PMI-SP Resource Leveling & Optimization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a resource histogram used for in project scheduling?
- Displaying the sequence of project activities over time
- Showing resource demand per time period to identify over- or under-allocation (Correct answer)
- Tracking cumulative costs against the performance measurement baseline
- Mapping team member skills to scheduled activities
Correct answer: Showing resource demand per time period to identify over- or under-allocation
A resource histogram displays resource usage (hours, units) per time period, making over-allocation peaks and underutilization valleys immediately visible.
Question 2: Which of the following is a valid resource optimization technique that does NOT alter the project logic network?
- Adding a mandatory finish-to-start lag
- Reassigning work to an alternative resource with the same skill set (Correct answer)
- Changing activity dependencies from finish-to-start to start-to-start
- Eliminating a milestone to create free float
Correct answer: Reassigning work to an alternative resource with the same skill set
Assigning an alternate resource with equivalent skills resolves over-allocation without touching the network logic, preserving schedule integrity.
Question 3: A scheduler is told the project must finish by its contractual date and cannot be extended. Which resource optimization approach is most appropriate when a resource is over-allocated?
- Resource leveling, accepting a later finish
- Resource smoothing, adjusting only within available float (Correct answer)
- Compressing the schedule by adding more resources to all tasks
- Removing the over-allocated resource from the project
Correct answer: Resource smoothing, adjusting only within available float
When the end date is fixed, resource smoothing is preferred because it resolves conflicts only within existing float without pushing the project finish.
Question 4: In a resource-constrained project, what does the term 'resource calendar' define?
- The total number of resources available across all projects in a portfolio
- The working times, non-working times, and capacity for a specific resource or resource category (Correct answer)
- The sequence in which resources are assigned to activities
- The historical utilization log for completed projects
Correct answer: The working times, non-working times, and capacity for a specific resource or resource category
A resource calendar specifies when a resource is available, including work shifts, holidays, and vacations, and is essential input to resource leveling calculations.
Question 5: What effect does resource leveling have on the schedule's total float?
- Total float increases because activities are rescheduled to optimal windows
- Total float typically decreases or is consumed as activities are delayed (Correct answer)
- Total float is unaffected because only resource assignments change
- Total float can only increase when leveling is applied to critical activities
Correct answer: Total float typically decreases or is consumed as activities are delayed
Delaying activities to resolve resource over-allocation consumes float, often converting previously non-critical activities into critical or near-critical ones.
Question 6: Which input is MOST critical when running an automated resource leveling algorithm in scheduling software?
- The project's risk register
- Accurate resource availability and maximum units defined in resource calendars (Correct answer)
- The earned value performance baseline
- Stakeholder communication plan
Correct answer: Accurate resource availability and maximum units defined in resource calendars
The algorithm needs accurate resource calendars and maximum unit values to calculate feasible schedules; incorrect availability data produces invalid leveled schedules.
Question 7: A project manager asks why the leveled schedule shows several activities on the critical path that were not critical before leveling. What is the BEST explanation?
- The scheduling software made errors in network logic
- Leveling consumed float by delaying activities to resolve over-allocations, creating new critical paths (Correct answer)
- Resource leveling always creates a new critical path in the schedule
- The WBS was changed during the leveling process
Correct answer: Leveling consumed float by delaying activities to resolve over-allocations, creating new critical paths
When activities are delayed to resolve resource conflicts, their float is consumed and they can become critical, effectively shifting or extending the critical path.
PMI-SP Resource Leveling & Optimization 2
What is a resource histogram used for in project scheduling?