IT Project Management Chapter 6

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Questions and Answers

What is a crucial aspect of project management that project managers often struggle with?

Delivering projects on time (correct)

Creating project scope

Delivering projects within budget

Managing project resources

What is the primary purpose of estimating in project management?

To track project progress

To create a project schedule

To identify dependencies between tasks

To determine the size and duration of activities (correct)

What is added to a project schedule to make it more detailed?

Risk management

Specific start and end dates (correct)

Activity dependencies

Resource allocation

What is the purpose of tracking in project management?

To determine if plans, estimates, and schedules are accurate Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for developing project schedules?

Activities Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between estimating resources and project schedules?

Estimating resources affects project schedules Signup and view all the answers

What should you do after drawing activities that start at node 1 in an AOA network diagram?

Draw arrows from node 1 to the finish nodes and label them with activity letters and duration estimates Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a burst in an AOA network diagram?

When a single node is followed by two or more activities Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of estimating activity durations?

To assign resources to each activity Signup and view all the answers

What is a merge in an AOA network diagram?

When two or more activities precede a single node Signup and view all the answers

What should you consider when estimating resources for an activity?

The difficulty of the activity and the organization's history with similar activities Signup and view all the answers

What is an AOA network diagram used for?

To show relationships between activities Signup and view all the answers

What is a common rule of thumb for drawing arrows in an AOA network diagram?

Arrows should face towards the right Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using AOA network diagrams over ADM methods?

AOA diagrams are better at showing different types of dependencies Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of creating a resource breakdown structure?

To identify the project's resources by category and type Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between effort and duration?

Effort is the number of workdays, while duration is the actual amount of time worked Signup and view all the answers

Who should help create estimates for a task?

The people doing the work, along with an expert review Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of analogous estimating?

To estimate the duration or cost of an activity using historical data from similar projects Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of parametric estimating?

It uses historical data and other variables such as square foot in construction Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of bottom-up estimating?

It provides a high level of accuracy Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of three-point estimating?

To estimate the duration or cost of an activity using three approximate estimations Signup and view all the answers

What is the output of the resource allocation process?

Activity resource requirements Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of reviewing the schedule during project management?

To know the status of the schedule and influence factors that cause schedule changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a schedule change control system?

To manage changes when they occur Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when preparing a schedule?

Allow for uncertainty and don't plan for everyone to work at 100% capacity all the time Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of variance analysis?

To analyze float or slack in the schedule Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when there are schedule problems?

Alert top management well in advance Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using project management software?

It helps in various time management areas Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of the Develop Schedule process?

To create a realistic project schedule that provides a basis for monitoring project progress Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a Gantt chart?

To display project schedule information in a calendar format Signup and view all the answers

What is a milestone in a project schedule?

An important event or accomplishment in a project Signup and view all the answers

What does the gray bar represent in a Gantt chart?

Planned duration of a task Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical path in a project schedule?

The series of activities that determines the earliest time by which the project can be completed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a forward pass through the network diagram?

To determine the early start and finish dates of activities Signup and view all the answers

What is critical chain scheduling?

A method of scheduling that considers limited resources when creating a project schedule Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a buffer in critical chain scheduling?

To protect the project completion date Signup and view all the answers

What is PERT used for in project management?

To estimate project duration when there is a high degree of uncertainty about individual activity duration estimates Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula for calculating the PERT weighted average?

Optimistic time + 4X most likely time + pessimistic time / 6 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Importance of Project Schedules and Time Management

Understanding project schedules and good project time management is crucial for project success.
Project schedules are developed through a series of processes, including:
- Identify activities: Breaking down the project into smaller tasks and activities.
- Estimating resources: Determining the resources required for each activity.
- Scheduling: Creating a timeline for the project.
- Tracking: Monitoring progress and controlling the project schedule.

Understanding Activities

Activities are the building blocks of a project schedule.
Activity attributes include:
- Activity name
- Duration
- Resource requirements
- Dependencies

Estimating Resources

Estimating resources involves determining the quantity and type of resources required for each activity.
Considerations for estimating resources include:
- How difficult will it be to do specific activities on this project?
- What is the organization's history in doing similar activities?
- Are the required resources available?

Estimating Activity Durations

Estimating activity durations involves determining the amount of time required to complete each activity.
Techniques for estimating activity durations include:
- Analogous estimating: Using historical data from similar projects.
- Parametric estimating: Using a mathematical model to estimate activity durations.
- Bottom-up estimating: Breaking down activities into smaller tasks and estimating the duration of each task.
- Three-point estimating: Using three approximate estimations (optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic) to estimate activity durations.

Creating a Project Schedule

A project schedule is a timeline that outlines the start and end dates for each activity.
The project schedule is created by:
- Determining the start and end dates for each activity.
- Identifying dependencies between activities.
- Using network diagrams and dependencies to assist in activity sequencing.

Network Diagrams

Network diagrams are used to visualize the project schedule and dependencies between activities.
A network diagram consists of:
- Activities represented by boxes.
- Arrows showing relationships between activities.
- Dependencies between activities.

Gantt Charts

Gantt charts are a type of bar chart that shows the project schedule.
Gantt charts provide a standard format for displaying project schedule information.
Symbols used in Gantt charts include:
- Black diamonds: Milestones.
- Thick black bars: Summary tasks.
- Lighter horizontal bars: Durations of tasks.
- Arrows: Dependencies between tasks.

Critical Path Method (CPM)

CPM is a network diagramming technique used to predict total project duration.
The critical path is the series of activities that determines the earliest time by which the project can be completed.
The critical path has the least amount of slack or float.

Critical Chain Scheduling

Critical chain scheduling is a method of scheduling that considers limited resources when creating a project schedule.
Critical chain scheduling suggests:
- Delaying one task until the equipment is available (sequential).
- Finding another piece of equipment to meet the schedule (parallel).

PERT Analysis

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is a network analysis technique used to estimate project duration when there is a high degree of uncertainty about the individual activity duration estimates.
PERT uses probabilistic time estimates, including:
- Optimistic time.
- Most likely time.
- Pessimistic time.

Controlling the Project Schedule

Goals of controlling the project schedule include:
- Knowing the status of the schedule.
- Influencing factors that cause schedule changes.
- Determining that the schedule has changed.
- Managing changes when they occur.
Tools and techniques used in controlling the project schedule include:
- Progress reports.
- Schedule change control systems.
- Project management software.
- Variance analysis.

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Description

This quiz assesses your understanding of project schedules, time management, and activity sequencing in IT project management. It covers the importance of schedules, defining activities, network diagrams, and resource estimation.