Time Management & Resource Allocation Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Time Management & Resource Allocation flashcards as text
When a resource is shared across multiple projects, which allocation approach assigns the resource based on which project has the highest strategic priority?
Answer: Priority-based allocation
Priority-based allocation directs shared resources to the highest-priority project first, ensuring strategic objectives are met before lower-priority work.
A schedule network shows that Activity C can start as soon as Activity A is 50% complete. This is modeled as a:
Answer: Start-to-start relationship
A start-to-start relationship links the start of the successor to the start of the predecessor, often combined with a lag to represent partial completion requirements.
Which time management principle suggests categorizing tasks by urgency and importance to prioritize scheduling decisions?
Answer: The Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix divides tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance, helping schedulers focus on what matters most.
In earned value analysis, the formula for Estimate at Completion (EAC) assuming current CPI performance will continue is:
Answer: BAC / CPI
EAC = BAC / CPI assumes future work will be performed at the same efficiency as work to date.
A scheduler is asked to compress the schedule by adding more workers to a task that is already running late. Adding more people initially reduces duration but then begins to increase it due to coordination overhead. This phenomenon is known as:
Answer: Brooks' Law
Brooks' Law states that adding manpower to a late software (or complex) project makes it later due to ramp-up time and communication overhead.
Which schedule format is MOST useful for communicating high-level milestone dates to executive stakeholders?
Answer: Milestone schedule
A milestone schedule summarizes key deliverables and dates, providing executives the high-level visibility they need without overwhelming detail.
When performing schedule risk analysis, a Monte Carlo simulation outputs a probability distribution. A scheduler reports the P80 date. This means:
Answer: 80% of simulation runs finished on or before that date
The P80 date is the date by which 80% of all simulation iterations completed, representing a high-confidence schedule target.