities and arrows for dependencies.
36
Define finish-to-start dependency.
The successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity has completed
## Footnote
This is the most common type of dependency in project scheduling.
37
Define finish-to-finish dependency.
The successor activity cannot be completed until the predecessor activity is completed.
38
Define start-to-start dependency.
The successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity has been initiated.
39
Define start-to-finish dependency.
The successor activity cannot be completed until the predecessor activity has been initiated.
40
What are leads and lags in project scheduling?
Adjustments to the timing of activities where a lead allows a successor to start before a predecessor finishes, and a lag delays a successor's start after a predecessor finishes.
41
What is activity duration?
The time between the start and finish of an activity, estimated in work periods
## Footnote
It can be converted to calendar time by factoring in passive time like holidays.
42
What is a work period in project management?
A measurement of time when work is in progress, typically in hours, days, or months.
43
What is the significance of the project scope baseline in estimating activity duration?
It provides technical details and assumptions that may affect the duration estimates of activities.
44
What does the Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS) display?
Identified resources categorized by type and category.
45
What factors should be considered when assigning additional resources to an activity?
* Efficiency and productivity may decrease
* Activities have a threshold beyond which additional resources do not help.
46
How does the availability of resources affect activity duration estimates?
The duration depends on the resources assigned; more skilled resources can complete tasks faster.
47
What factors influence the process of estimating activity durations?
Skills of human resources, capability and quantity of available resources
## Footnote
Experienced programmers may complete tasks faster than beginners, affecting duration estimates.
48
What is the impact of the critical path on project scheduling?
Determines the finish date of a project for a given start date
## Footnote
Activities on the critical path affect overall project duration.
49
What is Analogous Estimating?
Estimates duration based on similar activities from previous projects
## Footnote
Accuracy depends on similarity and team member expertise.
50
What is Parametric Estimating?
Calculates activity duration using the formula: Activity duration = Units of work / Productivity rate
## Footnote
Useful when productivity rates of resources are known.
51
What are the three types of estimates in Three-point Estimating?
* Most-likely Scenario
* Optimistic Scenario
* Pessimistic Scenario
## Footnote
These estimates address uncertainty in duration estimates.
52
How is the expected duration calculated in Three-point Estimating?
Average of the three estimates
## Footnote
Most-likely scenario may be weighted more heavily.
53
What technique is used when it's difficult to estimate duration due to complexity?
Bottom-up Technique
## Footnote
Decomposes activities into smaller pieces for more accurate estimates.
54
What is Reserve Analysis?
Incorporates a time cushion, known as a contingency reserve, into the schedule
## Footnote
Helps accommodate potential schedule risks.
55
What role does Expert Judgment play in estimating activity durations?
Used to estimate duration or parameters for other methods
## Footnote
Meetings with stakeholders can also provide valuable insights.
56
What is the main output of the activity duration estimating process?
Activity duration estimates
## Footnote
These estimates should include uncertainties and basis of estimates.
57
What is the purpose of developing the project schedule?
To arrange activities between the project start date and finish date
## Footnote
A realistic project schedule is essential for project success.
58
What information supports the schedule development process?
* Activity list and attributes
* Project schedule network diagrams
* Activity resource requirements
* Activity duration estimates
## Footnote
These outputs help create an effective project schedule.
59
What is the Critical Path Method?
Identifies schedule flexibility and the critical path of a project
## Footnote
The critical path determines the overall project duration.
60
How is float time calculated?
Float time = Late start - Early start
## Footnote
Indicates the flexibility of scheduling for activities.
61
What are the steps in the forward-pass method?
Calculating early start and finish dates for activities
## Footnote
Starts from the beginning of the project timeline.
62
What are the steps in the backward-pass method?
Calculating late start and finish dates for activities
## Footnote
Starts from the end of the project timeline.
63
What does the term 'float time' refer to?
The flexibility in scheduling an activity
## Footnote
Indicates how much an activity can be delayed without affecting the project finish date.
64
What is the late start date of activity B?
Day 18
65
What is the late start date for activity A?
Day 13
66
How is float time for activity A calculated?
Late start - early start = 13-0 = 13
67
How is float time for activity B calculated?
Late start - early start = 18-5 = 13
68
What is the float time for activities on the critical path?
Zero
69
What does zero float time on the critical path indicate?
Source of schedule risk
70
What is resource optimization?
Optimizing the use of available resources to finish the project within planned dates
71
What is resource leveling?
Adjusting start and finish dates of activities using already assigned resources
72
When is resource leveling particularly useful?
* Resources available only at specific times
* Resources in limited quantities
* Resources assigned to multiple activities
* Resources need to be used at a constant rate
73
What is resource smoothing?
Adjusting activities to finish within start and finish dates without changing the critical path
74
What is the purpose of 'what if' scenario analysis?
To calculate the effects of specific scenarios on the schedule
75
What technique is used to estimate the combined effect of uncertainty on project objectives?
Simulation models, e.g., Monte Carlo models
76
What is schedule compression?
Attempting to shorten the project schedule without changing the project scope
77
What is crashing in project management?
A technique to decrease project duration with minimal additional cost
78
What is fast tracking?
Performing project phases or activities in parallel that are normally done sequentially
79
What does Agile release planning accommodate?
High-level schedule timebound with the product roadmap
80
What is a project schedule?
Includes planned start and finish dates for each schedule activity
81
What is a Schedule Baseline?
Accepted version of the project schedule used for measuring progress
82
What information does a project calendar contain?
Work days, shifts, times of the day, and available activities
83
What is schedule data?
* Schedule activities
* Schedule milestones
* Activity attributes
* Resource requirements by time period
* Schedule contingency reserves
84
What triggers a change request in project management?
Modification requests for project scope or schedule
85
What is the goal of schedule control?
Monitor project status, take action on deviations, and manage changes
86
What is Earned Value Analysis used for?
Calculating schedule variance (SV) and schedule performance index (SPI)
87
What does variance analysis reveal?
Deviation of actual start and finish dates from planned dates
88
What is the role of a Project Management Information System (PMIS) in schedule control?
Generate schedule-related items and provide schedule variance information
89
What are schedule forecasts?
Predictions of the future state of the project based on current performance
90
What are schedule forecasts?
Predictions of the future state of the project based on current schedule-related work performance information
## Footnote
Forecasts are based on trends extracted from current and past information
91
What is the purpose of variance analysis in project management?
To forecast the effect of variances on the project’s future
## Footnote
Variance analysis techniques include comparing work performance data with the schedule baseline
92
What does an iteration burndown chart track?
Remaining project work over working days
## Footnote
It plots decreasing remaining work against accumulating working days
93
How can a project be brought back on track after schedule variance?
1) Align the project with the schedule baseline without updating the baseline 2) Update the baseline
94
What techniques can be used to align the project with the schedule baseline without updating it?
Resource optimization, schedule compression, lag and leads, what-if scenario analysis
95
What is required before updating the schedule baseline?
Creation of change requests that must go through the standard approval process
96
Why should critical or near critical paths be closely monitored?
Because they directly impact the project finish date
## Footnote
A short delay on the critical path may have a larger effect than bigger delays on non-critical paths
97
What is the focus of corrective actions in project management?
Ensuring future results match the planned schedule
## Footnote
Corrective actions are not about fixing past mistakes
98
What is the outcome of the schedule control process?
Work performance information, schedule forecasts, change requests
99
What is the schedule baseline?
The approved version of the planned schedule used to track project progress
100
What is the Define Activities process used for?
To decompose work packages in the WBS into activities with attributes
101
What is the purpose of the Develop Schedule process?
To create the project schedule using various techniques
102
What is schedule compression?
Methods such as fast tracking and crashing to accommodate hard deadlines
103
What does float time refer to?
The amount of time an activity can be delayed without changing the project finish date
104
What is crashing in project management?
A technique used for duration compression
105
What is a mandatory dependency in project management?
A dependency that must be followed due to the nature of the work
106
What is the critical path?
The longest sequence of activities in a project that determines the project finish date
107
What is the three-point estimating technique?
A method that considers optimistic, pessimistic, and most-likely scenarios for activity duration estimates
108
What is the primary input to the Define Activities process?
The WBS
109
Which of the following is not an output of the schedule control process?
Schedule variations
110
What is the project charter's role in the schedule management process?
It is an input to the Define Activities process
111
True or False: Each activity on the critical path has zero float time.
True
112
Fill in the blank: The technique used to predict future project performance is called _______.
Schedule forecasting
