Chapter 9 Homework
Chapter 9
reducing project duration
Review Questions
1. What are five common reasons for crashing a project?
Reasons given could include:
• Imposed deadline in which disfavor will be earned by not meeting superior’s deadline • Time to market competitive advantage • Realize benefits from incentive contracts • To make up for lost time and avoid contract penalties • Save extensive overhead costs • Free up resources to work on other projects • Exceed customer expectations.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing project scope to accelerate a project? What can be done to reduce the disadvantages?
Reducing the scope of the project can lead to big savings both in time and costs. It typically means the elimination of certain tasks. At the same time scaling down the scope may reduce the value of the project such that it is no longer worthwhile or fails to meet critical success parameters. The key is reassessing the project requirements to determine which are essential and which are optional. This requires the active involvement of all key stakeholders. More intense re-examination of requirements may actually improve the value of the project by getting it done more quickly and for a lower cost.
3. Why is scheduling overtime a popular choice for getting projects back on schedule? What are the potential problems for relying on this option?
Scheduling overtime is popular because if it involves salary workers and no direct costs are added to the project. Even if it involves additional costs, you avoid Brook’s law and minimize additional coordination and training costs. The disadvantages are the additional time and half costs associated with hourly overtime and stress and fatigue that come with working long hours which can lead to accidents, inferior performance, and turnover.
4. Identify four indirect costs you might find on a moderately complex project. Why are these costs
reducing project duration
Review Questions
1. What are five common reasons for crashing a project?
Reasons given could include:
• Imposed deadline in which disfavor will be earned by not meeting superior’s deadline • Time to market competitive advantage • Realize benefits from incentive contracts • To make up for lost time and avoid contract penalties • Save extensive overhead costs • Free up resources to work on other projects • Exceed customer expectations.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of reducing project scope to accelerate a project? What can be done to reduce the disadvantages?
Reducing the scope of the project can lead to big savings both in time and costs. It typically means the elimination of certain tasks. At the same time scaling down the scope may reduce the value of the project such that it is no longer worthwhile or fails to meet critical success parameters. The key is reassessing the project requirements to determine which are essential and which are optional. This requires the active involvement of all key stakeholders. More intense re-examination of requirements may actually improve the value of the project by getting it done more quickly and for a lower cost.
3. Why is scheduling overtime a popular choice for getting projects back on schedule? What are the potential problems for relying on this option?
Scheduling overtime is popular because if it involves salary workers and no direct costs are added to the project. Even if it involves additional costs, you avoid Brook’s law and minimize additional coordination and training costs. The disadvantages are the additional time and half costs associated with hourly overtime and stress and fatigue that come with working long hours which can lead to accidents, inferior performance, and turnover.
4. Identify four indirect costs you might find on a moderately complex project. Why are these costs