CLL Project Planning & Execution 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A lean project plan uses swimlane diagrams. What is the main benefit of this format over a standard Gantt chart?
- It shows task durations more precisely
- It clearly depicts cross-functional handoffs and ownership by department or role (Correct answer)
- It automatically calculates the critical path
- It integrates cost and schedule variance
Correct answer: It clearly depicts cross-functional handoffs and ownership by department or role
Swimlane diagrams highlight which function or role owns each step, making cross-functional handoffs and dependencies explicit.
Question 2: In the context of lean project execution, what is a 'constraint log'?
- A list of budget limits approved by sponsors
- A running record of obstacles blocking team commitments, used to drive removal actions (Correct answer)
- A regulatory compliance checklist
- A log of all scope change requests
Correct answer: A running record of obstacles blocking team commitments, used to drive removal actions
A constraint log captures impediments that prevent work completion so the team can systematically remove them.
Question 3: Which planning horizon framework does the Last Planner System use to organize work?
- Daily → Weekly → Monthly → Annual
- Master schedule → Phase → Lookahead → Weekly work plan → Learning (Correct answer)
- Vision → Strategy → Tactics → Operations
- Backlog → Sprint → Release → Roadmap
Correct answer: Master schedule → Phase → Lookahead → Weekly work plan → Learning
The Last Planner System structures planning across five horizons: master, phase, lookahead (6 weeks), weekly work plan, and learning.
Question 4: A project team consistently fails to complete planned work each week. The lean leader should FIRST:
- Increase the number of planned tasks to motivate the team
- Analyze root causes of failures using the Five Whys before adjusting future plans (Correct answer)
- Replace team members who miss commitments
- Extend all deadlines by 20%
Correct answer: Analyze root causes of failures using the Five Whys before adjusting future plans
Root cause analysis using Five Whys reveals systemic reasons for missed commitments, enabling effective corrective action.
Question 5: What is the role of 'milestone reviews' in lean project execution?
- To replace daily standups at key intervals
- To validate that deliverables meet defined criteria before the project proceeds to the next phase (Correct answer)
- To formally close individual work packages
- To update the project budget baseline
Correct answer: To validate that deliverables meet defined criteria before the project proceeds to the next phase
Milestone reviews are go/no-go checkpoints that confirm deliverables satisfy phase-exit criteria before committing to the next phase.
Question 6: In lean project planning, 'conditional commitments' in the lookahead plan refer to:
- Budget approvals contingent on ROI proof
- Tasks that can only begin once specific prerequisites are confirmed ready (Correct answer)
- Promises made without team consensus
- Optional scope items deferred to a future phase
Correct answer: Tasks that can only begin once specific prerequisites are confirmed ready
Conditional commitments flag tasks in the lookahead window that are not yet ready to execute because prerequisites remain unresolved.
Question 7: Which lean tool is MOST useful for identifying and prioritizing risks before a project launches?
- Kanban board
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) (Correct answer)
- Affinity diagram
- Value stream map
Correct answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
FMEA systematically identifies potential failure modes, their effects, and risk priority numbers to guide preventive action before launch.
CLL Project Planning & Execution 3
A lean project plan uses swimlane diagrams.
What is the main benefit of this format over a standard Gantt chart?