Chapter 8

Front 1

How does resource scheduling tie to project priority?

Back 1

Because priorities are limited. The priority system ranks projects which then determines which project each resource should work on first.

Front 2

How does resource scheduling reduce flexibility in managing projects?

Back 2

Because when resources are considered, computer routines use slack to get an "efficient" schedule. When slack is used up. flexibility is lost and the risk of delaying the project increases. If the resource conflict occurs on the critical path, the project is delayed.

Front 3

Present 6 reasons scheduling resources is an important task.

Back 3

1. Checks if existing resources are adequate + available
2. Decides which resources have priority
3. Assesses the impact if another project is added to the pool.
4. Determines where the real critical path is and if there are unforeseen dependencies.
5. Sees what happens to the risk of being late if slack is used up developing a schedule.
6. Decides if outside contractors have to be used.
7. Decides if an imposed project duration is realistic.

Front 4

How can outsourcing project work alleviate the 3 most common problems associated with multiproject resource scheduling?

Back 4

The three most common problems associated with multi project resource scheduling are overall schedule slippage, inefficient resource allocation and resource bottlenecks. Outsourcing can alleviate the problems in the following ways by allowing companies to hire temporary workers to expedite certain activities that are falling behind schedule or to overcome internal resource deficiencies. The latter can include peak periods when there are insufficient internal resources are not available to meet the demands of all projects.

Front 5

Explain the risks associated with leveling resources, compressing or crashing projects, and imposed durations or “catch-up” as the project is being implemented.

Back 5

Leveling resources, compressing or crashing projects, and imposed durations or “catch-up” are project scheduling tools that carry risk.
• Leveling resources attempts to even out demand for resources by delaying non-critical activities using slack to increase resource utilization. Delaying non-critical activities carries the potential to delay the overall project since delayed activities may affect critical path activities.
• Compressing is a technique in which the previously determined schedule is shortened in a manner which does not reduce the project scope. The risks of schedule compressing are time overrun and the possibility that one or more activities in the network may have to be eliminated.
• Crashing entails adding more resources to activities on the critical path with the objective of completing the project earlier. Shifting resources can lead to reduction of time so that the critical path is as short as possible. Crashing carries the risk of budget overruns and poor quali

Front 6

Why is it critical to develop a time-phased baseline?

Back 6

It is critical to develop a time-phased budget because they are necessary for good project schedule and cost control. Other systems don’t’ measure the amount of work accomplished for the money spent. Time-phasing cost to match project schedule is a prerequisite to having reliable information for control purposes.