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File: ch09, Chapter 9: Resource Allocation
Revised: Dwayne Whitten Sep 2008
Multiple Choice
1. In CPM, two activity times and two ________ are specified.
a) standard deviations
b) statistical variances
c) costs
d) contingency plans
Ans: c
Response: Refer to section 9.1, critical path method crashing a project.
Level: intermediate
2. If deterministic time estimates are used and if project ________ are firm, there is a high
likelihood that it will be necessary to crash the last few activities of most projects.
a) Deliverables
b) Cost objectives
c) Deadlines
d) Budgets
Ans: c
Response: Refer to section 9.1, critical path method crashing a project.
Level: easy
3. This schedule compression technique expedites a project.
a) Crashing
b) Leading
c) Fast-tracking
d) Blitzing
Ans: c
Response: Refer to section 9.1, fast-tracking.
Level: easy
4. The ________ approach to constrained resource scheduling problems is the only feasible
method of attacking the large, nonlinear, complex problems that tend to occur in the real world of
project management.
a) Goal programming
b) Heuristic
c) Optimization modeling
d) Linear programming
Ans: b
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: easy
5. The ________ heuristic provides a general solution for critical path and time. It is usually the
default rule for a schedule.
a) as soon as possible
b) as late as possible
c) Minimum slack first
d) Shortest task first
Ans: a
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: easy
Short Answer
6. The standard practice with PERT/CPM is to estimate activity times under the assumption of
resource loadings that are ________.
Ans: normal.
Response: Refer to section 9.1, critical path method crashing a project.
Level: easy
7. When using heuristic solutions to schedule, ___________ will always take precedence.
Ans: technological necessities.
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: easy
8. The usual purpose of the ________ scheduling heuristic is to delay cash outflows as long as
possible.
Ans: as late as possible
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: intermediate
9. A project task is said to be system constrained if it requires a fixed amount of ________ and
known quantities of resources.
Ans: time
Response: Refer to section 9.2, the resource allocation problem.
Level: intermediate
10. Resource leveling aims to minimize the period-by-period variations in resource loading by
shifting tasks within their ________.
Ans: slack allowances
Response: Refer to section 9.4, resource leveling.
Level: intermediate
True/False
11. The formula for computing the cost/time slope for each activity that can be crashed is (Crash
cost - normal cost) / (crash time - normal time).
Ans: True
Response: Refer to section 9.1, critical path method crashing a project.
Level: intermediate
12. Most heuristic solution methods start with the master schedule and analyze resource usage
period by period, resource by resource.
Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: intermediate
13. One of the most common priority rules is the longest task first.
Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 9.5, heuristic methods.
Level: intermediate
14. A project is said to be overdetermined if all three variables --- time, cost, and specifications -- have been fixed by the project sponsor.
Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 9.2, the resource allocation problem. In any three-variable equation,
only two of the quantities can be fixed.
Level: easy
15. Resource leveling describes the amounts of individual resources an existing schedule requires
during specific time periods.
Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 9.3, resource loading.
Level: easy
16. While standard practice and rules of thumb are sufficient for estimating the resource
needs for normal progress, careful planning is critical when attempting to expedite
a project.
Ans: True
Response: Refer to section 9.1
Level: easy
17. When crashing a project, a change in technology with which something is done will change.
In economics terms, this is a change in the “production function.”
Ans: True
Response: Refer to section 9.1
Level: intermediate
18. Resource loading aims to minimize the period-by-period variations in resource loading by
shifting tasks within their slack allowances.
Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 9.3 (resource leveling aims…..)
Level: easy