MAN 4583 EXAM 2 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is a Project Network - ANS 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? - ANS scheduling labor and
equipment
communication
project's duration
budgeting cash flow
Identifies critical activities
What is an activity? - ANS An element of the project that requires time.
What is a merge activity? - ANS An activity that has two or more preceding activities on
which it depends.
What is a burst activity? - ANS 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? - ANS Activities that can occur independently and, if
desired, not at the same time.
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,What is a path? - ANS a sequence of connected, dependent activities.
What is a critical path? - ANS 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? - ANS a point in time when an activity is started
or completed. It does not consume time.
What are the two different approaches? - ANS Activity-on-Node (AON) & Activity-on-Arrow
(AOA)
What is an Activity-on-Node (AON)? - ANS It uses a node to depict an activity
What is an Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)? - ANS It uses an arrow to depict an activity
What are the basic rules to follow in developing project networks? - ANS 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? - ANS Add activity times along each path in the
network (ES + Duration = EF).
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, 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? - ANS 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)? - ANS 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? - ANS The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the
project is initiated.
How do you determine the critical path with free slack? - ANS The critical path is the network
path(s) that has (have) the least slack in common.
What are the practical considerations for networking? - ANS Network Logic Errors
Activity Numbering
Use of Computers to Develop Networks
Calendar Dates
What is laddering? - ANS Activities are broken into segments so the following activity can
begin sooner and not delay the work.
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ANSWERS
What is a Project Network - ANS 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? - ANS scheduling labor and
equipment
communication
project's duration
budgeting cash flow
Identifies critical activities
What is an activity? - ANS An element of the project that requires time.
What is a merge activity? - ANS An activity that has two or more preceding activities on
which it depends.
What is a burst activity? - ANS 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? - ANS Activities that can occur independently and, if
desired, not at the same time.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What is a path? - ANS a sequence of connected, dependent activities.
What is a critical path? - ANS 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? - ANS a point in time when an activity is started
or completed. It does not consume time.
What are the two different approaches? - ANS Activity-on-Node (AON) & Activity-on-Arrow
(AOA)
What is an Activity-on-Node (AON)? - ANS It uses a node to depict an activity
What is an Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)? - ANS It uses an arrow to depict an activity
What are the basic rules to follow in developing project networks? - ANS 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? - ANS Add activity times along each path in the
network (ES + Duration = EF).
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, 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? - ANS 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)? - ANS 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? - ANS The likelihood the original critical path(s) will change once the
project is initiated.
How do you determine the critical path with free slack? - ANS The critical path is the network
path(s) that has (have) the least slack in common.
What are the practical considerations for networking? - ANS Network Logic Errors
Activity Numbering
Use of Computers to Develop Networks
Calendar Dates
What is laddering? - ANS Activities are broken into segments so the following activity can
begin sooner and not delay the work.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
