TOPIC: Free CAPM® Exam Sample Question

Which of the following is true about the duration estimates?

A. The duration estimates may be progressively elaborated.
B. The activity durations are often estimated before estimating activity resources.
C. Resource utilization could be helpful in estimating activity durations.
D. The duration estimate helps to define the required resource for each project activity.

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HINT: Note that we often return to planning processes as we learn and integrate new information.

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is A.

The Estimate Activity Durations process involves estimating the number of work periods needed to complete individual activities. These duration estimates depend on the estimated resources required to complete the work. The Estimate Activity Resource process, in turn, depends on the activity list, attributes, assumptions, and cost estimates that are produced in the Define Activities and Estimate Costs processes. Indeed, the planning processes for several knowledge areas are interdependent. At the beginning of the project planning with limited information about the project, estimates are likely to be less accurate and less reliable. Thus, the estimates should be iteratively developed as more accurate and up-to-date information is available. The duration estimates are documented as activity attributes, usually associated with the activity list as an output of this process, and an input to the next process, which is Develop Schedule.

Details for each option:

A. The duration estimates may be progressively elaborated.
Correct. As duration estimates are often created early in project planning, this estimate is often done with a limited amount of project information. In such cases, the estimate should be progressively elaborated when more detailed information is available.

B. The activity durations are often estimated before estimating activity resources.
Incorrect. The duration estimates are often based on the required resources for each activity. Therefore, you should estimate the activity durations after the activity resource estimates are done.

C. Resource utilization could be helpful in estimating activity durations.
Incorrect. Resource utilization can be reported during the Develop Schedule process to optimize the use of resources to balance demand with available supply. In the Estimate Activity Resources process, information on which resources are potentially available during a planned activity period is used for estimating resource utilization. However, resource utilization is not explicitly used as an input to the Estimate Activity Durations process.

D. The duration estimate helps to define the required resource for each project activity.
Incorrect. Estimate Activity Resources is the process that defines the types and quantities of resources required to complete each project activity. Meanwhile, the purpose of the Estimate Activity Durations process is to estimate the duration needed to complete project activities with provided resources.

Reference: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 96-196, 320, 323