Microsoft Project Certification Exam Study Flashcard

Fixed Cost refers to a cost that does not change regardless of the amount of work or duration of the task. It is a set amount that is assigned to a task or project and remains constant.

Lag Time is a delay between the end of one task and the start of a dependent task. It is a positive value that delays the start of the successor task.

A Work Resource is a type of resource that performs work on tasks, such as employees or equipment. Work Resources are allocated to tasks and their availability affects task scheduling and project planning.

The Project Calendar defines the working days and hours for the entire project. It affects task scheduling by determining which days are considered workdays and how task durations are calculated.

The Resource Graph View displays a visual representation of resource allocation over time. It helps in identifying periods of over-allocation and under-allocation for effective resource management.

The Task Inspector helps identify issues and conflicts with tasks, such as scheduling problems or resource conflicts, and provides recommendations for resolving these issues.

Budget Resources are used to track and manage budgeted costs and financial aspects of the project. They represent costs that are not associated with specific tasks but with the overall project budget.

Cost Variance (CV) measures the difference between the earned value and the actual cost of work performed. It is calculated as CV = EV - AC, where EV is Earned Value and AC is Actual Cost.

Duration refers to the total time span needed to complete a task, while Work is the total amount of effort or labor required. Duration can be affected by the number of resources assigned, while Work is constant.

EVM is a project management technique used to assess project performance by comparing planned progress (Planned Value) with actual progress (Earned Value) and cost performance (Actual Cost).

Resource Leveling is the process of adjusting the start and finish dates of tasks to balance resource allocation and avoid overallocation. It helps in optimizing resource usage across the project.

Task Status options include "Not Started," "In Progress," and "Completed." These options help track the progress of tasks and update the project's schedule based on the completion status of each task.

Work Contour allows users to define how work is distributed over time for a task, such as spreading work evenly, concentrating it at certain periods, or applying custom distribution patterns.

Resource Contouring adjusts the distribution of work over time to reflect realistic resource availability and usage patterns. It helps in planning and optimizing resource allocation throughout the project.

The Task Usage View provides detailed information on task assignments and resource allocations. It shows how resources are assigned to tasks and how much work has been completed versus what is remaining.

The Timeline View provides a high-level overview of the project schedule, showing key tasks, milestones, and their durations in a graphical format. It is useful for summarizing and communicating project progress.

A Gantt Chart visually represents the schedule of tasks in a project. It shows tasks along a timeline, displaying their start and end dates, duration, and dependencies.

Cost Resources represent costs associated with specific tasks or project phases, without requiring work effort, while Work Resources are human or equipment resources that perform work on tasks.

Milestone Tasks are tasks with zero duration that represent significant events or achievements in the project. They are used to mark key dates and deliverables but do not have actual work associated with them.

Higher Task Priorities indicate more critical tasks that should be addressed first during resource allocation and scheduling, ensuring that essential tasks receive the necessary resources and attention.

A Baseline is created by saving the original project plan as a reference point. This is done by navigating to the "Project" tab, selecting "Set Baseline," and choosing the baseline options to save.

Task Dependencies determine the order in which tasks are performed and how delays in one task can impact subsequent tasks. They are crucial for creating an accurate and realistic project schedule.

Task Splitting allows a task to be broken into segments with breaks in between. This helps in managing tasks that cannot be worked on continuously due to constraints or dependencies.

Task Duration is calculated based on the number of workdays required to complete a task, taking into account the working hours and calendar settings defined for the task.

Microsoft Project identifies resource over-allocation by comparing the amount of work assigned to a resource against its available capacity. It provides options to resolve over-allocation, such as leveling or redistributing work.

Task Constraints in Microsoft Project impose specific scheduling restrictions on tasks. Types include "Start No Earlier Than," "Finish On," "Must Start On," and "Must Finish On," each affecting task scheduling differently.

Task dependencies are managed using relationships like Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), and Start-to-Finish (SF). These relationships define how tasks are linked and affect scheduling.

The Cost Rate Table defines different cost rates for resources based on various factors such as hours worked or different time periods. It helps in calculating project costs accurately based on resource rates.

Task Assignment refers to the process of linking resources to specific tasks, while Task Resource refers to the actual resources (human, equipment, etc.) used to perform the task.

Work refers to the total amount of labor required to complete a task, usually measured in hours. Effort refers to the actual time resources spend working on the task, which can vary based on resource availability.

Task Constraints are specific rules or limitations applied to tasks, such as "Must Start On" or "Finish No Later Than." They can restrict scheduling flexibility and impact the project's critical path.

The Critical Path is the sequence of tasks that determines the shortest time to complete the project. Tasks on this path have no slack, and any delay will directly impact the project's finish date.

Effort-Driven Scheduling adjusts task duration based on changes in resource allocation. If resources are added or removed, the duration of the task changes accordingly to maintain the effort required.

Fixed Duration means that the duration of a task remains constant regardless of changes in resource assignment or work effort. Adjusting the number of resources will not affect the task's duration.

A Project Status Report typically includes information on project progress, task completion, resource usage, schedule adherence, and any issues or risks impacting the project.

Schedule Compression involves techniques like Crashing or Fast Tracking to shorten the project duration. Crashing adds additional resources, while Fast Tracking overlaps tasks to accelerate project completion.

Float or Slack is the amount of time that a task can be delayed without affecting the project's end date or the start date of subsequent tasks. It helps in scheduling flexibility.

Auto-Schedule automatically adjusts task start and end dates based on changes in task dependencies and resource availability. Manually Scheduled tasks require users to manually adjust dates and durations.

Milestone Tracking involves monitoring the completion of significant project milestones. It helps measure progress against key deliverables and ensure that important deadlines are met.

A Project Baseline is a snapshot of the project’s original plan, including scope, schedule, and costs. It is used as a reference to measure project performance and compare planned versus actual progress.

Timephased Data represents information (e.g., work, cost) broken down by time periods, such as days or weeks. It is used to track and analyze project performance over time, providing detailed insights into progress.

A Constraint is a restriction placed on a task that affects its scheduling. Examples include "Start No Earlier Than" or "Finish On," which dictate specific conditions under which a task must be completed.

A Task Dependency defines the relationship between two tasks, indicating how one task affects the start or finish of another. It is set by linking tasks with specific dependency types (FS, SS, FF, SF).

CPM is a project management technique used to determine the longest path of dependent tasks and calculate the shortest possible project duration. Tasks on this path are critical and determine the project timeline.

Resource Allocation refers to the assignment of resources to tasks. It is tracked by monitoring the amount of work assigned to each resource, their availability, and ensuring resources are not over-allocated.

The Resource Sheet is used to enter and manage information about resources, including their names, types, rates, and availability. It is a key component for resource management and allocation.

The Resource Usage view displays the work assignments of resources across tasks and time periods. It helps in managing and balancing resource workload, tracking assignments, and identifying potential conflicts.

The Task Calendar defines specific working and non-working times for individual tasks. It overrides the default project calendar and allows for more precise scheduling based on task-specific requirements.

The Task Details Form provides an in-depth view of task-specific information, such as task duration, dependencies, and assigned resources. It is used for detailed task management and adjustments.

The Team Planner View shows resource assignments and their workload in a calendar format, helping managers identify over-allocations, plan resource distribution, and adjust assignments for balanced workload.

Fixed Units means that the number of resources assigned to a task remains constant while the task duration can change. Fixed Duration means that the task duration remains constant while the number of resources can change.

A Task is an activity that needs to be accomplished within a project, whereas a Milestone is a significant event or checkpoint in the project timeline, often marking the completion of a phase.

Baseline Work represents the original amount of work planned for a task. Actual Work is the real amount of work completed. Comparing these helps in tracking performance and identifying deviations from the plan.

Resource Leveling adjusts the start and finish dates of tasks to resolve conflicts and ensure that resource usage is balanced throughout the project, preventing overallocation and optimizing resource use.

Task Notes provide a space to add additional information or comments related to a specific task. They can include instructions, observations, or details that help in task management and communication.

The Project Summary Task is a special task that represents the entire project. It aggregates information from all tasks and provides an overview of project start and end dates, overall duration, and completion status.

The WBS is used to break down a project into smaller, manageable components or tasks. It helps in organizing and defining the total scope of the project, providing a structure for planning and control.

A Resource Pool is a shared list of resources available for use across multiple projects. It allows for efficient management and allocation of resources across projects to avoid overallocation.

Resource Leveling Delay is the amount of time that tasks are delayed to resolve resource conflicts. It helps in balancing resource usage and preventing overallocation, but may extend the project schedule.

Task Priority determines the importance of tasks when scheduling. Higher-priority tasks are given precedence over lower-priority tasks in scheduling and resource allocation, especially during resource leveling.