CST Software & Tools for Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Primavera P6, what is the purpose of the 'Activity Step' feature?
- To break an activity into smaller trackable sub-tasks (Correct answer)
- To add float to a critical path activity
- To link activities across project hierarchies
- To set baseline dates for the WBS
Correct answer: To break an activity into smaller trackable sub-tasks
Activity Steps allow schedulers to track incremental progress within a single activity without creating separate schedule activities.
Question 2: Which Microsoft Project view displays resource allocation across time in a bar-chart format?
- Network Diagram
- Resource Usage
- Gantt Chart
- Resource Graph (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Resource Graph
The Resource Graph view shows resource allocation levels over time using a histogram-style bar chart.
Question 3: What does the 'Leveling Delay' field represent in Microsoft Project after resource leveling?
- The amount of lag added between linked tasks
- The delay added to a task to resolve a resource overallocation (Correct answer)
- The difference between early and late start dates
- The total float consumed by a resource
Correct answer: The delay added to a task to resolve a resource overallocation
Leveling Delay is the amount of time Microsoft Project delays a task's start to resolve a resource overallocation.
Question 4: In scheduling software, what is a 'resource calendar' used for?
- Tracking project milestones
- Defining when a specific resource is available to work (Correct answer)
- Setting the project's working days globally
- Calculating earned value metrics
Correct answer: Defining when a specific resource is available to work
A resource calendar defines the working times and non-working exceptions for an individual resource, which may differ from the project calendar.
Question 5: Which Primavera P6 feature allows you to compare the current schedule against a previously saved schedule?
- Schedule Check
- Claim Digger (Correct answer)
- Risk Register
- WBS Comparison Tool
Correct answer: Claim Digger
Claim Digger is a Primavera P6 utility that compares two schedule versions and produces a report of differences in activity dates, relationships, and durations.
Question 6: In Microsoft Project, what effect does setting a task's constraint to 'As Late As Possible' have in a forward-scheduled project?
- The task is placed at the end of its available float window (Correct answer)
- The task is pinned to the project start date
- The task becomes a milestone with zero duration
- The task is removed from the critical path
Correct answer: The task is placed at the end of its available float window
ALAP schedules the task as late as possible within its dependency chain, consuming all available float.
Question 7: What is the primary advantage of using a cloud-based scheduling tool over a desktop-installed application?
- Higher calculation accuracy for CPM
- Real-time multi-user collaboration without file sharing (Correct answer)
- Automatic integration with all ERP systems
- Unlimited number of activities per project
Correct answer: Real-time multi-user collaboration without file sharing
Cloud-based tools enable multiple stakeholders to view and update the schedule simultaneously without emailing files or managing version conflicts.
CST Software & Tools for Scheduling 2
In Primavera P6, what is the purpose of the 'Activity Step' feature?