Chapter 8

Question 1

Types of Project Constraints

Answer 1

Technical or Logic Constraints
Physical Constraints
Resource Constraints

Question 2

Technical or Logic Constraints

Answer 2

Constraints related to the networked sequence in which project activities must occur.

Question 3

Physical Constraints

Answer 3

Activities that cannot occur in parallel or are affected by contractual or environmental conditions.

Question 4

Resource Constraints

Answer 4

The absence, shortage, or unique interrelationship and interaction characteristics of resources that require a particular sequencing of project activities
Kinds of Resource Constraints - people, materials, equipment

Question 5

Classification of a Scheduling Problem

Answer 5

Classification of Problem
Using a priority matrix will help determine if the project is time or resource constrained.

Time-Constrained Project
Must be completed by an imposed date.
Time is fixed, resources are flexible: additional resources are required to ensure project meets schedule.

Resource-Constrained Project
Is one in which the level of resources available cannot be exceeded.
Resources are fixed, time is flexible: inadequate resources will delay the project.

Question 6

Resource Solutions

Answer 6

Resource Smoothing (or Leveling)
Resource-Constrained Scheduling

Question 7

Resource-Constrained Scheduling

Answer 7

The duration of a project may be increased by delaying the late start of some of its activities if resources are not adequate to meet peak demands.

Question 8

Resource Smoothing (or Leveling)

Answer 8

Involves attempting to even out varying demands on resources by using slack (delaying noncritical activities) to manage resource utilization when resources are adequate over the life of the project.

Question 9

Resource Allocation Methods

Answer 9

Limiting Assumptions

Risk Assumptions

Question 10

Risk Assumptions

Answer 10

Activities with the most slack pose the least risk.
Reduction of flexibility does not increase risk.
The nature of an activity (easy, complex) doesn’t increase risk.

Question 11

Limiting Assumptions

Answer 11

Splitting activities is not allowed—once an activity is start, it is carried to completion.
Level of resources used for an activity cannot be changed.

Question 12

Resource Demand Leveling Techniques for Time-Constrained Projects

Answer 12

Advantages
Peak resource demands are reduced.
Resources over the life of the project are reduced.
Fluctuation in resource demand is minimized.

Disadvantages
Loss of flexibility occurs from reducing slack.
Increases in the criticality of all activities.

Question 13

Resource-Constrained Projects (Info)

Answer 13

Resources are limited in quantity or availability.
Activities are scheduled using heuristics (rules-of-thumb) that focus on:
Minimum slack
Smallest (least) duration
Lowest activity identification number
The parallel method is used to apply heuristics
An iterative process starting at the first time period of the project and scheduling period-by-period the start of any activities using the three priority rules.

Question 14

Splitting

Answer 14

A scheduling technique use to get a better project schedule and/or increase resource utilization.

Involves interrupting work on an activity to employ the resource on another activity, then returning the resource to finish the interrupted work.
A major reason why projects fail to meet schedule.

Question 15

Resources and Priorities

Answer 15

Project network times are not a schedule until resources have been assigned.
The implicit assumption is that resources will be available in the required amounts when needed.
Adding new projects requires making realistic judgments of resource availability and project durations.
Cost estimates are not a budget until they have been time-phased.

Question 16

Impacts of Resource-Constrained Scheduling

Answer 16

Reduces delay but reduces flexibility.
Increases criticality of events.
Increases scheduling complexity.
May make the traditional critical path no longer meaningful.
Can break sequence of events.
May cause parallel activities to become sequential and critical activities with slack to become noncritical.

Question 17

Benefits of Scheduling Resources

Answer 17

Leaves time for consideration of reasonable alternatives:
Cost-time tradeoffs
Changes in priorities

Provides information for time-phased work package budgets to assess:
Impact of unforeseen events
Amount of flexibility in available resources

Question 18

Multiproject Resource Schedules

Answer 18

Multiproject Scheduling Problems
Overall project slippage
Delay on one project create delays for other projects.
Inefficient resource application
The peaks and valleys of resource demands create scheduling problems and delays for projects.
Resource bottlenecks
Shortages of critical resources required for multiple projects cause delays and schedule extensions.

Question 19

Managing Multiproject Scheduling

Answer 19

Create project offices or departments to oversee the scheduling of resources across projects.
Use a project priority queuing system: first come, first served for resources.
Centralize project management: treat all projects as a part of a “megaproject.”
Outsource projects to reduce the number of projects handled internally.

Question 20

Using Resource Schedules to Develop a Project Cost Baseline

Answer 20

Why a Time-Phased Budget Baseline Is Needed
To determine if the project is on, ahead, or behind schedule and over or under its budgeted costs?
To know how much work has been accomplished for the allocated money spent—the project cost baseline (planned value, PV)
Creating a Time-Phased Budget
Assign each work package to one responsible person or department and deliverable.
Compare planned schedule and costs using an integrative system called earned value.

Question 21

Time-constrained project

Answer 21

Completed by an imposed date

If required, resources can be added

Question 22

Resource-constrained project

Answer 22

Assumes the level of resources availible cannot be exceeded.

The trick is proitize and allocate resources to minimize project delay without exceeding the resource limit or altering the technical network relationships.

Question 23

Impacts of Resource-constrained project

Answer 23

Reduces slack
Reduces flexibility
Increases the number critical and near-critical activities
Scheduling complexity is increased
Critical path is no longer meaningful.

Question 24

Splitting

Answer 24

A scheduling technique used to get better project schedule and/or to increase resource utilization.