Chapter 6 Trivia Quiz: Project Management

This question represents a Finish-To-Start dependency, where the completion of one task (someone else completing the first draft) is required before another task (starting to edit the technical report) can begin.

The statement "Duration and effort are synonymous terms" is false because duration refers to the amount of time it takes to complete a task or project, while effort refers to the amount of work or labor required to complete the task or project. These terms are related but not interchangeable, as a task may require a high level of effort but a short duration, or vice versa.

The first process in planning a project schedule is defining activities. This involves breaking down the project into smaller, manageable tasks or activities that need to be completed. By defining activities, the project manager can identify the specific work that needs to be done, determine the order in which the activities should be performed, and estimate the time and resources required for each activity. This initial step lays the foundation for creating a detailed project schedule and helps in effectively managing and tracking progress throughout the project.

Activity attributes refer to the various characteristics or properties associated with an activity in a project. These attributes include predecessors, successors, logical relationships, lead and lags, resource requirements, constraints, imposed dates, and assumptions. They provide detailed information about each activity and help in planning and managing the project effectively. Activity attributes are typically documented in the project schedule and are used to track progress, allocate resources, and ensure successful completion of the project.

This type of dependency is discretionary. Discretionary dependencies are those that are established based on the judgment of the project team or stakeholders. In this case, the project manager has made the decision that the code writing should not start until users sign off on the analysis work, based on their judgment that it is necessary for the project's success.

Critical chain scheduling is a method of scheduling that takes into account the limited resources available for a project and incorporates buffers to safeguard the project completion date. This approach recognizes that resource constraints can impact the project timeline and aims to optimize the allocation of resources to ensure efficient project completion. By including buffers, such as project buffers and feeding buffers, critical chain scheduling helps to mitigate uncertainties and delays, allowing for better project management and timely delivery.

A white diamond symbol on a Gantt chart represents a slipped milestone. This means that the milestone was originally scheduled to be completed at a certain time but has been delayed or missed. The white diamond allows project managers and team members to easily identify and track any milestones that have been delayed, helping them to take necessary actions to get the project back on track.

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is a network diagramming technique used to predict the total project duration. It involves breaking down the project into smaller tasks and estimating the time required for each task. PERT also considers the dependencies between tasks and incorporates probabilistic time estimates, taking into account optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely time durations. By analyzing the network diagram and considering the critical path, PERT helps in determining the expected duration of the entire project.

Fast tracking is not a technique for making cost and schedule trade-offs to obtain the greatest amount of schedule compression for the least incremental cost. Fast tracking is a technique that involves overlapping activities that would normally be done in sequence in order to expedite the project schedule. It may increase costs and risks, but it can help in compressing the project schedule.

A tracking Gantt chart is a type of diagram that displays both the planned and actual project schedule information. It is used to track the progress of a project by comparing the planned schedule with the actual progress. This chart allows project managers to visually see any deviations or delays from the original plan and make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track. It provides a clear overview of the project's timeline and helps in identifying critical tasks and potential bottlenecks.