CPWM Project Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling technique uses a network diagram to identify the longest path through a project, determining the minimum project duration?
- Gantt chart analysis
- Critical Path Method (CPM) (Correct answer)
- Resource leveling
- Monte Carlo simulation
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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)?
- 0.80 (Correct answer)
- 1.25
- 0.60
- 1.00
Correct 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.
Question 3: When a public works manager uses a RAM (Responsibility Assignment Matrix), what is the primary purpose?
- Tracking project schedule milestones
- Defining roles and responsibilities for each work package (Correct answer)
- Estimating project costs by department
- Documenting lessons learned
Correct 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).
Question 4: During project execution, a utility conflict is discovered that was not in the original scope. Which document should the project manager initiate?
- Risk register update
- Change order request (Correct answer)
- Revised project charter
- Corrective action plan
Correct answer: Change order request
A change order formally documents scope changes and their impact on cost and schedule, ensuring proper authorization before work proceeds.
Question 5: What does the term 'float' (or slack) represent in project scheduling?
- The total project contingency budget
- The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project end date (Correct answer)
- The buffer time added to each task estimate
- The difference between planned and actual start dates
Correct 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.
Question 6: A public works manager is preparing a project estimate during the planning phase with limited design detail. Which estimating method is most appropriate?
- Definitive (bottom-up) estimate
- Analogous (top-down) estimate (Correct answer)
- Parametric estimate using unit costs
- Three-point estimate
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which project closure activity is most important for improving future public works projects?
- Releasing project resources back to the department
- Conducting a lessons learned review and documenting findings (Correct answer)
- Archiving all project drawings and records
- Issuing final payment to the contractor
Correct 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.
CPWM Project Management 2
Which scheduling technique uses a network diagram to identify the longest path through a project, determining the minimum project duration?