Project Management basics - 6.2 Define Activities

Question 1

In rolling wave planning:

a. Focus is maintained on long-term objectives to be rolled out as part of the ongoing wave of activities.
b. The work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, whereas the work in the future is planned at a higher level.
c. The work far in the future is planned in detail for work packages that are at a low level of the WBS.
d. A wave of detailed activities is planned during strategic planning to ensure that WBS deliverables and project milestones are achieved.

Answer 1

b. The work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, whereas the work in the future is planned at a higher level.

Rolling wave planning is an iterative planning technique in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while work further in the future is planned at a higher level. It is a form of progressive elaboration applicable to work packages, planning packages, and release planning when using an agile or waterfall approach

See Section 6.2.2.3 Rolling Wave Planning

Question 2

Which of the following is an output to the Define Activities process?

a. Schedule network diagram
b. Project schedule
c. Change requests
d. Duration estimates

Answer 2

c. Change requests

Define Activities Output:
- Activity list;
- Activity attributes; 
- Milestone list;
- Change request; 
Project management plan updates (schedule baseline, cost baseline).

See Figure 6-5 on Define Activities: Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs

Question 3

Which of the following are inputs to the Define Activities process of Project Schedule Management?

a. Schedule management plan, work breakdown structure (WBS) and change requests
b. Schedule management plan, enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets.
c. Schedule management plan, organizational process assets and network diagrams
d. Schedule management plan, network diagrams and change requests

Answer 3

b. Schedule management plan, enterprise environmental fasctors and organizational process assets.

Define Activities - Inputs:

• Project management plan(schedule management plan, scope baseline),
• Enterprise environmental factors,
• Organizational process assets.

See Figure 6-5 on Define Activities: Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs

Question 4

In the Define Activities process, what does decomposition accomplish?

a. Allows precise planning by sorting the work load.
b. Identifies planning-related policies and procedures
c. Organizes work activities by schedule constraints
d. Defines the outputs as activities rather than deliverables.

Answer 4

d. Defines the outputs as activities rather than deliverables.

The Define Activities process defines the final outputs as activities rather than deliverables, as done in the Create WBS process.

See Section 6.2.2.2 Decomposition

Question 5

The iterative process of increasing the level of detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available is called:

a. Summary schedule
b. Waterfall schedule
c. Gantt chart
d. Progressive elaboration

Answer 5

d. Progressive elaboration

Progressive elaboration. The iterative process of increasing the level of detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available.

Refer to progressive elaboration in the Glossary of the PMBOK Guide-Sixt Edition for full citation.