What is a Project Network - Answers A flow chart that graphically depicts the sequence,
interdependencies, and start and finish times of the project job plan of activities that is the critical path
through the network.
What are some of the things to be considered in the critical path? - Answers scheduling labor and
equipment
communication
project's duration
budgeting cash flow
Identifies critical activities
What is an activity? - Answers An element of the project that requires time.
What is a merge activity? - Answers An activity that has two or more preceding activities on which it
depends.
What is a burst activity? - Answers An activity that has more than one activity immediately following it
(more than one dependency arrow flowing from it).
What is a parallel (concurrent) activity? - Answers Activities that can occur independently and, if desired,
not at the same time.
What is a path? - Answers a sequence of connected, dependent activities.
What is a critical path? - Answers the longest path through the activity network that allows for the
completion of all project-related activities; the shortest expected time in which the entire project can be
completed. Delays on the critical path will delay completion of the entire project.
What is an event? - Answers a point in time when an activity is started
or completed. It does not consume time.
What are the two different approaches? - Answers Activity-on-Node (AON) & Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)
What is an Activity-on-Node (AON)? - Answers It uses a node to depict an activity
What is an Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)? - Answers It uses an arrow to depict an activity
What are the basic rules to follow in developing project networks? - Answers 1. Flow from left to right
2. An activity cannot begin until all preceding connected activities are complete
, 3. Arrows indicate precedence and flow
and can cross over each other.
4. Each activity must have a unique identify number that is greater than any of its predecessor activities.
5. Looping is not allowed.
6. Conditional statements are not allowed.
7. Use common start and stop nodes.
What is the forward pass computation? - Answers Add activity times along each path in the network (ES
+ Duration = EF).
Carry the early finish (EF) to the next activity where it becomes its early start (ES) unless...
The next succeeding activity is a merge activity, in which case the largest EF of all preceding activities is
selected.
What is the backward pass computation? - Answers Subtract activity times along each path in the
network (LF - Duration = LS).
Carry the late start (LS) to the next activity where it becomes its late finish (LF) unless
The next succeeding activity is a burst activity, in which case the smallest LF of all preceding activities is
selected.
What is free slack (float)? - Answers Is the amount of time an activity can be delayed after the start of a
longer parallel activity or activities.
Is how long an activity can exceed its early finish date without affecting early start dates of any
successor(s).
Allows flexibility in scheduling scarce resources.
What is sensitivity? - Answers The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the project is
initiated.
How do you determine the critical path with free slack? - Answers The critical path is the network
path(s) that has (have) the least slack in common.
What are the practical considerations for networking? - Answers Network Logic Errors
Activity Numbering
Use of Computers to Develop Networks
Calendar Dates