Lecture 3

Question 1

The project charter

Answer 1

high level statement of what is to be done and the boundaries of a project

Question 2

WBS

Answer 2

Work Breakdown Structure

• project divided into activities for cost estimation and scheduling
• should be complete and all activities only appear once

Question 3

PM tools

Answer 3

• calendars
• histograms
• Gantt bar charts
• Network analysis (critical path method or precedence diagrams)

Question 4

critical path

Answer 4

series of activities that have zero float

Question 5

activity float

Answer 5

a measure of an activities flexibility

Question 6

free float

Answer 6

float an individual activity can use up without effecting the early start of the next activity

Question 7

total float

Answer 7

the float shared with other activities in a group (arm)

Question 8

TF

Answer 8

Total Float = LF - ES - duration

Question 9

SF

Answer 9

Start Float = LS - ES

Question 10

FNF

Answer 10

Finish Float = LF - EF

Question 11

Shortcomings of PDM

Answer 11

• all goals based on estimates
• activity times generally include a large safety margin
• ‘student syndrome’
• ‘Parkinson’s Law’ may prevail

Question 12

‘Parkinsons Law’

Answer 12

an activity will expand to fill the time available

Question 13

‘student syndrome’

Answer 13

human nature for many means activities are left to the last possible minute