CTL Project Planning & Execution 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A team leader notices that a project milestone will be missed due to an underestimated task. What should be done FIRST?
- Notify the project sponsor immediately
- Assess the impact on the overall project schedule (Correct answer)
- Add more team members to the delayed task
- Request a formal scope change
Correct answer: Assess the impact on the overall project schedule
Assessing schedule impact first allows the team leader to make an informed decision before escalating or acting.
Question 2: Which technique is used to determine the longest path through a project network and its minimum completion time?
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
- Critical Path Method (CPM) (Correct answer)
- RACI matrix
- Gantt chart
Correct answer: Critical Path Method (CPM)
CPM identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, which defines the earliest possible project completion date.
Question 3: A team leader wants to improve task handoffs between team members. Which tool best defines who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed?
- Risk register
- RACI matrix (Correct answer)
- Fishbone diagram
- Burndown chart
Correct answer: RACI matrix
A RACI matrix clarifies roles and responsibilities for each task, reducing handoff confusion.
Question 4: During project execution, a key team member unexpectedly leaves. What is the BEST immediate step for the team leader?
- Halt all project activities until a replacement is found
- Reassess the schedule and redistribute critical tasks among remaining members (Correct answer)
- Escalate to senior management and wait for direction
- Remove the departed member's tasks from the project scope
Correct answer: Reassess the schedule and redistribute critical tasks among remaining members
Reassessing and redistributing tasks ensures continuity while a longer-term solution is arranged.
Question 5: Float (or slack) in a project schedule refers to:
- Extra budget allocated for unforeseen expenses
- The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project completion (Correct answer)
- The total number of idle team members at any point
- Overtime hours available for critical tasks
Correct answer: The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the project completion
Float is the scheduling flexibility available on non-critical tasks before they impact the project end date.
Question 6: A project team is behind schedule but within budget. Which response is MOST appropriate?
- Reduce quality standards to speed up delivery
- Crash the schedule by adding resources to critical path tasks (Correct answer)
- Request additional budget to hire permanent staff
- Close out the project early and document lessons learned
Correct answer: Crash the schedule by adding resources to critical path tasks
Crashing applies additional resources to critical path tasks to shorten duration while using the available budget cushion.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes a project baseline?
- The team's initial brainstorming output before planning begins
- The approved plan against which project performance is measured (Correct answer)
- A summary of risks identified during the planning phase
- The final deliverable submitted to the client
Correct answer: The approved plan against which project performance is measured
A baseline is the approved, frozen version of the project plan used as the reference point for tracking variance.
CTL Project Planning & Execution 2
A team leader notices that a project milestone will be missed due to an underestimated task.
What should be done FIRST?