CPE Project Planning & Scheduling Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'Lead' mean in the context of activity sequencing?
- The amount of time a successor activity is delayed after its predecessor starts
- The acceleration of a successor activity before its predecessor is complete (Correct answer)
- The lag applied between two dependent activities
- The total float available on the critical path
Correct answer: The acceleration of a successor activity before its predecessor is complete
Lead allows a successor activity to start early relative to its predecessor's progress, effectively compressing the schedule between those activities.
Question 2: Which Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) level directly feeds into the project schedule as schedulable activities?
- Control Accounts
- Work Packages (Correct answer)
- Planning Packages
- Summary Elements
Correct answer: Work Packages
Work Packages are the lowest WBS level and are decomposed into schedule activities that can be planned, estimated, and tracked.
Question 3: The 'Resource Calendar' in project scheduling is used primarily to define:
- The number of resources required for each activity
- The working days, shifts, and availability of specific resources (Correct answer)
- The cost rate of resources assigned to activities
- The sequence in which resources will be assigned to tasks
Correct answer: The working days, shifts, and availability of specific resources
A resource calendar identifies when specific resources are available, including working hours, holidays, and planned absences, which affects activity scheduling.
Question 4: In Earned Value Management, a Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.85 means:
- The project is 85% complete
- The project is earning 85 cents of scheduled work for every dollar planned (Correct answer)
- The project will finish 15% over budget
- The project has 15% more work remaining than planned
Correct answer: The project is earning 85 cents of scheduled work for every dollar planned
An SPI of 0.85 indicates the project is behind schedule, earning only $0.85 of planned work for every $1.00 of work that should have been done.
Question 5: Which scheduling output document shows the planned start and finish dates for each activity in a bar chart format?
- Network Diagram
- Gantt Chart (Correct answer)
- Resource Histogram
- S-Curve
Correct answer: Gantt Chart
A Gantt Chart (bar chart) displays each activity as a horizontal bar aligned to a calendar timescale, showing planned start, duration, and finish.
Question 6: When performing 'What-If Scenario Analysis' in scheduling, the planner typically:
- Updates the baseline schedule to reflect current conditions
- Models alternative scenarios to evaluate the impact of risks or changes (Correct answer)
- Assigns resources based on skill availability
- Calculates earned value for completed activities
Correct answer: Models alternative scenarios to evaluate the impact of risks or changes
What-if scenario analysis evaluates the effect of various situations (e.g., resource loss, activity delays) on the schedule without changing the baseline.
Question 7: A Mandatory Dependency (Hard Logic) in project scheduling is best described as:
- A dependency based on team preferences or organizational policy
- An inherent dependency that cannot be changed due to physical or contractual constraints (Correct answer)
- A discretionary dependency defined by the project manager
- A dependency that can be removed using fast-tracking techniques
Correct answer: An inherent dependency that cannot be changed due to physical or contractual constraints
Mandatory dependencies are inherent in the nature of the work (e.g., concrete must cure before loading) and cannot be altered regardless of resources.
CPE Project Planning & Scheduling Techniques 3
What does the term 'Lead' mean in the context of activity sequencing?