Project Management Chapter 1: Estimation and Timeliness

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What is the average overrun in weeks that Schlumberger was able to reduce to?

30 weeks
25 weeks
20 weeks
35 weeks (correct)

What percentage of projects does one of the author's client companies deliver on time and within budget?

97% (correct)
98%
99%
95%

What is the concept missing from Jones's and Conte, Dunsmore, and Shen's definitions of estimation?

Schedule estimation
Probability distributions
Estimation techniques
Effective project control (correct)

What is the principle that is applied to software estimation, according to the author?

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of Telcordia's project delivery, according to Pitterman (2000)?

98% of projects on time and within budget (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the common misconception about software estimation, according to the author?

It is a purely predictive activity (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the word 'estimate' being in quotation marks in the context of project delivery?

It indicates that the project that was estimated is not the same project that was ultimately delivered (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for focusing on the art of estimation rather than the science in project management?

Project assumptions can change significantly over time (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a good estimate in project management?

An estimate that provides a clear view of the project reality to make good decisions (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the criteria for evaluating estimation models discussed in Conte, Dunsmore, and Shen's book?

Within 25% of actual 75% of the time (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of having project results close to the original estimates when project assumptions change significantly?

The accuracy of the estimates is irrelevant (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of estimation in project management?

To provide a clear view of the project reality to make good decisions (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a major challenge in evaluating the accuracy of project estimates?

The project's scope and assumptions change during its execution (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary criterion for a 'good' estimate in software project management?

Its ability to support project success (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it difficult to make a clean analytical assessment of a project's estimation accuracy?

The project's deliverable is not the same as the one originally estimated (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the 'analytical impurities' in project estimation?

Estimation is an imperfect process (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of estimation in software project management?

To support project success (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the project's scope and assumptions changing during its execution?

The project's estimation is uncertain and prone to change (D) Signup and view all the answers