CEP Project Management & Scheduling 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager notices the critical path has shifted after a schedule update. What is the most likely cause?
- A budget overrun on a non-critical activity
- Actual durations differing from estimates, consuming float on previously non-critical paths (Correct answer)
- A change in project scope
- The addition of new resources to critical activities
Correct answer: Actual durations differing from estimates, consuming float on previously non-critical paths
When actual durations exceed planned durations, non-critical activities consume their float and can become critical, shifting the critical path.
Question 2: In project scheduling, the term 'leads' (negative lag) in a Finish-to-Start relationship allows the successor to:
- Start before the predecessor has finished (Correct answer)
- Finish before the predecessor has finished
- Start only after the predecessor finishes
- Run completely in parallel with the predecessor
Correct answer: Start before the predecessor has finished
A lead allows the successor activity to start before its predecessor has fully completed, overlapping activities to compress the schedule.
Question 3: Which schedule format presents project activities against a time scale using horizontal bars, making it the most widely used schedule communication tool?
- Network diagram
- Milestone chart
- Gantt chart (Correct answer)
- Logic bar chart
Correct answer: Gantt chart
Gantt charts display activities as horizontal bars across a calendar timescale, making them highly intuitive for communicating schedule status.
Question 4: When performing schedule compression via fast tracking, a project manager accepts which type of risk?
- Cost overrun risk only
- Increased rework risk due to overlapping activities that were originally sequential (Correct answer)
- Resource over-allocation risk
- Scope creep risk
Correct answer: Increased rework risk due to overlapping activities that were originally sequential
Fast tracking overlaps sequential activities, which increases the probability of rework if later phases expose issues that should have been resolved earlier.
Question 5: A baseline schedule shows Activity A with Early Start Day 5, Early Finish Day 12, Late Start Day 9, and Late Finish Day 16. What is the Total Float?
- 0 days
- 3 days
- 4 days (Correct answer)
- 7 days
Correct answer: 4 days
Total Float = Late Start − Early Start (or Late Finish − Early Finish); 9 − 5 = 4 days.
Question 6: Which schedule integration technique ensures that project phases or contract milestones align with the organization's fiscal year reporting periods?
- Rolling wave planning
- Time-phased budgeting (Correct answer)
- Milestone scheduling
- Resource calendar integration
Correct answer: Time-phased budgeting
Time-phased budgeting distributes costs and work over calendar periods, ensuring schedule milestones align with fiscal reporting and funding release dates.
Question 7: In the context of project scheduling for construction estimating, a 'bid schedule' is primarily used to:
- Track vendor payment terms
- Establish the project timeline for the bid, validating that the proposed scope can be completed by the owner's required date (Correct answer)
- Allocate contingency reserves
- Document subcontractor qualifications
Correct answer: Establish the project timeline for the bid, validating that the proposed scope can be completed by the owner's required date
A bid schedule demonstrates to the owner that the bidder has a credible plan to complete the project within the contract duration, supporting the estimate's assumptions.
CEP Project Management & Scheduling 4
A project manager notices the critical path has shifted after a schedule update.
What is the most likely cause?