GCC Project Planning & Scheduling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scheduling technique uses probabilistic time estimates (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic) to account for uncertainty?
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) (Correct answer)
- Gantt chart scheduling
- Resource leveling
Correct answer: Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
PERT uses three-point estimates to calculate expected durations and model schedule uncertainty.
Question 2: A contractor discovers that two critical-path activities share the same crew. What scheduling technique resolves this conflict?
- Fast-tracking
- Resource leveling (Correct answer)
- Schedule compression
- Lead-time adjustment
Correct answer: Resource leveling
Resource leveling adjusts start/finish dates to resolve resource over-allocation without changing scope.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a project baseline schedule?
- To assign daily tasks to subcontractors
- To serve as the approved reference for measuring schedule performance (Correct answer)
- To list all material delivery dates
- To document change order requests
Correct answer: To serve as the approved reference for measuring schedule performance
The baseline schedule is the approved plan against which actual progress is compared to measure variance.
Question 4: On a Gantt chart, a diamond symbol typically represents:
- A summary task
- A milestone (Correct answer)
- A lag period
- A resource conflict
Correct answer: A milestone
Diamonds on Gantt charts mark milestones, which are zero-duration events signifying key project achievements.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes 'schedule compression' using fast-tracking?
- Reducing activity durations by adding resources
- Performing activities in parallel that were originally planned sequentially (Correct answer)
- Eliminating non-critical activities from the schedule
- Shortening the project by removing scope
Correct answer: Performing activities in parallel that were originally planned sequentially
Fast-tracking overlaps activities that would normally be done in sequence, compressing the schedule but increasing risk.
Question 6: A Finish-to-Start (FS) dependency with a 5-day lag means:
- The successor must start 5 days before the predecessor finishes
- The successor cannot start until 5 days after the predecessor finishes (Correct answer)
- Both activities must finish within 5 days of each other
- The predecessor must start 5 days before the successor
Correct answer: The successor cannot start until 5 days after the predecessor finishes
A lag in an FS relationship adds a waiting period between the predecessor's finish and the successor's start.
Question 7: When calculating the Schedule Performance Index (SPI), a value of 0.85 indicates:
- The project is 15% ahead of schedule
- The project is accomplishing only 85 cents of planned work per dollar of time (Correct answer)
- The project has spent 85% of its budget
- The project is 15% under budget
Correct answer: The project is accomplishing only 85 cents of planned work per dollar of time
SPI = EV/PV; a value below 1.0 means the project is behind schedule relative to planned progress.
GCC Project Planning & Scheduling 2
Which scheduling technique uses probabilistic time estimates (optimistic, most likely, pessimistic) to account for uncertainty?