Written Assignment 5

Reference:

Pinto, J. K. (2016).Project management: achieving competitive advantage(4th ed.). Boston:

Pearson.

This assignment covers text chapters 9 and 10. Some questions are adapted from Discussion Questions in the text. Be sure you finish all questions. Your answers should be well-documented and include detailed references to the readings and other sources of information.

1. Define each of the following terms:

(a) path

(b) activity

(c) early start

(d) early finish

(e) late start

(f) late finish

(g) forward pass

(h) backward pass

(i) node

(j) AON, (k) float

(l) critical path

(m) PERT

(Q2) Distinguish between serial activities and concurrent activities. Why do we seek to use concurrent activities as a way to shorten the project's length?[MO5.1, 5.2]

(Q3) List three methods of deriving duration estimates for project activities. What are the strengths and weaknesses associated with each method?[MO5.2]

(Q4) What are the advantages in the use of Gantt charts over PERT diagrams? In what ways might PERT diagrams be advantageous?[MO5.3]

(Q5) Under what circumstances might you wish to crash a project?