Project Planning & Scheduling Flashcards
7 cards from real PMI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Project Planning & Scheduling flashcards as text
A project manager calculates Schedule Performance Index (SPI) = 0.85. This means the project is:
Answer: Behind schedule, completing less work than planned
An SPI below 1.0 indicates the project is behind schedule — only 85 cents of earned value is being produced for every dollar of planned value.
Which scheduling approach is most appropriate when project scope is not fully defined and requirements are expected to evolve?
Answer: Agile iteration-based scheduling
Agile iteration-based scheduling accommodates evolving requirements by planning in short sprints and continuously reprioritizing the backlog.
During schedule control, the project manager identifies that an activity on the critical path is 10 days behind. The FIRST action should be to:
Answer: Analyze root cause and evaluate recovery options before escalating
Before taking corrective action, the project manager must analyze the root cause and assess available options to make an informed decision about recovery.
A project manager uses a schedule network to identify that Activity G has a total float of 8 days and a free float of 3 days. What does this tell the team?
Answer: Activity G can slip up to 8 days without delaying the project, but only 3 days without delaying its immediate successors
Total float (8 days) is how long G can slip before delaying the project; free float (3 days) is how long it can slip before delaying its immediate successors.
Which technique involves using statistical simulation to model thousands of possible schedule scenarios to understand schedule risk?
Answer: Monte Carlo analysis
Monte Carlo analysis runs thousands of simulations using probability distributions for activity durations to produce a range of possible project completion dates.
When a project manager applies the Critical Chain Method (CCM), project buffers are placed:
Answer: At the end of the critical chain to protect the project completion date
CCM aggregates safety time removed from individual activities and places it as a project buffer at the end of the critical chain to protect the project finish date.
A project manager is asked to develop a schedule for a project where similar projects have been completed before. Which estimating approach would provide the QUICKEST estimate with reasonable accuracy?
Answer: Parametric estimating using historical metrics
Parametric estimating uses statistical relationships between historical data and project variables (e.g., cost per unit) to produce quick, scalable estimates.