CDT Project Planning & Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling technique uses a network diagram to identify the longest path through a project?
- Gantt chart analysis
- Critical Path Method (CPM) (Correct answer)
- Work Breakdown Structure
- Resource leveling
Correct answer: Critical Path Method (CPM)
CPM identifies the critical path — the longest sequence of dependent tasks — which determines the minimum project duration.
Question 2: A drafting technician discovers that two major drawing sets are due on the same date but require the same reviewer. What scheduling technique addresses this conflict?
- Fast-tracking
- Crashing
- Resource leveling (Correct answer)
- Scope reduction
Correct answer: Resource leveling
Resource leveling adjusts task start/finish dates to resolve over-allocation of a shared resource without changing scope.
Question 3: In a project schedule, 'float' (or slack) refers to:
- Extra budget reserved for unexpected costs
- Time a task can be delayed without delaying the project end date (Correct answer)
- The overlap between two concurrent tasks
- Additional drawing revisions allowed by the client
Correct answer: Time a task can be delayed without delaying the project end date
Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without affecting the project completion date.
Question 4: When a project manager compresses a schedule by overlapping tasks that would normally be done sequentially, this technique is called:
- Crashing
- Fast-tracking (Correct answer)
- Resource smoothing
- Scope creep management
Correct answer: Fast-tracking
Fast-tracking overlaps phases or tasks in parallel to shorten the schedule, accepting increased risk of rework.
Question 5: A WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) in a drafting project is best described as:
- A list of all team members and their roles
- A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope into manageable components (Correct answer)
- A timeline showing task dependencies
- A budget breakdown by department
Correct answer: A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope into manageable components
A WBS decomposes the project scope into smaller, manageable deliverables organized hierarchically.
Question 6: Which type of task dependency means Task B cannot start until Task A finishes?
- Start-to-Start (SS)
- Finish-to-Start (FS) (Correct answer)
- Finish-to-Finish (FF)
- Start-to-Finish (SF)
Correct answer: Finish-to-Start (FS)
Finish-to-Start is the most common dependency, where a successor task can only begin after the predecessor is complete.
Question 7: During project planning, a 'milestone' is best defined as:
- A task with a long duration that spans multiple phases
- A significant event or decision point with zero duration (Correct answer)
- A resource assignment for a critical team member
- A budget checkpoint requiring approval
Correct answer: A significant event or decision point with zero duration
Milestones mark significant points in a project and have no duration — they represent checkpoints, not work.
CDT Project Planning & Scheduling 2
Which scheduling technique uses a network diagram to identify the longest path through a project?