1. How do schedule slippage, resource utilization, and in-process inventory affect a project manager's performance?
2. Consider a project to build a bridge over a river gorge. Identify and explain one resource constraint that would make this project challenging.
3. For many projects, the key resources to be managed are the project's personnel or people. Explain how a project's people are often the critical resource.
4. It has been argued that a project schedule which has not been resource leveled is useless. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not?
5. Multi-tasking can have an important negative impact on your ability to resource level a project. When your team members are involved in multiple additional commitments, we must be careful not to assign their time too optimistically. In fact, it has been said: "Remember, 40 hours is not the same as one week's work." Comment on this idea. How does multi-tasking make it difficult to accurately resource level a project?
6. Why was one of the earliest project tracking devices referred to as an "S-curve?" Why is it important to link a project's budget with a project's time schedule?
7. There are several benefits to using milestones to control a project. Identify and describe three of these benefits.
8. What is a tracking Gantt chart? Identify one benefit and one drawback of its use.
9. Identify the following terms: PV, EV, and AC. Why are these terms important?
10. What is earned value management and how can it be used to monitor project status?