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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Project Management: Planning, Execution, Evaluation and Control

Assignment- 3
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ
Number of questions: 10 Total mark: 8x1+2x3 = 14
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QUESTION 1:
Scott has just been given a project that has a specific completion date. After a discussion with top
management, he finds that while the date is important the cost is more important and a slip in
delivery would be acceptable if required to meet the cost targets. The completion date is best
classified as

a. Constrained.
b. Reduced.
c. Accepted.
d. Limited.
e. Optional.

Correct Answer: c

Justification: The completion date is classified as "accepted" because, while it is important, it

can be adjusted if necessary to meet cost targets. This reflects the idea that the date is a
consideration but not rigidly fixed if it impacts the ability to meet cost goals.

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QUESTION 2:
The _________ is used to assist in making project trade-offs among schedule, budget, and
performance objectives.

a. Responsibility matrix
b. Work breakdown structure
c. Project priority matrix
d. Work package
e. Criterion matrix

Correct Answer: c
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Justification: The project priority matrix helps prioritize and balance the trade-offs between
different project constraints such as schedule, budget, and performance. It aids in decision-
making by clarifying which aspects are most critical and how to adjust one constraint in relation
to others.

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QUESTION 3:
All of the following are ways the WBS helps in managing projects EXCEPT

a. With cost and time estimates the WBS makes it possible to plan, schedule and budget the
project.
b. It provides management with information appropriate to each level.
c. Can be used to define communication channels.
d. Allows the project manager to establish the overall objective of the project.
e. As it is developed, organizational units and individuals can be assigned responsibility of
work packages.

Correct Answer: d

Justification: The WBS is primarily used for planning, scheduling, budgeting, defining
communication channels, and assigning responsibilities. However, the overall objective of the
project is typically established before the WBS is developed, rather than being set by the WBS
itself.

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QUESTION 4:
What is the lowest level of decomposition in the Work Breakdown Structure called?
a. Work package
b. Deliverable
c. Sub-deliverable
d. Project.

Correct Answer: a

Justification: In the WBS, work packages represent the most granular level of task
decomposition. They are specific, manageable units of work that are used to allocate resources,
estimate costs, and track progress.
______________________________________________________________________________
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QUESTION 5:
What is the total amount budgeted for design costs in this time-phased budget?

Activity January February March April

Survey 8,000
Design 5,250 4,500
Dirt 6,700
Foundation 12,550
Framing 37,250
Plumb 7,800
Wire 5,500

a. $5,250
b. $4,500
c. $9,750
d. $12,550

Correct Answer: c

Justification: Designed budget = 5250 + 4500 = 9750

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QUESTION 6:
Which of the following is a good condition for top-down estimating?

a. Cost and time important

b. Fixed price contract
c. Customer wants details
d. Internal, small project
e. Large scale project involving several subcontractors

Correct Answer: d
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Justification: Top-down estimating is best suited for internal, small projects where there is less
complexity and less need for detailed breakdowns. In such projects, the overall estimate can be
made based on experience or historical data without needing extensive detailed analysis. For
larger, more complex projects, more detailed estimating methods would typically be required.

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QUESTION 7:
Which of the following would be the best method for projects where the final product is not
known and the uncertainty is very large?

a. Function point
b. Template
c. Learning curve
d. Phase estimating
e. Apportion

Correct Answer: d

Justification: Phase estimating involves breaking the project into phases or stages and making
estimates for each phase as more information becomes available. This method is particularly
useful when dealing with high uncertainty, as it allows for adjustments and refinements as the
project progresses and more details become known.

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QUESTION 8:
The salary of the project manager would be an example of what type of cost found in a project?

a. Labor
b. Direct
c. Direct project overhead
d. General and administrative overhead
e. Salary

Correct Answer: c

Justification: The salary of the project manager is typically considered a direct project overhead
cost because it is associated with managing the project but is not directly tied to a specific project
task or deliverable. It falls under overhead costs that are necessary for the project but not directly
assignable to a specific cost object.
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(Q9 and Q10 carry 3 marks each)

QUESTION 9:
What is the early start time for Activity G given the activity times and precedence requirements
shown in the table?

Activity Time Predecessor

A 5 --
B 7 --
C 8 A
D 7 A
E 4 B
F 8 C, D
G 9 E, F
H 7 G

a. 22
b. 21
c. 20
d. 19

Correct Answer: b

Justification: Calculate Early Finish Times for Each Activity:

Activity A: EF = ES + Duration = 0 + 5 = 5
Activity B: EF = ES + Duration = 0 + 7 = 7
Activity C: EF = ES (of A) + Duration = 5 + 8 = 13
Activity D: EF = ES (of A) + Duration = 5 + 7 = 12
Activity E: EF = ES (of B) + Duration = 7 + 4 = 11
Activity F: EF = Max (EF of C, EF of D) + Duration = Max (13, 12) + 8 = 21
Determine the Early Start Time for Activity G:
Activity G: Starts after both E and F, so:
ES (for G) = Max (EF of E, EF of F) = Max (11, 21) = 21
___________________________________________________________________________
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QUESTION 10
The AOA network of a small project is shown below, wherein the alphabet is the activity and numeric
value is the duration.

Find out the critical path for the above network.

a. a-c-g
b. a-d-f-g
c. a-d-h-i
d. b-e-f-g
e. b-e-h-i

Correct Answer: d

Justification: Identify all possible paths and their durations:

Path a - c - g: a (4) + c (3) + g (6) = 4 + 3 + 6 = 13
Path a - d - f - g: a (4) + d (5) + f (2) + g (6) = 4 + 5 + 2 + 6 = 17
Path a - d - h - i: a (4) + d (5) + h (1) + i (3) = 4 + 5 + 1 + 3 = 13
Path b - e - f - g: b (5) + e (7) + f (2) + g (6) = 5 + 7 + 2 + 6 = 20
Path b - e - h - i: b (5) + e (7) + h (1) + i (3) = 5 + 7 + 1 + 3 = 16

Comparing the total durations of all paths, the longest path is Path b - e - f - g with a duration of
20. Thus, the critical path for the given network is:
(d): b - e - f - g