CFP Project Planning & Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When scheduling a large commercial fence installation, what is the PRIMARY purpose of a critical path analysis?
- To identify the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project duration (Correct answer)
- To calculate the total labor cost for all tasks
- To determine which subcontractors are available on specific dates
- To list all required materials in order of installation
Correct answer: To identify the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project duration
Critical path analysis identifies the longest chain of dependent tasks, which sets the minimum possible project completion time.
Question 2: A fence contractor receives a project requiring 800 linear feet of chain-link fence. If a two-person crew installs an average of 100 linear feet per day, how many crew-days should be scheduled for the installation phase only?
- 4 days
- 6 days
- 8 days (Correct answer)
- 10 days
Correct answer: 8 days
Dividing 800 linear feet by 100 linear feet per day gives 8 crew-days for the installation phase.
Question 3: Which scheduling tool uses horizontal bars to visually represent the start date, duration, and end date of each project task?
- PERT chart
- Gantt chart (Correct answer)
- Critical path diagram
- Work breakdown structure
Correct answer: Gantt chart
A Gantt chart uses horizontal bars along a timeline to display each task's planned start, duration, and completion.
Question 4: Before scheduling post-setting for a concrete-footing fence project, which site condition must be confirmed first?
- Permit approval and utility locates are complete (Correct answer)
- The fence material has been ordered
- The client has reviewed the design
- A site foreman has been assigned
Correct answer: Permit approval and utility locates are complete
Digging cannot legally or safely begin until permits are approved and underground utilities are marked to prevent strikes.
Question 5: A contractor schedules concrete post footings to cure for 24 hours before attaching fence panels. This planned waiting period is best described as a:
- Lag time (Correct answer)
- Lead time
- Float time
- Buffer time
Correct answer: Lag time
Lag time is a deliberate delay inserted between a predecessor task and its successor to allow for processes like curing.
Question 6: Which document divides a fence project into phases, deliverables, and individual work packages, forming the foundation for scheduling?
- Bid proposal
- Work breakdown structure (WBS) (Correct answer)
- Change order log
- Material take-off sheet
Correct answer: Work breakdown structure (WBS)
A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) hierarchically decomposes the project into manageable work packages that are then sequenced and scheduled.
Question 7: When planning a fence project across multiple phases, a contractor builds in a two-day weather contingency buffer. This is an example of managing:
- Schedule risk (Correct answer)
- Budget variance
- Scope creep
- Resource leveling
Correct answer: Schedule risk
Adding contingency time to a schedule is a standard technique for managing schedule risk caused by uncertain events like adverse weather.
CFP Project Planning & Scheduling 2
When scheduling a large commercial fence installation, what is the PRIMARY purpose of a critical path analysis?