Scheduling and Project Management Flashcards

A contractor uses a Gantt chart to plan a kitchen renovation. What does a Gantt chart primarily display?

Answer: The sequence and duration of project tasks over a timeline

A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that displays project tasks along a timeline, showing each task's start date, duration, and end date. It allows a contractor to visualize the entire project schedule at a glance.

Which scheduling method identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks that determines the minimum possible project completion time?

Answer: Critical Path Method (CPM)

The Critical Path Method (CPM) identifies the longest chain of dependent tasks — the critical path — whose combined duration sets the earliest possible project completion date. Any delay on the critical path delays the entire project.

In project scheduling, 'float' (also called 'slack') refers to:

Answer: The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the overall project completion date

Float (or slack) is the scheduling flexibility available to a non-critical task — the amount of time it can slip without pushing back the project's final completion date. Tasks on the critical path have zero float.

When a client requests additional work not included in the original contract scope, a contractor should:

Answer: Obtain a signed change order documenting the scope and price before proceeding

Any change to the original contract scope must be documented in a written change order, signed by both parties, before the additional work begins. This protects the contractor's right to be paid for the extra work and prevents scope creep disputes.

A 'punch list' in construction project management is:

Answer: A list of remaining deficiencies or incomplete items to be corrected before final acceptance

A punch list is a document created near project completion listing items that do not conform to contract specifications or that remain incomplete. The contractor must address all punch list items before the owner grants final acceptance and releases final payment.

When scheduling subcontractors for a bathroom renovation, which sequence correctly reflects standard construction order?

Answer: Plumbing rough-in → Electrical rough-in → Drywall → Tile → Painting

Rough-in work (plumbing and electrical) must be completed and inspected before walls are closed with drywall. Finish work — tile, then painting — comes last. Reversing this order forces costly tear-outs to access hidden systems.