Module 4 Flashcards
What is PDM?
Precedence diagramming method (also known as Activity on Node (AoN)
List the 4 activity dependency types (sequence), with examples
Start to start
Start to finish
Finish to start
Finish to finish
List the 4 activity dependency types (priority), with examples
Mandatory (hard logic, inherent to the work)
Discretionary (soft logic, best practice, defined by team)
External (relationship to non-project activities)
Internal
What is the difference between activity list and activity attributes?
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
What is a milestone? Give an example that is and an example that is not a milestone.
An event with zero duration.
“Finish the work” is not a milestone but “date when work is complete” is a milestone.
What is PERT?
Program Evaluation Review Technique. Method for determining task length. 3 point technique: triangular vs beta distribution
What is the difference between PERT triangular distribution and beta distribution?
triangular = (optimistic + pessimistic + most likely) /3 beta = (O + P + 3M) / 6
Name some tools for developing a schedule (5) .
Schedule network analysis Resource Optimization (R levelling, R smoothing) Data analysis (what if, simulations) Leads and lags Agile release planning
Describe the agile project life cycle.
Multiple iterations (one sprint for each iteration) Iterations (sprints) can be broken up into daily work, individual tasks
What is CPM?
Critical path method. Involves PDM to to figure out the most restrictive element of the schedule in terms of linked activities
What are some options for schedule compression?
Crashing: increase allocated resources to finish tasks faster (adds $$$)
Fast-tracking: try to overlap more of the tasks
Define free slack / free float.
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.
For the critical path, what is the difference between early start / early finish and late start / late finish.
No difference - for critical path the numbers will be the same.
How is critical chain scheduling different from critical path method?
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
What is free slack / free float called in a critical chain diagram?
Feeding buffer / project buffer depending on the level
What are the 3 types of cost estimates and their accuracy ranges?
Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) -25 +75%
Budgetary -10% +25%
Definitive -5 +10%
How are analogous (top down), parametric and bottom up estimates different?
Analogous: uses previous examples / benchmarks
Parametric: rate per unit (ie $/person or $/sf)
Bottom up: detailed estimating of individual line items
Name different estimating tools and approaches.
Analogous (top down), parametric, bottom up
3 point estimating, alternatives analysis, contingency analysis, agile estimating
What is the different between mgmt reserves, contingency reserves and activity contingency reserves?
activity estimates + act. cont. reserves = work package estimate
work package estimate + cont reserves = cost baseline (or control accounts)
cost baseline + mgmt reserves = project budget
What is the S curve graph called?
cost baseline
