GCC Construction Project Management and Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A contractor is preparing a project schedule and needs to determine which tasks directly impact the project completion date. Which scheduling method identifies the Critical Path?
- Resource-leveling analysis
- Forward and backward pass calculations through the network diagram (Correct answer)
- Gantt chart baseline review
- Monte Carlo simulation only
Correct answer: Forward and backward pass calculations through the network diagram
The Critical Path is identified by performing forward and backward pass calculations to find activities with zero total float.
Question 2: During project execution, the owner requests a scope addition that will cost $45,000 and add 15 days to the schedule. What document should the contractor issue first?
- Change order directive
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Change order proposal (COP) or change order request (Correct answer)
- Construction change directive (CCD) signed by the contractor
Correct answer: Change order proposal (COP) or change order request
A change order proposal or request is issued first to document cost and schedule impacts before the owner formally approves a change order.
Question 3: Which type of contract places the greatest financial risk on the contractor for cost overruns?
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract
- Time and materials contract
- Lump sum (fixed price) contract (Correct answer)
- Cost-plus-percentage contract
Correct answer: Lump sum (fixed price) contract
Under a lump sum contract, the contractor bears all cost overrun risk because the price is fixed regardless of actual costs incurred.
Question 4: A project manager notices that the actual cost of work performed (ACWP) exceeds the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP). What does this indicate?
- The project is ahead of schedule
- The project has a cost overrun (negative cost variance) (Correct answer)
- The project is under budget
- The schedule variance is positive
Correct answer: The project has a cost overrun (negative cost variance)
When ACWP > BCWP, the cost variance (CV = BCWP - ACWP) is negative, indicating a cost overrun.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a pre-construction meeting held before work begins on a project?
- To negotiate final contract terms
- To establish communication protocols, site logistics, and project expectations among all parties (Correct answer)
- To conduct a formal bid opening
- To complete the final punch list review
Correct answer: To establish communication protocols, site logistics, and project expectations among all parties
A pre-construction meeting aligns the owner, contractor, and subcontractors on communication channels, schedules, and site procedures before work starts.
Question 6: When a subcontractor's work is delayed due to a differing site condition, the prime contractor should:
- Absorb the cost without notifying the owner
- Issue a notice of differing site condition to the owner promptly per contract requirements (Correct answer)
- Terminate the subcontractor immediately
- Continue work and address the issue at project closeout
Correct answer: Issue a notice of differing site condition to the owner promptly per contract requirements
Timely written notice to the owner is contractually required to preserve the contractor's right to seek additional compensation or time for differing site conditions.
Question 7: Which scheduling technique allows activities to overlap by starting a successor task before its predecessor is fully complete?
- Lag time
- Lead time (fast-tracking) (Correct answer)
- Float time
- Resource smoothing
Correct answer: Lead time (fast-tracking)
Lead time (fast-tracking) allows a successor activity to begin before the predecessor finishes, compressing the overall schedule.
GCC Construction Project Management and Planning 2
A contractor is preparing a project schedule and needs to determine which tasks directly impact the project completion date.
Which scheduling method identifies the Critical Path?