Duration Estimating Flashcards
7 cards from real PMI-SP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Duration Estimating flashcards as text
A project uses parametric estimating and historical data shows an average cost of $500 and a duration of 3 days per deliverable unit. If the project scope includes 40 units, what is the estimated total duration?
Answer: 120 days
Total duration = 3 days/unit × 40 units = 120 days using the parametric estimating formula.
A project scheduler is documenting the basis of estimates. Which information is MOST important to capture in this document?
Answer: The sources, assumptions, constraints, and confidence level of each estimate
The basis of estimates documents the sources of data, assumptions made, constraints considered, and confidence levels to support transparency and future auditing.
During a planning session, the team debates whether to use expert judgment or parametric estimating. The project involves a novel technology with no historical performance data. Which technique should be selected?
Answer: Expert judgment from experienced SMEs in the technology domain
When no historical data exists for a novel technology, expert judgment from domain SMEs is the most reliable estimating technique.
A PMI-SP professional is analyzing a schedule where activity durations were estimated without considering the law of diminishing returns. What risk does this create?
Answer: Adding resources later will not reduce the schedule as expected
Ignoring diminishing returns means the team may expect linear duration reductions from added resources, but actual results will underperform expectations.
Which of the following scenarios represents the CORRECT application of lag in the context of duration estimating and schedule development?
Answer: Waiting 5 days after concrete is poured before beginning the next phase
Lag represents a required waiting period between dependent activities, such as curing time after pouring concrete before the next activity can start.
A project's duration estimate uses a triangular distribution instead of a beta distribution. How does the triangular distribution treat the most likely estimate compared to PERT?
Answer: It gives equal weight to all three estimates
The triangular distribution formula (O + M + P) / 3 gives equal weight to all three estimates, unlike PERT which weights the most likely estimate four times.
A project manager wants to express the range of uncertainty in duration estimates. The PERT expected duration is 15 days and the standard deviation is 2 days. What is the range representing a 68% confidence interval?
Answer: 13 to 17 days
A 68% confidence interval equals ±1 standard deviation: 15 ± 2 = 13 to 17 days.