Chap 6. Project Schedule Management

Question 1

What is a kanban style working schedule?

Answer 1

Trello-like work in progress visualization.

Question 2

What are some trends in schedule management?

Answer 2

1. Shorter cycles for smaller project
2. Iterative scheduling with a backlog
3. Lean manufacturing (assign tasks to who are first available)

Question 3

What is the 8/80 rule in project scheduling?

Answer 3

it means any activities should be between 8 ~ 80 hours to complete.

Question 4

What is a schedule management plan?

Answer 4

It is to define how the schedule is developed, managed, executed and controlled. It might include:

1. Scheduling tool (schedule model development)
2. Release and iteration length
3. level of accuracy
4. units of measure (days, hours, weeks)
5. Organizational procedure links
6. Control thresholds
7. Rules of performance management
8. Reporting format

Question 5

What is decomposition? (decomposing)

Answer 5

It is the technique to divide and subdivide the project scope and deliverables into manageable parts (WBS Work packages)

Question 6

What is a rolling wave planning?

Answer 6

Plan - execute - plan - execute.
Characteristics:
- near term work is planned in detail, future work is planned at higher level until arrive at the time.

Question 7

What is an activity list?

Hint: schedule management

Answer 7

It is one of the outputs for Define Activities (Schedule Management)

It includes the schedules activities required on the project.

Question 8

What is Crashing and what does it do to schedule?

Answer 8

Crashing is adding more resources to the project due to possible delay in schedule.

it typically increases costs.

Question 9

What is Fast-Tracking and what does it to the schedule?

Answer 9

Fast-Tracking is making sequential activities tan-dem or parallel. It typically increases risks of the project.

Question 10

Know how to calculate a network Diagram and float

Answer 10

Critical path doesn’t have float.

Question 11

Resource Leveling vs Resource smoothing. What is the difference?

Answer 11

Resource Leveling is to not go over the labor maximum hours, if applied, it will extend the project schedule. Another way to say is to adjust start date and finish date based on the resource constraints.

Resource smoothing is adjusting the resources based on project deadline. Project will not be delayed.

Question 12

What are some characteristics for schedule in agile environment?

Answer 12

1. Has a high-level summary time line for the release schedule for 3-6 months
2. Has a product roadmap and product vision
3. In Schedule Control, it compares more about the total amount of work delivered vs estimated of work completed
4. In schedule Control, it also looks at retrospectively and determines rate, validation velocity of the deliverables that are produced

Question 13

What are the ways/types for reserve analysis in schedule management?

Answer 13

1. Contingency Reserve
2. Management Reserve

Contingency reserves are allocated for identified risks.

Management reserves are allocated funds/budget withheld for the project to complete within scope work.

Question 14

What is three-point estimate in schedule management knowledge area?

Answer 14

Using the average of 1) Most Likely, 2) Optimistic and 3) pessimistic duration time to estimate schedule completion time.

Not weighted towards any base points.

Question 15

What is the PERT estimate in schedule management knowledge area?

Answer 15

Using the weighted average of 1) Most Likely, 2) Optimistic and 3) pessimistic duration time to estimate schedule completion time.

Weighted towards Most Likely.