Section A
1. What is project management, and what are its main objectives?
2. What is the relationship between tasks and events, or milestones?
3. What is a work breakdown structure? How do you create one? What are the benefits of a WBS?
4. What are task patterns, and how can you recognize them?
5. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of Gantt and PERT/CPM charts.
6. Define the following terms:
a. best-case estimate,
b. probable-case estimate,
c. and worst-case estimate,
d. and describe how project managers use these concepts.
7. How does a project manager calculate start and finish times?
8. What is a critical path, and why is it important to project managers?
9. How do you identify the critical path?
10. What are some project reporting and communication techniques?
11. What is risk management, and why is it important?
Section B
The IT group at Game Technology has received approval to add a new entry-level systems analyst position. You will help set up the hiring timetable and tasks. After speaking to several people in the department, you identified seven tasks and the order in which they should be performed.
Using your notes, you write up the following statement: First, review the applications (2 days). Then start three tasks: notify the IT team (2 days), reserve a conference room (1 day), and set up an interview schedule (5 days). When the team has been notified and the conference room reserved, prepare a set of interview questions (2 days). When the questions are ready and the interview schedule has been developed, conduct the interviews (5 days). After the interviews are done, meet with the hiring committee to select a candidate (1 day).
Practice Tasks
A. Prepare a work breakdown structure showing tasks, durations, and predecessor tasks.
B. Calculate the start and finish date for each task, and determine the critical path.
