CAPM Project Scheduling & Critical Path 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager uses Monte Carlo simulation on the project schedule. What is the primary purpose of this technique?
- To identify the critical path automatically
- To assess schedule risk and quantify the probability of meeting target dates (Correct answer)
- To level resources across all project activities
- To compress the schedule by overlapping activities
Correct answer: To assess schedule risk and quantify the probability of meeting target dates
Monte Carlo simulation runs many iterations with varied activity durations to produce a probability distribution for project completion dates.
Question 2: In the Schedule Network Analysis, what is the difference between total float and free float?
- Total float measures delay impact on the project; free float measures delay impact on immediate successors (Correct answer)
- Free float measures delay impact on the project; total float measures delay impact on immediate successors
- Total float and free float are identical measures
- Total float applies only to the critical path; free float applies to all activities
Correct answer: Total float measures delay impact on the project; free float measures delay impact on immediate successors
Total float is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project end, while free float is the delay allowed without pushing the next activity's early start.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes a Start-to-Start (SS) dependency with a lag of 2 days?
- The successor must finish 2 days after the predecessor finishes
- The successor cannot start until 2 days after the predecessor starts (Correct answer)
- The successor must start 2 days before the predecessor starts
- The successor finishes when the predecessor starts plus 2 days
Correct answer: The successor cannot start until 2 days after the predecessor starts
An SS+2 relationship means the successor activity can start only after the predecessor has been underway for 2 days.
Question 4: A project's Earned Value is $80,000 and Planned Value is $100,000. What is the Schedule Variance (SV)?
- +$20,000
- -$20,000 (Correct answer)
- $80,000
- $100,000
Correct answer: -$20,000
Schedule Variance = EV − PV = $80,000 − $100,000 = −$20,000, indicating the project is behind schedule.
Question 5: When is it appropriate to use the Schedule Compression technique of crashing?
- When the project has unlimited budget and needs to finish earlier (Correct answer)
- When there are parallel activities that can be overlapped safely
- When near-critical paths exist that could become critical after fast tracking
- When the project has excess resources that need to be utilized
Correct answer: When the project has unlimited budget and needs to finish earlier
Crashing is appropriate when time must be reduced and additional budget is available, as it adds resources to shorten critical path activity durations.
Question 6: Which artifact is used to visualize project activities against a calendar timeline with bars representing duration?
- Network diagram
- Gantt chart (Correct answer)
- RACI matrix
- Work breakdown structure
Correct answer: Gantt chart
A Gantt chart displays project activities as horizontal bars on a calendar timeline, making it easy to see task durations and scheduling.
Question 7: A project manager identifies that an activity on the critical path is taking longer than planned. Which is the FIRST action to take?
- Immediately crash all critical path activities
- Analyze the impact and update the schedule forecast (Correct answer)
- Report the delay to the sponsor and close the project
- Remove the activity from the schedule
Correct answer: Analyze the impact and update the schedule forecast
The first step is to analyze the delay's impact on the schedule and update forecasts before deciding on corrective actions.
CAPM Project Scheduling & Critical Path 5
A project manager uses Monte Carlo simulation on the project schedule.
What is the primary purpose of this technique?