Engineering Management practice questions

Answer: D) A significant event with zero duration

A milestone is a zero-duration event that marks a significant point in the schedule. It is not an activity, so it has no duration and uses no resources.

• AIncorrect. An activity with zero total float is a critical activity on the critical path. It still has a duration and uses resources, while a milestone takes no time.
• BIncorrect. How long an activity takes does not make it a milestone. The longest activity may not even be on the critical path.
• CIncorrect. A summary task rolls up the durations of the tasks under it in the work breakdown structure. A milestone has no duration and marks a single point in time.
• DCorrect. A milestone takes no time and uses no resources. It marks a key point, such as finishing a major deliverable or passing a phase gate.

Answer: A) 3.6 days

For independent critical-path activities, sum the variances (4 + 9 = 13 days²) and take the square root to get the project standard deviation, about 3.6 days.

• ACorrect. Independent variances add along the path: 4 + 9 = 13 days². The project standard deviation is √13 ≈ 3.6 days.
• BIncorrect. 13 days² is the project variance. The standard deviation is its square root.
• CIncorrect. This adds the individual standard deviations (2 + 3). For independent activities, add the variances instead, then take the square root.
• DIncorrect. This averages the two variances. Variances along a path are summed, not averaged, and the result must then be square-rooted.

Answer: A) 15

• ACorrect. n(n − 1)/2 = 6(5)/2.
• BIncorrect. Divide by 2.
• CIncorrect. Use n(n − 1)/2.
• DIncorrect. Use n(n − 1)/2.

Answer: B) Accountable (A)

In a RACI matrix, Responsible people do the work, the Accountable person approves it and answers for the result, Consulted people give input, and Informed people are kept up to date.

• AIncorrect. The Responsible person does the work. The work is then approved by the person who is Accountable.
• BCorrect. The Accountable person approves the work done by the Responsible person and answers for the result.
• CIncorrect. Consulted people give their opinion while the work is being done, through two-way communication. They do not approve it.
• DIncorrect. Informed people are kept up to date on progress or results through one-way communication. They do not approve the work.

Answer: A) Self-actualization

• ACorrect. Physiological needs form the base.
• BIncorrect. That's a lower level.
• CIncorrect. That's the base.
• DIncorrect. That's a middle level.

Answer: A) Time-bound

• ACorrect. Deadlines make goals actionable.
• BIncorrect. It's time-bound.
• CIncorrect. It's time-bound.
• DIncorrect. It's time-bound.

Answer: B) Transfer

• AIncorrect. Avoidance removes the risk's source.
• BCorrect. The financial impact shifts to the insurer.
• CIncorrect. Acceptance takes the risk on.
• DIncorrect. Mitigation reduces probability or impact.

Answer: D) Best possible outcome

• AIncorrect. It ignores probabilities.
• BIncorrect. That's maximin.
• CIncorrect. That's minimax regret.
• DCorrect. It's an optimistic criterion.

Answer: C) Achievement and recognition

• AIncorrect. That's hygiene.
• BIncorrect. Those are hygiene factors.
• CCorrect. Salary is a hygiene factor.
• DIncorrect. That's hygiene.

Answer: B) Iterating anonymous expert opinions toward consensus

• AIncorrect. It's expert-judgment-based.
• BCorrect. Anonymity limits dominance by individuals.
• CIncorrect. That's a moving average.
• DIncorrect. It uses a panel of experts.