6 - Optimising Project Plans

Question 1

What are the three main priorities worth optimising?

Answer 1

Time
Cost
Quality

Question 2

What priority is the hardest to optimise for?

Answer 2

Cost, rare in engineering.

Question 3

What are the two scenarios when optimising for time?

Answer 3

When resources are constrained

When resources arn’t constrained

Question 4

What are some methods of time optimisation when resources are constrained?

Answer 4

Fast Tracking (Parallel activities)
Reducind scope
Altering technology

Question 5

What are some methods of time optimisation when resources are not constrained?

Answer 5

Adding resources
Outsourcing
Scheduling overtime
Change the working method

Question 6

What is fast tracking?

Answer 6

An optimisation method that studies dependancies and durations. It can involve breaking workpackages down further (coupling/decoupling) or shortening the duration of the longest critical activity, even overlap activities.

Question 7

What is crashing?

Answer 7

A method of reducing task duration by increasing cost, attempting to find the correct balance. It uses a linear assumption and provides choice and flexibility.

Question 8

What is the process of crashing?

Answer 8

Calcuate cost per unit time for activity
Choose activity to crash (critical path first then cheapest)
Reduce time by one unit
Recalculate critical path

Question 9

What are the two types of resource management?

Answer 9

Loading - Assigning appropriate resource to each activity

Leveling - Changes start and finish dates to account for resource availability.

Question 10

What kind of activites are used when resource leveling?

Answer 10

Activities with smallest float
Activites with smallest duration
Activites with earliest start time
Activities with most sucsessor tasks
Activities requiring most resources