Schedule Tools Flashcards

Which scheduling tool feature allows a project manager to model 'what-if' scenarios by changing durations or resource assignments without affecting the baseline?

Answer: Schedule simulation

Schedule simulation (including what-if analysis) lets planners test scenarios without altering the saved baseline.

In a scheduling tool, a 'lag' on a Finish-to-Start dependency means the successor activity:

Answer: Can start a specified time after the predecessor finishes

A positive lag delays the successor's start by the specified amount after the predecessor's finish.

A scheduling tool shows a task with 'Total Float = 0' and 'Free Float = 0'. What does this indicate?

Answer: The task is on the critical path

Zero total float means any delay to this task directly delays the project end date, placing it on the critical path.

Which report type in scheduling software shows the distribution of costs or work across time periods?

Answer: Time-phased report

Time-phased reports spread cost or resource data across calendar periods, enabling earned value and cash flow analysis.

When a scheduling tool applies 'resource leveling,' it primarily resolves resource conflicts by:

Answer: Delaying task start dates to smooth resource demand

Resource leveling delays tasks (extending the schedule) to eliminate over-allocation while keeping resource limits intact.

A project scheduler uses the 'Critical Chain' feature in scheduling software. Which constraint does this method primarily address that traditional CPM does not?

Answer: Resource contention across tasks

Critical Chain extends CPM by explicitly accounting for resource dependencies that can shift the longest path.

In scheduling tools, 'hammock activities' are used to:

Answer: Summarize duration and cost of a span of activities below them

A hammock activity spans from the start of the first linked activity to the finish of the last, summarizing the encompassed work.