CCM Time Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling technique uses probabilistic time estimates to account for uncertainty in activity durations?
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) (Correct answer)
- Gantt Chart
- Resource Leveling
Correct answer: Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
PERT uses three-point estimates (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic) to calculate expected durations and account for schedule uncertainty.
Question 2: A construction project has a Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.85. What does this indicate?
- The project is 15% ahead of schedule
- The project is 15% behind schedule (Correct answer)
- The project is 85% complete
- The project has used 85% of its budget
Correct answer: The project is 15% behind schedule
An SPI less than 1.0 means the project is behind schedule, with 0.85 indicating work is progressing at only 85% of the planned rate.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a Look-Ahead Schedule in construction management?
- To replace the master schedule
- To plan work 2-6 weeks in advance and ensure resource readiness (Correct answer)
- To document as-built conditions
- To track long-lead procurement only
Correct answer: To plan work 2-6 weeks in advance and ensure resource readiness
A Look-Ahead Schedule (typically 3-6 weeks) bridges the master schedule and daily work plans by identifying upcoming constraints and confirming resource availability.
Question 4: When predecessor activity B cannot start until successor activity A is 50% complete, this relationship is called:
- Finish-to-Start with lag
- Start-to-Start with lag (Correct answer)
- Finish-to-Finish with lead
- Start-to-Finish
Correct answer: Start-to-Start with lag
A Start-to-Start with 50% lag means B can start only after A has progressed 50%, representing an overlapping dependency.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'float' in a construction schedule?
- The amount of money held in reserve
- The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion (Correct answer)
- The percentage of work completed ahead of schedule
- The buffer added between subcontractor phases
Correct answer: The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion
Float (or slack) is the amount of time an activity can slip without extending the overall project completion date.
Question 6: A construction manager applies schedule compression by adding more workers to critical path activities. This technique is known as:
- Fast-tracking
- Crashing (Correct answer)
- Resource leveling
- Schedule baselining
Correct answer: Crashing
Crashing reduces activity durations by adding resources (workers, equipment), typically at an increased cost.
Question 7: In the Last Planner System, 'Percent Plan Complete' (PPC) is used to measure:
- The percentage of the budget spent
- The reliability of weekly work planning commitments (Correct answer)
- The number of completed submittals
- Total project percent complete
Correct answer: The reliability of weekly work planning commitments
PPC measures how many planned tasks were actually completed as promised, reflecting planning reliability and workflow predictability.
CCM Time Management 2
Which scheduling technique uses probabilistic time estimates to account for uncertainty in activity durations?