PMI-SP Monitoring, Controlling & Reporting Schedules 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A scheduler is asked to forecast the project's completion date using the current SPI. Which formula applies?
- EAC = BAC / CPI
- Forecast Duration = Planned Duration / SPI (Correct answer)
- ETC = EAC - AC
- SV = EV - PV
Correct answer: Forecast Duration = Planned Duration / SPI
Dividing planned duration by current SPI extrapolates the expected total duration based on the current schedule efficiency rate.
Question 2: A project manager wants to determine whether recently observed schedule variances are systematic or random. Which statistical technique is MOST useful?
- Earned Value Analysis
- Control Charts (Correct answer)
- Resource Leveling
- Schedule Compression
Correct answer: Control Charts
Control charts plot performance data over time and use control limits to distinguish systematic (assignable) variation from random (common cause) variation.
Question 3: During a schedule review, a stakeholder insists that a variance of +2 days on a non-critical activity with 15 days of total float requires immediate escalation. How should the PMI-SP respond?
- Agree and escalate immediately
- Explain that the activity still has 13 days of remaining float and does not yet threaten the critical path (Correct answer)
- Re-baseline the schedule to eliminate the variance
- Crash the activity to recover the 2 days
Correct answer: Explain that the activity still has 13 days of remaining float and does not yet threaten the critical path
With 13 days of remaining float, the activity has adequate buffer and escalation is premature; the PMI-SP should educate the stakeholder on float.
Question 4: Which component of the Project Management Information System (PMIS) is MOST critical for real-time schedule monitoring?
- Document archiving module
- Scheduling software with live progress update capabilities (Correct answer)
- Budget management spreadsheets
- Lessons learned repository
Correct answer: Scheduling software with live progress update capabilities
Scheduling software (e.g., Primavera, MS Project) with real-time update features allows the team to immediately see the impact of progress updates on the schedule.
Question 5: A schedule report shows that 80% of activities on the critical path have SPI < 0.85. What type of corrective action warrants consideration FIRST?
- Eliminate scope items to shorten the schedule
- Fast-tracking or crashing critical path activities to recover lost time (Correct answer)
- Extending the project deadline immediately
- Removing all float from non-critical paths
Correct answer: Fast-tracking or crashing critical path activities to recover lost time
When critical path performance is significantly below plan, schedule compression techniques like fast-tracking or crashing are the primary recovery levers.
Question 6: A project sponsor requires a 'stoplight' schedule report each Friday. Green, yellow, and red indicators are tied to SPI thresholds. What is the PRIMARY benefit of this approach?
- It eliminates the need for a schedule baseline
- It provides at-a-glance exception-based reporting that focuses attention on problem areas (Correct answer)
- It replaces detailed schedule analysis
- It automatically approves corrective actions
Correct answer: It provides at-a-glance exception-based reporting that focuses attention on problem areas
Stoplight/RAG reporting uses color thresholds to surface exceptions quickly, enabling busy stakeholders to focus on areas needing attention.
Question 7: When schedule control reveals that a vendor delivery date will slip by 3 weeks, which document should the PMI-SP update FIRST to reflect this new risk to the schedule?
- Project Charter
- Risk Register (Correct answer)
- Lessons Learned Register
- Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Correct answer: Risk Register
The Risk Register should be updated to log the schedule risk from the vendor slip, triggering risk response planning if thresholds are exceeded.
PMI-SP Monitoring, Controlling & Reporting Schedules 5
A scheduler is asked to forecast the project's completion date using the current SPI.
Which formula applies?