Project Management Flashcards

Which scheduling technique uses a network diagram to identify the longest path through a project, determining the minimum project duration?

Answer: Critical Path Method (CPM)

CPM identifies the critical path — the sequence of tasks with zero float — which establishes the earliest possible project completion date.

A public works project has a Budget at Completion (BAC) of $2,000,000, Earned Value (EV) of $800,000, and Actual Cost (AC) of $1,000,000. What is the Cost Performance Index (CPI)?

Answer: 0.80

CPI = EV / AC = $800,000 / $1,000,000 = 0.80, indicating the project is spending $1.00 for every $0.80 of work completed.

When a public works manager uses a RAM (Responsibility Assignment Matrix), what is the primary purpose?

Answer: Defining roles and responsibilities for each work package

A RAM maps project work packages to team members or departments, clarifying who is responsible, accountable, consulted, or informed (RACI).

During project execution, a utility conflict is discovered that was not in the original scope. Which document should the project manager initiate?

Answer: Change order request

A change order formally documents scope changes and their impact on cost and schedule, ensuring proper authorization before work proceeds.

What does the term 'float' (or slack) represent in project scheduling?

Answer: The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project end date

Float is the flexibility in scheduling a non-critical task without pushing back the overall project completion date.

A public works manager is preparing a project estimate during the planning phase with limited design detail. Which estimating method is most appropriate?

Answer: Analogous (top-down) estimate

Analogous estimating uses historical data from similar past projects to develop rough-order-of-magnitude estimates when detailed information is unavailable.

Which project closure activity is most important for improving future public works projects?

Answer: Conducting a lessons learned review and documenting findings

Lessons learned capture what worked and what didn't, creating institutional knowledge that improves planning and execution of future projects.