CCS Project Planning & Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling method uses arrow diagrams where activities are represented on arrows and nodes represent events?
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) (Correct answer)
- Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM)
- Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
Correct answer: Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM)
Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM), also called Activity-on-Arrow (AOA), represents activities on arrows with nodes as events.
Question 2: In construction scheduling, what does 'float' or 'slack' represent?
- The percentage of budget reserve held for contingencies
- The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion (Correct answer)
- The number of workers available beyond minimum staffing
- The overlap period between two sequential construction phases
Correct answer: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion
Float (or slack) is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the overall project completion date.
Question 3: A construction specifier is reviewing a project schedule and notices the critical path has changed after a subcontractor delay. What is the term for this new critical path?
- Secondary critical path
- Revised baseline
- Near-critical path (Correct answer)
- Dynamic critical path
Correct answer: Near-critical path
A near-critical path has very little float and can become the critical path if further delays occur on those activities.
Question 4: Which document establishes the agreed-upon project schedule baseline against which actual progress is measured?
- Project execution plan
- Schedule performance report
- Approved baseline schedule (Correct answer)
- Preliminary project schedule
Correct answer: Approved baseline schedule
The approved baseline schedule is the formally agreed-upon schedule that serves as the benchmark for measuring project performance.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a construction project's 'look-ahead schedule'?
- To replace the master project schedule during the construction phase
- To provide a short-term detailed plan for upcoming work over the next 2-6 weeks (Correct answer)
- To forecast final project completion dates for the owner
- To document lessons learned from previous similar projects
Correct answer: To provide a short-term detailed plan for upcoming work over the next 2-6 weeks
A look-ahead schedule provides a detailed short-term view (typically 2-6 weeks) to coordinate immediate upcoming work and resources.
Question 6: Under AIA contract documents, which party typically has the contractual obligation to prepare and submit the construction schedule?
- The architect
- The owner
- The contractor (Correct answer)
- The construction manager
Correct answer: The contractor
Under standard AIA contract documents, the contractor is responsible for preparing and submitting the construction schedule for the architect's review.
Question 7: When a specification requires the contractor to submit a 'schedule of values,' what is its primary purpose?
- To establish the critical path for scheduling purposes
- To allocate the contract sum among portions of work for progress payment applications (Correct answer)
- To identify the sequence of subcontractor mobilization
- To track change order impacts on project duration
Correct answer: To allocate the contract sum among portions of work for progress payment applications
A schedule of values allocates the contract sum across work items so that progress payment applications can be accurately evaluated.
CCS Project Planning & Scheduling 2
Which scheduling method uses arrow diagrams where activities are represented on arrows and nodes represent events?