Module 4

Question 1

What is PDM?

Answer 1

Precedence diagramming method (also known as Activity on Node (AoN)

Question 2

List the 4 activity dependency types (sequence), with examples

Answer 2

Start to start
Start to finish
Finish to start
Finish to finish

Question 3

List the 4 activity dependency types (priority), with examples

Answer 3

Mandatory (hard logic, inherent to the work)
Discretionary (soft logic, best practice, defined by team)
External (relationship to non-project activities)
Internal

Question 4

What is the difference between activity list and activity attributes?

Answer 4

Activity list is just a list (maybe a short description)

Activity attribute is all the actual dependencies, hard and soft logic etc associated with each activity

Question 5

What is a milestone? Give an example that is and an example that is not a milestone.

Answer 5

An event with zero duration.

“Finish the work” is not a milestone but “date when work is complete” is a milestone.

Question 6

What is PERT?

Answer 6

Program Evaluation Review Technique. Method for determining task length. 3 point technique: triangular vs beta distribution

Question 7

What is the difference between PERT triangular distribution and beta distribution?

Answer 7

triangular = (optimistic + pessimistic + most likely) /3
beta = (O + P + 3M) / 6

Question 8

Name some tools for developing a schedule (5) .

Answer 8

Schedule network analysis
Resource Optimization (R levelling, R smoothing)
Data analysis (what if, simulations)
Leads and lags
Agile release planning

Question 9

Describe the agile project life cycle.

Answer 9

Multiple iterations (one sprint for each iteration)
Iterations (sprints) can be broken up into daily work, individual tasks

Question 10

What is CPM?

Answer 10

Critical path method. Involves PDM to to figure out the most restrictive element of the schedule in terms of linked activities

Question 11

What are some options for schedule compression?

Answer 11

Crashing: increase allocated resources to finish tasks faster (adds $$$)
Fast-tracking: try to overlap more of the tasks

Question 12

Define free slack / free float.

Answer 12

For all schedule paths that are not the critical path, the amount of extra time that the individual activities can be delayed or extended without affecting overall project schedule.

Also defined as difference between early start / early finish and late start / late finish.

Question 13

For the critical path, what is the difference between early start / early finish and late start / late finish.

Answer 13

No difference - for critical path the numbers will be the same.

Question 14

How is critical chain scheduling different from critical path method?

Answer 14

Critical chain takes into consideration resource allocation. Must adjust any activities requiring overlapping / simultaneous use of limited resources.

Might lengthen critical path, unless it can be absorbed with float / extra resources

Question 15

What is free slack / free float called in a critical chain diagram?

Answer 15

Feeding buffer / project buffer depending on the level

Question 16

What are the 3 types of cost estimates and their accuracy ranges?

Answer 16

Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) -25 +75%
Budgetary -10% +25%
Definitive -5 +10%

Question 17

How are analogous (top down), parametric and bottom up estimates different?

Answer 17

Analogous: uses previous examples / benchmarks
Parametric: rate per unit (ie $/person or $/sf)
Bottom up: detailed estimating of individual line items

Question 18

Name different estimating tools and approaches.

Answer 18

Analogous (top down), parametric, bottom up

3 point estimating, alternatives analysis, contingency analysis, agile estimating

Question 19

What is the different between mgmt reserves, contingency reserves and activity contingency reserves?

Answer 19

activity estimates + act. cont. reserves = work package estimate
work package estimate + cont reserves = cost baseline (or control accounts)
cost baseline + mgmt reserves = project budget

Question 20

What is the S curve graph called?

Answer 20

cost baseline