Time estimation techniques MCQs – Software Project Management
1. What is the primary purpose of time estimation in software project management?
A) To determine the overall project cost
B) To establish a timeline for project completion
C) To allocate resources
D) To define project scope
Answer: B
2. Which of the following is a widely used time estimation technique in software development?
A) Critical Path Method (CPM)
B) Parametric Estimating
C) SWOT Analysis
D) Delphi Technique
Answer: B
3. Which estimation technique uses expert judgment and experience to estimate time?
A) Analogous Estimating
B) PERT Analysis
C) Monte Carlo Simulation
D) Delphi Technique
Answer: D
4. Which method involves comparing the current project with past similar projects to estimate time?
A) Analogous Estimating
B) Bottom-Up Estimating
C) Three-Point Estimating
D) Parametric Estimating
Answer: A
5. In the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) method, how is the expected time (TE) calculated?
A) (Optimistic + 4×Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 6
B) (Optimistic + Pessimistic) / 2
C) (Optimistic + Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 3
D) (Most Likely + 2×Optimistic + Pessimistic) / 4
Answer: A
6. Which technique involves breaking down a project into smaller components to estimate time?
A) Bottom-Up Estimating
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Parametric Estimating
D) Expert Judgment
Answer: A
7. What does the “Three-Point Estimating” technique use to estimate time?
A) Optimistic, Most Likely, and Pessimistic estimates
B) Historical data and parametric models
C) Expert opinions and surveys
D) Resource availability and workload
Answer: A
8. Which of the following is NOT a component of time estimation?
A) Optimistic time
B) Most likely time
C) Resource availability
D) Pessimistic time
Answer: C
9. Which estimation technique uses statistical relationships between historical data and other variables to estimate time?
A) Parametric Estimating
B) Bottom-Up Estimating
C) Analogous Estimating
D) Expert Judgment
Answer: A
10. What is a key advantage of the Bottom-Up Estimating technique?
A) It provides a more accurate estimate by considering each component in detail.
B) It is quick and easy to perform.
C) It relies on historical data, making it more reliable.
D) It uses expert judgment, which enhances accuracy.
Answer: A
11. Which of the following is a disadvantage of the Analogous Estimating technique?
A) It may lack accuracy because it relies on historical data.
B) It is time-consuming.
C) It requires extensive data analysis.
D) It is difficult to apply to complex projects.
Answer: A
12. In which of the following scenarios is Parametric Estimating most effective?
A) When the project is similar to past projects and historical data is available.
B) When the project scope is unclear.
C) When there are no similar projects for comparison.
D) When expert judgment is unavailable.
Answer: A
13. Which method is often used in Agile projects for time estimation?
A) Story Points Estimating
B) Critical Path Method (CPM)
C) Three-Point Estimating
D) Monte Carlo Simulation
Answer: A
14. What is the main purpose of using the Delphi Technique in time estimation?
A) To achieve consensus among experts
B) To estimate costs associated with tasks
C) To identify risks in the project
D) To allocate resources to tasks
Answer: A
15. Which time estimation technique is most appropriate when a high level of detail is required?
A) Bottom-Up Estimating
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Parametric Estimating
D) Three-Point Estimating
Answer: A
16. What is the key characteristic of the Monte Carlo Simulation in time estimation?
A) It uses probability distribution to predict project outcomes.
B) It relies solely on expert judgment.
C) It compares the current project to historical data.
D) It breaks down tasks into smaller components.
Answer: A
17. Which time estimation method might be least accurate if there is no available historical data?
A) Analogous Estimating
B) Parametric Estimating
C) Bottom-Up Estimating
D) Three-Point Estimating
Answer: A
18. In Three-Point Estimating, what does the “Pessimistic” estimate represent?
A) The longest possible time to complete a task under the worst-case scenario
B) The most likely time to complete a task
C) The shortest possible time to complete a task under the best-case scenario
D) The time estimate that represents the average scenario
Answer: A
19. Which technique is particularly useful when project activities are uncertain?
A) PERT Analysis
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Parametric Estimating
D) Bottom-Up Estimating
Answer: A
20. What is a limitation of Bottom-Up Estimating?
A) It can be time-consuming and require significant effort.
B) It is only applicable to small projects.
C) It is based on historical data, making it less accurate.
D) It provides only a rough estimate of time.
Answer: A
21. In PERT, what is the significance of the “Most Likely” estimate?
A) It represents the most realistic time to complete a task.
B) It represents the shortest time possible to complete a task.
C) It represents the longest time possible to complete a task.
D) It is the average of the optimistic and pessimistic estimates.
Answer: A
22. Which estimation technique is commonly used in projects where the scope is unclear?
A) Analogous Estimating
B) Expert Judgment
C) Three-Point Estimating
D) Parametric Estimating
Answer: B
23. What does the Delphi Technique primarily rely on?
A) Structured communication among a group of experts
B) Historical project data
C) A mathematical formula for time calculation
D) A breakdown of project tasks
Answer: A
24. Which of the following is true about the Parametric Estimating technique?
A) It uses statistical models to predict time based on project parameters.
B) It is based on a consensus among experts.
C) It is the least accurate method of time estimation.
D) It is primarily used for small, simple projects.
Answer: A
25. What is a “Story Point” in Agile time estimation?
A) A unit of measure for expressing the overall effort required to complete a task
B) The time it takes to complete a user story
C) The duration of a sprint
D) A milestone in the project schedule
Answer: A
26. Which of the following techniques is best suited for projects with high uncertainty and variability?
A) PERT Analysis
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Parametric Estimating
D) Expert Judgment
Answer: A
27. Which method is often used in conjunction with the Critical Path Method (CPM) for more accurate time estimation?
A) Three-Point Estimating
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Delphi Technique
D) Parametric Estimating
Answer: A
28. What is the main advantage of the Delphi Technique?
A) It minimizes the influence of dominant individuals in the estimation process.
B) It is the fastest way to estimate time.
C) It provides the most accurate estimates for large projects.
D) It relies heavily on historical data.
Answer: A
29. What does “PERT” stand for in project management?
A) Program Evaluation and Review Technique
B) Project Estimation and Resource Tracking
C) Project Evaluation and Risk Technique
D) Program Estimation and Review Technique
Answer: A
30. What is the main use of Monte Carlo Simulation in time estimation?
A) To assess the impact of risk and uncertainty on project timelines
B) To calculate project costs
C) To allocate resources to tasks
D) To develop a communication plan
Answer: A
31. Which of the following estimation techniques is considered the most detailed and accurate?
A) Bottom-Up Estimating
B) Analogous Estimating
C) Parametric Estimating
D) Delphi Technique
Answer: A
32. Which time estimation method incorporates both optimistic and pessimistic views?
A) Three-Point Estimating
B) Parametric Estimating
C) Bottom-Up Estimating
D) Analogous Estimating
Answer: A
33. What is the primary challenge of using Bottom-Up Estimating?
A) It can be very time-consuming and complex.
B) It often leads to inaccurate estimates.
C) It is only suitable for small projects.
D) It relies too much on expert judgment.
Answer: A
34. How is the “Critical Path” determined in time estimation?
A) By identifying the longest path of tasks in a project that must be completed on time
B) By estimating the shortest possible time for project completion
C) By determining the total cost of the project
D) By calculating the number of tasks that can be delayed without affecting the overall timeline
Answer: A
35. What is the main disadvantage of the Delphi Technique?
A) It can take a long time to achieve consensus.
B) It requires extensive project data for accuracy.
C) It is not suitable for large projects.
D) It depends too heavily on historical data.
Answer: A