Project Management Tasks and Dependencies

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Questions and Answers

Which task has the highest effort requirement?

T8 (correct)

Which tasks are dependent on T2?

T4 and T5

T5 and T6 (correct)

T6 and T3

T3 and T9

What is the total duration for T10?

20 days

15 days (correct)

10 days

25 days

Which task is completed last based on the task schedule?

T12 Signup and view all the answers

Which staff member is not allocated to any tasks during Week 0?

Mary Signup and view all the answers

How many tasks depend on T4?

Two Signup and view all the answers

Which estimation technique is most crucial for organizations managing software projects?

Effort estimation Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependency for task T9?

T3 and T6 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of risk management in software development?

Minimizing the effect of risks on a project Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributes to uncertainties in software development?

Loosely defined requirements Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a business risk in software development?

Management change Signup and view all the answers

In the context of cost estimation, which technique relies on the manager's judgment and past experiences?

Experience-based techniques Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a type of risk that specifically affects the quality or performance of the developed software?

Product risk Signup and view all the answers

What does project risk primarily affect?

The timeline and resources of the project Signup and view all the answers

What is a common example of a project risk related to staffing?

Staff turnover Signup and view all the answers

Which approach uses a formulaic method to estimate project effort based on product attributes?

Algorithmic cost modeling Signup and view all the answers

What should be done with the project plan as development progresses?

It should be regularly amended. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT essential in project scheduling?

Organizing tasks into a rigid sequence. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended action to minimize delays in task execution?

Organizing tasks concurrently. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key component of risk management in project planning?

Initiating risk mitigation actions. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of project scheduling, what should be estimated for each task?

The time and resources needed. Signup and view all the answers

What is one primary purpose of regularly revising project estimates?

To adjust to changes in software development. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the first step in the project planning process?

Identifying constraints. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding task scheduling techniques?

Concurrent organization of tasks is recommended. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Tasks, Durations, and Dependencies

Tasks have effort (person-days) and duration (days)
Dependencies are represented with (M#) where M1-M8 are specific dependencies
T1 has a duration of 10 days with 15 person-days required
T2 has a duration of 15 days with 8 person-days required
T3 depends on T1 and has a duration of 15 days with 20 person-days required
T5 depends on T2 and T4 and has a duration of 10 days with 5 person-days required
T6 depends on T1 and T2 and has a duration of 5 days with 10 person-days required
T7 depends on T1 and has a duration of 20 days with 25 person-days required
T8 depends on T4 and has a duration of 25 days with 75 person-days required
T9 depends on T3 and T6 and has a duration of 15 days with 10 person-days required
T10 depends on T7 and T8 and has a duration of 15 days with 20 person-days required
T11 depends on T9 and has a duration of 10 days with 10 person-days required
T12 depends on T10 and T11 and has a duration of 10 days with 20 person-days required

Activity Bar Chart

The activity bar chart shows the start and finish times for each task
Tasks T1 and T2 start immediately
Tasks T3 and T7 depend on T1 starting at week 1
Task T8 depends on T4 starting at week 3
Tasks T5 and T6 have multiple dependencies
The project finishes in week 11

Staff Allocation Chart

Jane is assigned to tasks T1, T3, T9, T10, and T12
Ali is assigned to tasks T1 and T8
Geetha is assigned to tasks T2, T6, T7, and T3
Maya is assigned to task T8
Fred is assigned to tasks T4, T8, T11, and T12
Mary is assigned task T 5
Hong is assigned to tasks T7 and T6

Estimation Techniques

Organizations need to make estimates for software effort and costs
Experience-based techniques rely on the manager's expertise from previous projects
Algorithmic cost modeling utilizes formulas to calculate project effort based on product attributes and process characteristics

Estimate Uncertainty

Estimates can vary significantly throughout the project's life cycle
There is typically high uncertainty in the feasibility and requirement phases
The code and delivery phases have lower uncertainty

Risk Management

Risk management is concerned with recognizing risks and planning to minimize their impact
Software risk management is important because of inherent uncertainty in software development
Risks can arise from loosely defined requirements, changing customer needs, difficulties in estimating resources and time, and differing skill levels
Risks must be anticipated, their impact understood, and steps taken to avoid them

Risk Classification

Risks are classified based on their type (technical, organizational, etc.) and what they affect
Project risks affect the schedule or resources
Product risks affect the quality or performance of the software
Business risks affect the organization developing or procuring the software

Risk Examples

Staff turnover is a risk affecting the project
Management change is a risk affecting the project
Hardware unavailability is a risk affecting the project
Requirements change is a risk affecting the project and the product

Development Planning

The project plan should be regularly adjusted as the project progresses
The schedule, cost estimate, and identified risks must be revised regularly
The process involves identifying constraints, risks, and milestones

The Project Planning Process

The process includes identifying constraints and risks, defining the project schedule, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring progress, and taking action to mitigate risk

Project Scheduling

Project scheduling is about organizing the work into tasks and planning their execution
Tasks are assigned effort and time estimates
Resources required for each task are determined

Project Scheduling Activities

Splitting the project into tasks and estimating time and resources
Organizing tasks concurrently to optimize workforce utilization
Minimizing task dependencies to prevent delays caused by waiting for other tasks to complete
This process relies on the project manager's intuition and experience

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Description

This quiz focuses on understanding the concepts of tasks, durations, and dependencies in project management. It includes various scenarios involving task dependencies and the associated person-days required for completion. Test your knowledge on how to manage and analyze project timelines effectively.