MAN 4583 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
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
What is laddering? - Answers - Activities are broken into segments so the following
activity can begin sooner and not delay the work.
What are lags? - Answers - The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be
delayed to begin or end.
ANSWERS
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
What is laddering? - Answers - Activities are broken into segments so the following
activity can begin sooner and not delay the work.
What are lags? - Answers - The minimum amount of time a dependent activity must be
delayed to begin or end.
