PMI PMI-SP - PMI Scheduling Professional

Terri is using the critical path method in this example. The question acknowledges that Terri has identified float and the critical path, but it makes no mention of the availability of project resources - something the critical chain method focuses on. Critical Path Method, abbreviated CPM, or Critical Path Analysis, is a mathematically based algorithm for scheduling a set of project activities. It is an important tool for effective project management. It provides the following benefits: Provides the graphical view of the project. Predicts the time required to complete the project. Shows which activities are critical to maintain the schedule and which are not. CPM models the activities and events of a project as a network. Activities are depicted as nodes on the network, and events that signify the beginning or ending of activities are depicted as arcs or lines between the nodes.

Answer option A is incorrect. The question does not indicate that Terri is concerned with the availability of project resources - as she would be if she were using the critical chain method.

Answer option B is incorrect. The risk analysis method is not a valid scheduling technique.

Answer option C is incorrect. Activity on the arrow method is not being described in this question.

The cost variance is the earned value minus the actual costs. In this project, you have spent less than what the project is worth, so the project has a positive cost variance. Cost variance (CV) is a measure of cost performance on a project. The variance notifies if costs are higher than budgeted or lower than budgeted. The cost variance is calculated based on the following formula: CV = Earned Value (EV) - Actual Cost (AC) A positive value means that spending is less than budgeted, whereas a negative value indicates that costs are higher than originally planned for the project.

Answer option B is incorrect. -$111,750 is the cost variance of the project.

Answer option A is incorrect. This is the variance at completion for the project.

Answer option C is incorrect. There is a cost variance, albeit a positive one.

Andy and his project team are creating the stakeholder management strategy. The goal is to identify a method to gain support through communications for the project. The stakeholder management strategy is an approach to raise the support and decrease negative impacts of stakeholders during the complete project life cycle. It consists of the following essential elements: Key stakeholders who can significantly impact the project Level of participation in the project desired for each identified stakeholder Stakeholder groups and their management

Answer option B is incorrect. The stakeholder register contains the stakeholder's identification information, assessment information, and stakeholder classification, but not the management strategy.

Answer option A is incorrect. Stakeholder assessment information is part of the stakeholder register.

Answer option C is incorrect. The communications management plan defines how and when communication will happen.

A scheduler schedules the constraints for the project into phases with respect to the time and resources available. He can be hired from outside a company, or from within a company. The basic roles of a scheduler are as follows: Feasibility Planning: A scheduler is the time management expert who paints a picture of the project. He develops a strategy for delivery and to gain consensus. Execution Schedule: A scheduler works with the project team to optimize and refine the schedule until an agreed schedule has been developed. Performance Control: A schedule is maintained by the scheduler who optimizes outcomes and instructs the project team on their presentation. It is important that the scheduler be aware of the changes and trends related to the project delivery.

Answer option C is incorrect. This is the skill possessed by the project manager.

The schedule variance can be found by subtracting the planned value from the earned value. In this instance, it is

EV = (0.45 * 5,400,000)

= 2,430,000

PV = (0.50 * 5,400,000)

= 2,700,000

SV = EV - PV

= 2,430,000 - 2,700,000

= - $270,000

Schedule variance (SV) is a measure of schedule performance on a project. The variance notifies that the schedule is ahead or behind what was planned for this period in time. The schedule variance is calculated based on the following formula: SV = Earned Value (EV) - Planned Value (PV) If the resulting schedule is negative, it indicates that the project is behind schedule. A value greater than 0 shows that the project is ahead of the planned schedule. A value of 0 indicates that the project is right on target.

This is an example of decomposition. Frank and the project team are subdividing the work packages into smaller, more manageable units called activities. The tools and techniques used in defining the activity process are as follows: Decomposition: It is used to further divide the project work package into a more smaller and convenient form called activities. Rolling Wave Planning: It is a form of progressive elaboration planning where the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail and future work is planned at a higher level of WBS. Templates: It is an activity list or a part of the activity list taken from the previous project and used in a new project. Expert Judgement: The skilled members in a project team or other experts who develop project scope statements can help provide knowledge in defining activities.

A schedule baseline provides a method to track project progress during project execution against what was planned. What is schedule baseline? Schedule baseline is a project schedule used in measuring project progress. It helps provide a comparison with the actual progress of work against the schedule and to determine if performance to date is within acceptable parameters. Any change caused by change in scope of the project invalidates the original schedule and requires a new baseline schedule.

Answer options D, A, and B are incorrect. A detailed project budget, team members profile, and benefit-cost ratio will not help you track project progress. What is BCR? A benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is an indicator, used in the formal discipline of cost-benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also expressed in monetary terms. All benefits and costs should be expressed in discounted present values. For e.g., a BCR of $3.8 indicates a payback of $3.8 for each dollar expended.

Your schedule variance is -$33,750. You can find this by using the formula earned value-minus planned.

Answer option C is incorrect. Cost is not the largest variance in the project.

Answer option A is incorrect. Cost is not the largest variance in the project (it is -$8,000).

Answer option D is incorrect. -$20,000 is the variance at completion for the project.

PERT uses the formula of (O+4M+P)/6 to predict the duration of the project activities and the overall project schedule. Three-point estimate is a way to enhance the accuracy of activity duration estimates. This concept is originated with the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). PERT charts the following three estimates: Most likely (TM): The duration of activity based on realistic factors such as resources assigned, interruptions, etc. Optimistic (TO): The activity duration based on the best-case scenario Pessimistic (TP): The activity duration based on the worst-case scenario The expected (TE) activity duration is a weighted average of these three estimates: TE = (TO + 4TM + TP) / 6 Duration estimates based on the above equations (sometimes simple average of the three estimates is also used) provide more accuracy.

Answer option A is incorrect. This is not a valid formula.

Answer option D is incorrect. This almost describes the three-point estimate, but does not answer the question about PERT.

Answer option B is incorrect. This is the formula for the three-point estimate. Note the PERT, while similar, uses 4M and divides the result by six factors.

A project is considered successfully completed when the stakeholder needs and expectations are met or exceeded. What is a project? In project management a project consists of a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result. An other definition is a management environment that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified business case. Project have the following characteristics: They are unique. They are temporary in nature and have a definite beginning and ending date. They are completed when the project goals are achieved. Their success is measured by evaluating whether they meet or exceed expectations of the stakeholders. Project objectives define target status at the end of the project, reaching of which is considered necessary for the achievement of planned benefits. A project should be specific, measurable achievement, achievable, realistic, time bounded, ethical and recorded. The evaluation (measurement) occurs at the project closure. However a continuous guard on the project progress should be kept by monitoring and evaluating. Who are project stakeholders? Project stakeholders are those entities within or without an organization, which: Sponsor a project or, Have an interest or a gain upon a successful completion of a project. Examples of project stakeholders include the customer, the user group, the project manager, the development team, the testers, etc. Stakeholders are anyone who has an interest in the project. Project stakeholders are individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the project, or whose interests may be affected as a result of project execution or project completion. They may also exert influence over the project's objectives and outcomes. The project management team must identify the stakeholders, determine their requirements and expectations, and, to the extent possible, manage their influence in relation to the requirements to ensure a successful project.

Answer options D, C, and B are incorrect. These events are not the measurement of the project's success.