Project Planning & Execution Flashcards

Which scheduling tool visually displays project tasks as horizontal bars along a timeline, making it easy to track overlapping activities?

Answer: Gantt chart

A Gantt chart uses horizontal bars to represent task durations on a timeline, allowing foresters to visualize schedule overlap and sequencing.

A forester must obtain a Section 404 permit before beginning a timber harvest project near wetlands. This permit is issued by which agency?

Answer: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands.

During project planning, a forester identifies that a road construction contract depends on completion of a stream crossing design. This relationship is best described as a:

Answer: Task dependency

A task dependency (predecessor-successor relationship) means one activity must be completed before another can begin, which is critical to sequence in a project schedule.

A reforestation project is 60% complete but has spent 80% of its budget. What does this indicate about the project's cost performance?

Answer: It is over budget relative to work accomplished

Spending 80% of the budget for only 60% completion means the cost performance index (CPI) is less than 1.0, indicating an over-budget condition.

Which document formally defines the scope, objectives, schedule, budget, and stakeholders for a forestry project and serves as the primary reference throughout execution?

Answer: Project charter

A project charter (or project management plan) formally authorizes the project and documents its scope, objectives, budget, schedule, and key stakeholders.

When planning a prescribed burn, which factor is LEAST relevant to project scheduling?

Answer: Landowner's long-term timber revenue goals

Long-term timber revenue goals influence management objectives but are not a direct scheduling factor for a prescribed burn operation, unlike weather, crew, and equipment readiness.

A forester's project plan calls for hand-planting seedlings at a rate of 500 trees/day per crew. If 10,000 seedlings must be planted in 5 working days, how many crews are needed?

Answer: 4 crews

10,000 seedlings ÷ 5 days = 2,000 seedlings/day needed; 2,000 ÷ 500 per crew = 4 crews required.