Project Management, 2e (Pinto)Chapter 12 Resource Management

12.1 True/False

1) There is, for almost all projects, usually a dominant constraint that serves as the final arbiter of project decisions.Answer: TRUEDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

2) In a resource constrained project, the work must be finished by a certain time, or date, as efficiently as possible.Answer: FALSEDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

3) All that is needed to create a resource loading calendar is the work breakdown structure and the activity network.Answer: FALSEDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

4) Because resource management is typically a multivariate, combinatorial problem (i.e., on that is characterized by multiple solutions involving literally dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of activity variables) truly correct answers are not possible.Answer: FALSEDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

5) A resource loading table is created through identifying the project activities and their resources required to completion and applying this information to the project schedule baseline.Answer: TRUEDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective 6) If resources have been over-allocated, the loading table must be reconfigured to eliminate resource contention points. The project manager can focus solely on the original point of contention since the activities in a project are separate entities.Answer: FALSEDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

7) Resource loading charts are used to display the amount of resources required as a function of time on a graph.

Answer: TRUEDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

8) If an activity can be split, only the functional portion of the original activity needs to be accomplished for the project to be fully completed.Answer: FALSEDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

9) The problem of resource underutilization that a project manager faces when managing a single project disappears in the multi-project environment.Answer: FALSEDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

10) In-process inventory represents the amount of work waiting to be completed but delayed due to unavailable resources.Answer: TRUEDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

12.2 Fill in the Blank

1) The __________ is primarily limited by availability of a type of labor or productive asset but may also contain some activities of work package elements that must be finished by a certain date.Answer: mixed-constraint projectDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective2) The best method for establishing the existence of resource conflicts across project activities uses __________ to analyze project resources against scheduled activities over the project's baseline schedule.Answer: resource loading chartsDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

3) The concept of __________ refers to the amounts of individual resources that a schedule requires during specific time periods.Answer: resource loadingDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

4) The work breakdown structure and activity networks are needed to create a resource __________ or __________.

Answer: loading form, usage calendarDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

5) __________ is the process that addresses the complex challenges of project constraints as to minimize the effects of resource demands across the project's life cycle.Answer: Resource leveling (resource smoothing)Diff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

6) One heuristic for prioritizing resource allocation is to apply resources to activities with the smallest __________, which proponents say results in the smallest schedule slippage in the overall project.Answer: slackDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

7) As resource leveling proceeds, a(n) __________ commonly occurs when the resource schedule is reworked to eliminate sources of resource conflict.Answer: ripple effectDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective8) __________ are used to display the amount of resources required as a function of time on a graph.Answer: Resource loading chartsDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

9) __________ an activity means interrupting the continuous stream of work on an activity at some midpoint in its development process and applying that resource to another activity for some time period before returning the resource to complete the original task.Answer: SplittingDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

10) Schedule slippage often results in financial penalties, or __________, for each day a project is delayed past the contracted delivery date.Answer: liquidated damagesDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

12.3 Multiple Choice

1) A project that must be finished by December 31st is:A) time-constrained.B) resource-constrained.C) mix-constrained.D) capacity-constrained.Answer: ADiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

2) The One Shovel Construction Company is hired by the City of Edmond to lay sewer pipe from the east end of town to the west end of town. While the crew would like to begin at both ends simultaneously and have a dramatic ceremony when both ends meet, they find themselves with a bit of a:A) time constraint.B) resource constraint.C) mixed constraint.D) partial network.Answer: BDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective3) The assistant professor frantically prepared his tenure and promotion dossier for the personnel committee. The deadline loomed and he had several other things to accomplish�deadlines for papers and key correspondence that demanded replies. By his reckoning, he probably didn't have enough toner, paper, or computing time available to accomplish all that he had left to do. His project is unfortunately a:A) time constrained one.B) resource constrained one.C) mix-constrained one.D) personally constrained one.Answer: CDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

4) The best method for establishing the existence of resource conflicts across project activities uses:A) Gantt charts.B) network diagrams.C) Pareto diagrams.D) resource loading charts.Answer: DDiff: 1Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

5) The amounts of individual resources that a schedule requires during specific time periods is referred to as the resource's:A) loading.B) capacity.C) constraint.D) drag

Answer: ADiff: 1Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

6) A resource loading form is also known as a(n):A) load schedule.B) resource usage calendar.C) activity resource schedule.D) network resource profile.Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective7) A resource loading form can be generated once you have developed:A) the activity network and productivity profile.B) the work breakdown structure and the project budget.C) the activity network and the work breakdown structure.D) the project budget and the productivity profile.Answer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

8) Which of the following would NOT typically be displayed in a resource loading table?A) the project team membersB) the tasks the project team members have been assignedC) the time the activities are expected to takeD) the expenses allocated to the activitiesAnswer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

9) Use the resource loading table to determine which of the Yaki sisters is over-allocated.

Resource Work Details 23-Oct 30-OctSuki 64 hrs Work 32h 32hA 16 hrs Work 16hC 24 hrs Work 16h 8hD 24 hrs Work 24hTerri 40 hrs Work 16h 16h 8hB 24 hrs Work 16h 8hE 16 hrs Work 8h 8h

A) SukiB) TerriC) BothD) Can't be determined from the information provided.Answer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: Definition

AACSB Tag: Reflective10) The process that addresses the complex challenges of project constraints is known as:A) TOC.B) resource leveling.C) constraint scheduling.D) resource scheduling.Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

11) Which of these statements about resource management is best?A) A mathematically optimal solution is almost always attainable and should be pursued.B) The project manager should level resources as to maximize fluctuations from time period to time period.C) A common approach to analyzing resource-leveling problems is to apply heuristics.D) Resource management is usually a univariate, combinatorial problem.Answer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

12) The project described in the table uses the same resource for activities A, B, C, and D. Which activity gets first use of this resource if we assign the resource based on the activity with the smallest amount of slack? Activity Duration Predecessor WBS IDW 4 -- 12A 3 W 16B 4 W 15C 5 W 13D 6 W 14E 1 B 17Z 7 A,E,C,D 18

A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 13) The project described in the table uses the same resource for activities A, B, C, and D. Which activity gets first use of this resource if we assign the resource based on the activity with the shortest duration? Activity Duration Predecessor WBS IDW 4 -- 12A 3 W 16B 4 W 15C 5 W 13

D 6 W 14E 1 B 17Z 7 A,E,C,D 18

A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: ADiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

14) The project described in the table uses the same resource for activities A, B, C, and D. Which activity gets first use of this resource if we assign the resource based on the activity with the greatest number of successor tasks? Activity Duration Predecessor WBS IDW 4 -- 12A 3 W 16B 4 W 15C 5 W 13D 6 W 14E 1 B 17Z 7 A,E,C,D 18

A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: BDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 15) The project described in the table uses the same resource for activities A, B, C, and D. Which activity gets first use of this resource if we assign the resource based on the activity with the lowest activity identification number? Activity Duration Predecessor WBS IDW 4 -- 12A 3 W 16B 4 W 15C 5 W 13D 6 W 14E 1 B 17Z 7 A,E,C,D 18

A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: CDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

16) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for activity D if a worker is expected to work half-time (four hours per day) on this project. Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 6 hoursB) 40 hoursC) 24 hoursD) 48 hoursAnswer: CDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 17) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for this project if a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project. Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 36 hoursB) 40 hoursC) 64 hoursD) 128 hoursAnswer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

18) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for this project on day 2 if a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project. Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 4 hoursB) 2 hoursC) 8 hoursD) 6 hours

Answer: ADiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 19) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for this project during week 1 if a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project. Assume that the project work is conducted on a 5-day-per-week basis. Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 40 hoursB) 20 hoursC) 28 hoursD) 36 hoursAnswer: BDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

20) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for this project during week 2 if a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project. Assume that the project work is conducted on a 5-day-per-week basis.

Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 30 hoursB) 20 hoursC) 40 hoursD) 36 hoursAnswer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 21) Use the project described in the table to determine the total resources required for this project on day 10 if a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project. Assume that the project work is conducted on a 5-day-per-week basis.

Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days A

C 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) 5 hoursB) 10 hoursC) 4 hoursD) 8 hoursAnswer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

22) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. Which week has the lowest resource usage?

Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) week 6B) week 2C) week 4D) week 3Answer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 23) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. Which week has the highest resource usage? Activity Duration PredecessorA 5 days --B 4 days AC 5 days AD 6 days BE 6 days C,DF 6 days E

A) week 6B) week 2C) week 4D) week 3Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

24) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. Which week has the highest resource usage? Activity Predecessor Hours per Day Time (Days)A -- 4 6B A 4 11C A 5 5D B 4 6E B 4 6F B 6 3G C,D 8 11H E,F 8 8J G,H 3 10K J 6 4

A) week 4B) week 5C) week 6D) week 7Answer: CDiff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 25) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5 day per week basis. Which week has the lowest resource usage? Activity Predecessor Hours per Day Time (Days)A -- 4 6B A 4 11C A 5 5D B 4 6E B 4 6F B 6 3G C,D 8 11H E,F 8 8J G,H 3 10K J 6 4

A) week 3B) week 2C) week 9D) week 8Answer: DDiff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 26) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. What is the total resource requirement for the project? Activity Predecessor Hours per Day Time (Days)A -- 4 6B A 4 11C A 5 5

D B 4 6E B 4 6F B 6 3G C,D 8 11H E,F 8 8J G,H 3 10K J 6 4

A) 365 hoursB) 335 hoursC) 320 hoursD) 310 hoursAnswer: ADiff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 27) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. What is the total resource requirement for activity G?

Activity Predecessor Hours per Day Time (Days)A -- 4 6B A 4 11C A 5 5D B 4 6E B 4 6F B 6 3G C,D 8 11H E,F 8 8J G,H 3 10K J 6 4

A) 22 hoursB) 88 hoursC) 44 hoursD) 132 hoursAnswer: BDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 28) Use the information in the table and assume that a worker is expected to devote half-time (four hours per day) to this project with work taking place on a 5-day-per-week basis. If the project manager is told that the total number of hours per week cannot exceed 48, what is the first week that some resource leveling must occur?

Activity Predecessor Hours per Day Time (Days)A -- 4 6B A 4 11C A 5 5D B 4 6E B 4 6F B 6 3G C,D 8 11H E,F 8 8J G,H 3 10

K J 6 4

A) week 2B) week 6C) week 4D) week 5Answer: CDiff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

29) A project consisting of six activities is represented in the resource loading table shown below. There is a limit of 12 hours time spent on this project for any given day. What activities are involved in the first resource problem in this schedule?

Act.123456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21A 4 4 4 4B 4 4 4 4 44 4 4 4 4 4C 5 5 5 5 5D4 4 4 4 4 4E4 4 4 4 4 4F6 6 6

A) Activities A, B, and CB) Activities B, C, and DC) Activities C, D, and ED) Activities D, E, and FAnswer: DDiff: 1Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills30) A project consisting of six activities is represented in the resource loading table shown below. There is a limit of 12 hours time spent on this project for any given day. Which activity should be left alone if at all possible in the adjustment process among the candidates?

Act.12345

6789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21A 4 4 4 4B 4 4 4 4 44 4 4 4 4 4C 5 5 5 5 5D4 4 4 4 4 4E4 4 4 4 4F6 6 6

A) Activity DB) Activity CC) Activity FD) Activity EAnswer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

31) A resource loading chart displays:A) the amount of time needed as a function of resource limits.B) the amount of resources required as a function of time.C) the amount of time needed as a function of money.D) the amount of resources needed as a function of money.Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

32) Splitting activities refers to:A) assigning the work to two or more workers.B) assigning the work to two or more days.C) starting an activity, interrupting it to use a resource elsewhere, and then returning to work on the activity.D) breaking each non-critical activity into two or more components and subdividing the resources they use by a similar divisor.Answer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 33) Use this resource load chart to determine which activity uses the fewest resources. A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: DDiff: 2

Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 34) Use this resource load chart to determine which activity uses the greatest number of resources. A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 35) Use this resource load chart to determine which activity is the longest in duration. A) Activity AB) Activity BC) Activity CD) Activity DAnswer: BDiff: 1Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 36) The project represented by this resource load chart has a maximum limit of 6 units of resource activity in any day. The first activities that are strong candidates for shifting are: A) Activity AB) Activities B and CC) Activities D and ED) Activity E and FAnswer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 37) The project represented by this resource load chart has a maximum limit of 6 units of resource activity in any day. Which activity could be split to help the project team finish on time and meet the resource cap?

A) Activity AB) Activities B and CC) Activities D and ED) Activity E and FAnswer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

38) Penalty clauses for schedule slippage are sometimes referred to as:

A) liquidated damages.B) punitive damages.C) temporal assessments.D) late fees.Answer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective 39) The amount of work waiting to be completed but delayed due to unavailable resources is known as:A) resource utilization.B) in-process inventory.C) resource underutilization.D) efficiency.Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective

40) Excessive in-process inventory is often caused by:A) schedule slippage.B) over-ordering supplies.C) lack of available resources.D) too much labor.Answer: CDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

41) Consider the portfolio of projects described in the table. The resource requirements are in numbers of labor hours. The First in Line rule would begin work with project: Project Date Rec'd Date Due Resource 1 Resource 2 Resource 3A Apr 2006 Oct 2006 125 200 100B Feb 2006 Sep 2006 200 350 400C Mar 2006 Aug 2006 100 650 200D Jan 2006 Nov 2006 150 250 350

A) A.B) B.C) C.D) D.Answer: ADiff: 1Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 42) Consider the portfolio of projects described in the table. The resource requirements are in numbers of labor hours. The Greatest Resource Demand rule would begin work with project: Project Date Rec'd Date Due Resource 1 Resource 2 Resource 3

A Apr 2006 Oct 2006 200 350 400B Feb 2006 Sep 2006 125 200 100C Mar 2006 Aug 2006 100 650 200D Jan 2006 Nov 2006 150 250 350

A) A.B) B.C) C.D) D.Answer: ADiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

43) Consider the portfolio of projects described in the table. The resource requirements are in numbers of labor hours. The Greatest Resource Utilization rule would begin work with project: Project Date Rec'd Date Due Resource 1 Resource 2 Resource 3A Apr 2006 Oct 2006 200 0 400B Feb 2006 Sep 2006 150 200 170C Mar 2006 Aug 2006 0 250 200D Jan 2006 Nov 2006 150 100 0

A) A.B) B.C) C.D) D.Answer: BDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

44) The Minimum Late Finish Time rule stipulates that:A) the earliest late finishers are scheduled last.B) the latest early finishers are scheduled first.C) the earliest late finishers are scheduled first.D) the latest late finishers are scheduled first.Answer: CDiff: 1Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: DefinitionAACSB Tag: Reflective45) Mathematical programming is sometimes used to generate optimal solutions to resource constrained problems in a multi-project setting but suffers from:A) an inability to model project and activity due dates.B) resource substitution.C) resource constraints.D) problem complexity.Answer: DDiff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

12.4 Essay

1) What are the three types of constraints that projects face; provide examples and suggest ways to address these constraints?Answer: The three main types of constraints that a project manager faces are time constraints, resource constraints, and mixed constraints. Examples of each will vary.

In the time-constrained project, the work must be finished by a certain time, or date, as efficiently as possible. In the resource-constrained project, the work must not exceed some predetermined level of resource use within the organization. While the project is to be completed as rapidly as possible, speed is not the ultimate goal. The mixed-constraint project is primarily resource constrained but may contain some activities or work package elements that are time constrained to a greater degree.

Time constraints can be addressed by increasing the percentage of worked time until the due date by working overtime or on weekends and holidays. Increasing the labor pool through dedicated personnel or subcontractors or automating processes, buying more powerful or efficient equipment, or improving work methods can all help speed up a project. Resource constraints may be addressed by leveling a project or extending the time available. Mixed constraints can be addressed by some combination of these techniques.Diff: 2Section: 12.1 The Basics of Resource ConstraintsSkill: FactualAACSB Tag: Reflective

2) Use this activity precedence table to create a resource loading profile. Activity lengths are given in days and an 8-hour day is assumed.

Activity Time PredecessorA 2B 3 AC 6 BD 5 AE 3 CF 2 DG 2 E,F

Answer: The loading chart is as follows:

Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 16A 8 8B 8 8 8C 8 8 8 88 8D 8 8 8 8 8E8 8 8F 8 8G8 8Total 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 168 8 8 8 8 8 8

The loading profile shows the number of hours required for each of the 14 days of the project.

Diff: 2Section: 12.2 Resource LoadingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 3) Describe resource leveling�its objectives and the basic five-step technique to perform it.Answer: Resource leveling is the process that addresses the complex challenges of project constraints. With resource leveling we are required to develop procedures that minimize the effects of resource demands across the project's life cycle. Resource leveling has two objectives:- to determine the resource requirements so that they will be available at the right time, and- to allow each activity to be scheduled with the smoothest possible transition across usage levels.The basic steps necessary to produce a resource-leveled project schedule include the following:- Create a project activity network diagram.- From this diagram, create a table showing the resources required for each activity, the activity durations, and total float available.- Develop a time-phased resource loading table that shows the resources required to complete each activity, the activity early starts, and late finish times.- Identify any resource conflicts and begin to smooth the loading table using one or more of the heuristics for prioritizing resource assignment across activities.- Repeat the fourth step as often as necessary to eliminate the source of resource conflicts.Diff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

4) What are any four heuristics for prioritizing resource allocation to activities? Why would a project manager choose one above another?Answer: The decision rules for prioritizing resource allocation discussed in the text are:- activities with the smallest amount of slack,- activities with the smallest duration,- activities with the lowest identification number,- activities with the most successor tasks,- activities requiring the most resources.These decision rules can be applied more easily than searching for an optimal or near optimal solution given the complexity of a typical resource management problem. The first rule, prioritizing activities with the smallest slack has some support for resulting in the smallest overall schedule slippage. The fourth rule allows for completing the greatest number of tasks once the activity in question has been completed. There may be any number of individual circumstances why one rule is more appealing than another.Diff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

5) Create a resource loading table and perform resource leveling on the project composed of the activities in this table. Activities listed in the table are measured in the number of eight-hour days. The maximum amount of time used per day

is 16 hours. Activity Time PredecessorA 6 --B 1 --C 2 A, BD 4 --E 1 C, DF 1 EG 6 EH 4 FJ 4 FK 3 G, HL 5 J, KM 3 L

Answer: The initial resource loading table with early starts is shown below:

Act 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 26A 8 8 8 8 8 8B 8C 8 8D 8 8 8 8E 8F8G8 8 8 8 8 8H8 8 8 8J8 8 8 8K8 8 8L8 8 8 8 8M8 8 8Tot. 24 16 16 16 8 8 8 8 816 24 24 24 24 8 8 8 8 88 8 8 8 8 8 8

Day 1 is problematic, but activities B and D both have plenty of slack. Activity B has a late start of 5 and D has a late start of 4. Starting D on Day 2 changes the schedule the least and keeps the project under 16 hours per day until Day 11. Activities G, H, and J combine for 24 hours on Days 11-14; G has no slack, H has 1 day slack, and J has 4 days slack. Move J back to a Day 15 start time to resolve this constraint and the new loading table appears below:

Act 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 26A 8 8 8 8 8 8B 8C 8 8D 8 8 8 8E 8

F8G8 8 8 8 8 8H8 8 8 8J8 8 8 8K8 8 8L8 8 8 8 8M8 8 8Tot 16 16 16 16 16 8 8 8 816 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 88 8 8 8 8 8 8

Diff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

6) Sam and Dave have identified 9 activities that are required to complete their next project and developed a snazzy resource loading table. Since they each work 8 hours a day, they need your help to perform resource leveling on their project such that they can finish it by the close of business on Day 24. Activity float times are indicated by bracketed cells in the table. Times indicated in the table are in hours; the top row shows the day number of the project. The total project. The total resource time in any day cannot exceed 16 hours.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24Z 6 6 6 ]Y 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8]X 8 8 8 8]W 5 5 5 5 5 5]V 66]T 6 6 6]S8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8]R 4]P6 6 6 6 6 6]Total 22 22 22 21 19 19 19 17 116 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 66 6 6 6 6

Answer: Pushing activities X, T, and R back to their late start times accomplishes the objective of finishing on time and at less than 16 hours of labor each day. Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24Z 6 6 6Y 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8X8 8 8 8W 5 5 5 5 5 5V 66T6 6 6S8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8R4P6 6 6 6 6 6Total 14 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 1114 16 16 16 14 14 14 12 8 66 6 6 6 6

Diff: 3Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 7) What resources have been initially over-allocated in the project described by the table? Assume that all activities will begin at their early start times and require the number of hours per day indicated in the table. Each worker is available for 8 hours per day. Do not level this project.

Activity Activity Length Predecessor Resource Resource Hours Per DayA 9 -- Lisa 1B 8 -- Nathan 7C 13 A Jake 6D 11 B Nathan 6E 6 B Jake 4F 9 C Lisa 4G 9 D Jake 5H 9 E Lisa 6M 9 F, G Nathan 7J 4 F, H Lisa 2K 1 M, J Nathan 6L 11 K Jake 7

Answer: Resource loadings are summarized in the table. Over-allocations occur with Lisa on day 23; Jake on days 10-14 and again on days 20-22.

Worker Days LoadingLisa 1-910-1415-222324-3132-3536-52 106

10420Nathan 1-89-1920-3132-404142-52 760760Jake 1-8910-1415-1920-2223-2829-4142-52 0410611507

Diff: 2Section: 12.3 Resource LevelingSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 8) Create a resource loading chart using early start times for the project described by this table.

Activity Time Predecessor TaskA 14 -- 4B 2 -- 5C 4 A 5D 9 B 4E 8 C 5F 2 C 3G 3 D 2H 5 F, G 4K 1 E 3L 13 H, K 4 Answer: The early start times appear in this table.

Activity Time Early Start Resources SlackA 14 0 4 0B 2 0 5 6C 4 14 5 0D 9 2 4 6E 8 18 5 0

F 2 18 3 2G 3 11 2 6H 5 20 4 2K 1 26 3 0L 13 27 4 0 Diff: 3Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

9) Create a resource loading chart for the project described by this network.

Answer: Activities R and W gerrymander a bit and are indicated by shaded polygons. Diff: 3Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 10) Use this resource loading chart and the information in the table to fill in the rest of the table as completely as possible. All activities in the chart are shown with early start times.

Activity Duration Predecessors EarlyStart EarlyFinish Resources SlackA --B 9 AC 5 AD BE 11 DF C, EG 9 EH 8 F, G

Answer: Regarding durations; activity A lines up neatly with major tic marks. Activities B and D must total 15 in length and activities E, F, and G must total 30. Resource use is open to some interpretation. Activities A, B, C, and F all line up with major tick marks; the remainder of the activities can be guesstimated.

Activity Duration Predecessors EarlyStart EarlyFinish Resources SlackA 15 -- 0 15 10 0B 9 A 15 24 5 0C 5 A 15 20 10 21D 6 B 24 30 12 0E 11 D 30 41 6 0F 11 C, E 41 52 5 0G 9 E 41 50 4 2H 8 F, G 52 60 2.5 0

Diff: 2Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills

11) Create a resource loading chart for the project described by this table and then adjust activities by splitting them or delaying them in order to meet the resource constraints of 8 hours of work per day. Show your new resource loading chart, indicating which activities have been adjusted. What is the change in project completion dates? Activity Time Predecessor Resource Time/Day ResourceG 5 -- 5 1F 2 -- 3 1, 2D 4 G 2 2R 3 F 5 3W 5 D 4 1, 3M 4 R 7 3K 4 M, W 3 2, 3Z 2 K 6 2

Answer: The initial resource loading chart is below; project completion time is 20 days but the combination of activities R and G and activities M and D exceed the 8-hour-per-day threshold. Activities R and M both have 5 days of slack; if activity R is delayed until day 5, it will begin then and be completed on day 8. M must be delayed until D is completed, which will then delay the project's completion by 4 days. Diff: 3Section: 12.4 Resource Loading ChartsSkill: AnalyticalAACSB Tag: Analytic Skills 12) What are the trade-offs among schedule slippage, resource utilization, and in-process inventory for a project manager in a multi-project environment?Answer: Schedule slippage is a negative consequence on time performance for a project. Resource utilization is the degree to which available resources are deployed and in-process inventory represents the amount of work waiting to be completed but delayed due to unavailable resources. Resource utilization can be increased by deploying all available resources as fully as possible. Diff: 1Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective13) What are any three common heuristics that can be used to schedule resources in a multi-project environment? Comment on their advantages and disadvantages.Answer: The heuristics discussed in the text are first in line, greatest resource demand, greatest resource utilization, minimum late finish time, and mathematical programming. - The first in line heuristic allocates resources based upon which project enters the queue first. This is the easiest heuristic to follow, but it can defy common sense in favor of ease of use.- The greatest resource demand decision rule determines which projects in the company's portfolio will pose the greatest demand on available resources; these projects are allocated resources first and then other projects are scheduled. The assumption being made is that projects that are more consumptive of resources ar

e likely sources of bottlenecks, so these activities should be accommodated first and the rest of the system subordinated to the bottlenecks' needs. This rule and the greatest resource utilization rule may result in dedicating too many resources to a project that simply isn't profitable or has poor margins when compared with projects that may represent low hanging fruit. - Greatest resource utilization is a slight variation on the greatest resource demand heuristic. Projects with high levels of resource utilization are scheduled first, resulting in good performance on the utilization performance measure. If other projects are added to the company portfolio while the first project is still viable, the utilization of resources may remain high when the new projects are considered with the existing projects.- The minimum late finish time prioritizes projects with minimal slack, in effect keeping them as close as possible to on schedule. Projects with more slack can wait a while for the resources without becoming late. The danger is that resource starvation of projects with seemingly abundant slack may result in every project in the portfolio being delivered late.- Mathematical programming can generate optimal decisions to resource constrained problems. While solutions are optimal, the problem set up and solution can be extraordinarily complex.Diff: 1Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective

14) What is mathematical programming, how can it be applied to resource decisions, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so?Answer: Math programming is sometimes used to generate optimal solutions to resource-constrained problems in the multi-project setting, just as it can be employed for single projects. The common goals of minimizing total development time and lateness and maximizing resource utilization across all projects can all be addressed by mathematical programming. The constraints of limited resources, precedence relationships among activities and projects, due dates, opportunities for activity splitting, concurrent and otherwise activity performance requirements, and resource substitution limit our ability to achieve the aforementioned goals. While mathematical programming can achieve an optimal solution to these problems, its use is limited due to the complexity of the problem, the large number of computational variables, and the time necessary to generate a sufficiently small set of options.Diff: 2Section: 12.5 Managing Resources in Multiproject EnvironmentsSkill: ConceptualAACSB Tag: Reflective