Master Schedule

Test Your Knowledge

Master Schedule Quiz:

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is the primary purpose of a master schedule?

(a) To track daily tasks and assign them to team members. (b) To provide a high-level overview of the entire project and its key milestones. (c) To manage project budgets and track expenses. (d) To monitor project risks and develop mitigation strategies.

2. Which of the following is NOT typically included in a master schedule?

(a) Project timeline and completion date. (b) Detailed descriptions of each task and subtask. (c) Key milestones and their deadlines. (d) Dependencies between tasks.

3. Which of these is a benefit of using a master schedule?

(a) Improved communication and coordination between stakeholders. (b) Reduced project costs and increased profitability. (c) Elimination of all project risks and uncertainties. (d) Automatic task allocation and resource management.

4. What is the first step in creating a master schedule?

(a) Estimating the duration of each task. (b) Identifying key milestones and their deadlines. (c) Defining the project's scope, objectives, and deliverables. (d) Allocating resources to specific tasks.

5. How often should a master schedule be reviewed and updated?

(a) Only at the beginning and end of the project. (b) Weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the project's complexity. (c) Monthly, to ensure alignment with the project plan. (d) Whenever there are significant changes to the project scope, resources, or deadlines.

Master Schedule Exercise:

Scenario:

You are the project manager for the development of a new mobile app. The project has been divided into the following major work packages:

• Phase 1: Design and Development
• Phase 2: Testing and Quality Assurance
• Phase 3: Deployment and Launch

Task:

1. Create a simplified master schedule for this project, including:

   • The project timeline (estimated duration for each phase).
   • Key milestones (e.g., app design completion, beta testing, launch date).
   • Dependencies between phases.

2. Identify at least two potential risks associated with this project and outline your contingency plan for each.

Example Master Schedule:

| Phase | Task | Duration (Weeks) | Dependencies | |---|---|---|---| | Phase 1: Design & Development | 1. App design | 4 | - | | | 2. User Interface (UI) development | 3 | 1. App design completion | | | 3. Backend development | 5 | 2. UI development completion | | Phase 2: Testing & QA | 4. Beta testing | 2 | 3. Backend development completion | | | 5. Bug fixing & improvements | 2 | 4. Beta testing completion | | Phase 3: Deployment & Launch | 6. App store submission | 1 | 5. Bug fixing completion | | | 7. App launch | 1 | 6. App store approval |

Example Risk:

• Risk: Delay in app store approval process.
• Contingency Plan: Prepare a backup launch strategy using an alternative app store or direct download link.

Techniques