OMIS 635 Test 2
What is resource smoothing (or leveling)? - correct answer ✔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
What is resource-constrained scheduling? - correct answer ✔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
What are technical or logic constraints? - correct answer ✔Constraints
related to the networked sequence in which project activities must occur
What are physical constraints? - correct answer ✔Activities that cannot occur
in parallel or are affected by contractual or environmental conditions
What are resource constraints? - correct answer ✔The absence, shortage,
or unique interrelationship and interaction characteristics of resources that
require a particular sequencing of project activities
People, materials, equipment
What are the types of project constraints? - correct answer ✔-Technical or
logic
-Physical
-Resource
How do you determine the classification of a problem? - correct answer
✔Using a priority matrix will help determine if the project is time or resource
constrained.
,What is a time-constrained project? - correct answer ✔-Must be completed
by an imposed date
-Require use of leveling techniques that focus
on balancing or smoothing resource demands.
-Use positive slack (delaying noncritical activities) to manage resource
utilization over the duration
of the project.
-Time is fixed, resources are flexible: additional resources are required to
ensure project meets schedule.
What is resource-constrained project? - correct answer ✔-Is one in which the
level of resources available cannot be exceeded.
-Resources are fixed, time is flexible: inadequate resources
will delay the project.
What are limiting assumptions? - correct answer ✔-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
What are risk assumptions? - correct answer ✔-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
What are the advantages of resource demand leveling techniques for time-
constrained projects? - correct answer ✔-Peak resource demands are
reduced
-Resources over the life of the project are reduced
-Fluctuation in resource demand is minimized.
What are the disadvantages of resource demand leveling techniques for time-
constrained projects? - correct answer ✔-Loss of flexibility that occurs from
reducing slack
-Increases in the criticality of all activities
What are the order of heuristics
(rules-of-thumb)? - correct answer ✔1) Minimum slack
2) Smallest (least) duration
3) Lowest activity identification number
What is an EMR project? - correct answer ✔The development of a handheld
electronic medical reference guide to be used by emergency medical
technicians and paramedics
, What is the problem with EMR projects? - correct answer ✔There are only
eight design engineers who can be assigned to the project due to a shortage
of design engineers and commitments to other projects.
What are the impacts of resource-constrained scheduling? - correct answer
✔-Reduces slack; 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
-Activities with slack may become critical
What is splitting? - correct answer ✔-A scheduling technique for creating 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.
-Is feasible when startup and shutdown costs are low.
-Is considered the major reason why projects fail to meet schedule.
What are the benefits of scheduling resources? - correct answer ✔-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
What is resource smoothing (or leveling)? - correct answer ✔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
What is resource-constrained scheduling? - correct answer ✔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
What are technical or logic constraints? - correct answer ✔Constraints
related to the networked sequence in which project activities must occur
What are physical constraints? - correct answer ✔Activities that cannot occur
in parallel or are affected by contractual or environmental conditions
What are resource constraints? - correct answer ✔The absence, shortage,
or unique interrelationship and interaction characteristics of resources that
require a particular sequencing of project activities
People, materials, equipment
What are the types of project constraints? - correct answer ✔-Technical or
logic
-Physical
-Resource
How do you determine the classification of a problem? - correct answer
✔Using a priority matrix will help determine if the project is time or resource
constrained.
,What is a time-constrained project? - correct answer ✔-Must be completed
by an imposed date
-Require use of leveling techniques that focus
on balancing or smoothing resource demands.
-Use positive slack (delaying noncritical activities) to manage resource
utilization over the duration
of the project.
-Time is fixed, resources are flexible: additional resources are required to
ensure project meets schedule.
What is resource-constrained project? - correct answer ✔-Is one in which the
level of resources available cannot be exceeded.
-Resources are fixed, time is flexible: inadequate resources
will delay the project.
What are limiting assumptions? - correct answer ✔-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
What are risk assumptions? - correct answer ✔-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
What are the advantages of resource demand leveling techniques for time-
constrained projects? - correct answer ✔-Peak resource demands are
reduced
-Resources over the life of the project are reduced
-Fluctuation in resource demand is minimized.
What are the disadvantages of resource demand leveling techniques for time-
constrained projects? - correct answer ✔-Loss of flexibility that occurs from
reducing slack
-Increases in the criticality of all activities
What are the order of heuristics
(rules-of-thumb)? - correct answer ✔1) Minimum slack
2) Smallest (least) duration
3) Lowest activity identification number
What is an EMR project? - correct answer ✔The development of a handheld
electronic medical reference guide to be used by emergency medical
technicians and paramedics
, What is the problem with EMR projects? - correct answer ✔There are only
eight design engineers who can be assigned to the project due to a shortage
of design engineers and commitments to other projects.
What are the impacts of resource-constrained scheduling? - correct answer
✔-Reduces slack; 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
-Activities with slack may become critical
What is splitting? - correct answer ✔-A scheduling technique for creating 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.
-Is feasible when startup and shutdown costs are low.
-Is considered the major reason why projects fail to meet schedule.
What are the benefits of scheduling resources? - correct answer ✔-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
