PTT Week 4 - Scheduling

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best defines the Critical Path Method (CPM)?

The path with the most float or slack

A method to identify the most cost-effective project schedule

The longest path that determines the minimum project duration (correct)

The shortest path through the project network diagram

In project scheduling, what does 'float' represent?

The budget allocated for risk management

The buffer time added to each task duration

The time an activity can be delayed without impacting the project completion date (correct)

The total time required to complete a project

Which dependency type is created by the nature of the work and cannot be changed?

Mandatory (correct)

Internal

Discretionary

External

What is the main difference between 'free float' and 'total float'?

Free float is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying any successor, while total float is the time it can be delayed without delaying the project Signup and view all the answers

In the Forward-Backward Pass method, what does the 'Late Finish' (LF) represent?

The latest time an activity can finish without delaying the project Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary drawback of using fast-tracking as a schedule compression technique?

It increases the risk of rework due to overlapping tasks Signup and view all the answers

In project scheduling, what does a Gantt chart primarily display?

The timeline of activities and their dependencies Signup and view all the answers

Which scheduling technique involves adding extra resources to reduce the duration of critical path activities?

Crashing Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to identify the critical path in project scheduling?

It determines the shortest possible project duration Signup and view all the answers

What does 'resource leveling' primarily aim to address?

Ensuring that resource usage does not exceed availability Signup and view all the answers

You discover that a critical path activity has been delayed by two days. What is the likely impact on the project schedule?

The project completion date will be delayed by two days Signup and view all the answers

Your project schedule shows several activities with negative float. What does this indicate?

The project schedule cannot meet the imposed deadline without adjustments Signup and view all the answers

A project sponsor requests that you shorten the project duration by two weeks. Which technique would be most appropriate to consider first?

Re-evaluating the critical path and applying fast-tracking where possible Signup and view all the answers

During a review meeting, a stakeholder points out that several tasks are overallocated in the resource calendar. What is your best immediate action?

Implement resource leveling to adjust the schedule Signup and view all the answers

You are using a project scheduling tool that shows an indicator of resource overallocation. What is the potential impact on your project?

The project may face delays due to resource conflicts Signup and view all the answers

You have used fast-tracking to overlap tasks on the critical path, but a team member warns about potential rework. What should you do next?

Re-evaluate the risks and consider reverting some tasks to their original sequence Signup and view all the answers

While performing a backward pass, you find that one activity has a Late Start (LS) date earlier than its Early Start (ES) date. What does this indicate?

There is a logical error in the network diagram Signup and view all the answers

A stakeholder demands an aggressive deadline that significantly shortens the project timeline. Which scheduling technique would best help assess the feasibility of this request?

Schedule Compression (Fast-tracking and Crashing) Signup and view all the answers

Your project is nearing completion, but a critical task is delayed due to an unavailable resource. What is the best course of action to avoid project delays?

Reassign the task to an available resource or consider crashing Signup and view all the answers

You are reviewing a Gantt chart and notice a lag of 5 days added between two critical path activities. What could be the reason for this lag?

To account for resource availability issues Signup and view all the answers

During a project review, you find that one task has both positive total float and negative free float. What does this indicate?

The task is delayed and causing a bottleneck for its successor Signup and view all the answers

Your project uses MS Project for scheduling. After running a resource leveling analysis, you notice that the project duration has increased. What is the most likely reason for this change?

Non-critical tasks were moved to avoid resource overallocation Signup and view all the answers

A team member suggests adding contingency to every task on the critical path. What would be the impact of this approach?

It would increase the overall project duration unnecessarily Signup and view all the answers

You have identified a new critical path after making changes to the project schedule. What is your immediate next step?

Update the project schedule and communicate the changes to the team Signup and view all the answers

You are applying crashing to reduce the project duration, but the project costs are increasing significantly. What should you consider before continuing?

Whether the increased costs still meet the project's cost-benefit analysis Signup and view all the answers

A project milestone is approaching, but the associated tasks are running behind schedule. What is the most appropriate technique to use in this situation?

Fast-track the tasks if dependencies allow it Signup and view all the answers

You find that one of your critical path activities has zero float but is not progressing as planned. What is the best immediate response?

Prioritize this activity and allocate additional resources Signup and view all the answers

Your project schedule indicates a high level of resource overallocation in the final phase. Which action would be most effective in addressing this issue?

Apply resource smoothing to utilize available float Signup and view all the answers

You are conducting a critical path analysis and discover a secondary critical path with minimal float. How should you proceed?

Monitor both critical paths closely as either could impact the project duration Signup and view all the answers

You need to shorten the project duration, but further crashing is not cost-effective. What alternative should you consider?

Reallocate resources from non-critical tasks to critical path tasks Signup and view all the answers

The project schedule baseline is approved, but frequent changes in task sequencing are being requested by stakeholders. What is your best course of action?

Implement a strict change control process for schedule adjustments Signup and view all the answers

A delay in an external dependency is impacting your project schedule. How should you address this issue?

Negotiate with the external party to expedite their work Signup and view all the answers

You discover that the critical path duration is longer than the contractual project deadline. What is the most appropriate response?

Reassess the task dependencies and apply schedule compression techniques Signup and view all the answers

Your project schedule has been adjusted multiple times. What is a potential risk of frequent schedule changes?

Loss of schedule baseline integrity Signup and view all the answers

The project team has identified a potential new critical path after implementing resource leveling. What should you prioritize?

Conducting a detailed analysis of the new critical path activities Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lead time' allow for in project scheduling?

Overlapping tasks so a successor can begin before the predecessor finishes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of dependency is most commonly influenced by project management decisions rather than inherent project requirements?

Discretionary dependency Signup and view all the answers

In project scheduling, what is the primary purpose of using a milestone?

To mark significant events or completion points in the project Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a Finish-to-Start (FS) dependency?

The successor activity cannot start until the predecessor activity finishes Signup and view all the answers

Which scheduling technique adjusts task start and finish dates based on resource constraints?

Resource Leveling Signup and view all the answers

When would you use a 'Monte Carlo simulation' in scheduling?

To predict the probability of meeting the project schedule based on risk analysis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of 'lag time' in a project schedule?

To create a delay between the finish of one activity and the start of another Signup and view all the answers

Which tool is most commonly used to display the project schedule and show task dependencies?

Gantt Chart Signup and view all the answers

In the context of scheduling, what is a 'hammock activity'?

A summary activity that spans multiple tasks Signup and view all the answers

If an activity on the critical path is delayed, what is the immediate impact on the project?

It will delay the project's completion date Signup and view all the answers

Which scheduling technique is used when project tasks are performed in parallel to reduce the total duration?

Fast-Tracking Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary disadvantage of crashing a project schedule?

It typically increases project costs due to additional resources Signup and view all the answers

In project scheduling, what does 'slack time' (or float) represent?

The amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project's end date Signup and view all the answers

When is a 'Finish-to-Finish' (FF) relationship typically used in scheduling?

When two tasks must finish at the same time Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of using 'baseline schedules' in project management?

To provide a reference point for measuring actual performance against planned performance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Critical Path Method (CPM) and Project Scheduling

CPM definition: The longest path through the project network diagram that determines the minimum project duration.
Float: The time an activity can be delayed without impacting the project completion date.
Free float: The time an activity can be delayed without delaying any successor.
Total float: The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project.
Critical path: The sequence of activities that determines the shortest possible project duration.
Mandatory dependency: A dependency type created by the nature of the work and cannot be changed.
Crashing: A scheduling technique that involves adding extra resources to reduce the duration of critical path activities.
Fast-tracking: A schedule compression technique where tasks are overlapped to shorten the project duration.
Resource leveling: A technique used to adjust the schedule to prevent resource overallocation.
Gantt chart: A project scheduling tool that displays the timeline of activities and their dependencies.
Monte Carlo simulation: A technique used to predict the probability of meeting a project schedule based on risk analysis.
Milestone: A significant event or completion point in a project.
Lag time: A delay between the finish of one activity and the start of another.
Hammock activity: A summary activity that spans multiple tasks.
Baseline schedule: A reference point for measuring project performance against planned performance.
Project Scheduling: The process of defining, sequencing, scheduling, controlling the project activities within budget, time, and scope, and resource constraints.

Project Scheduling Techniques

Fast-Tracking: Overlapping tasks on the critical path to reduce project duration.
Crashing: Adding more resources to shorten critical path activities, leading to increased costs.
Resource Leveling: Adjusting the schedule to prevent resource overallocation.

Project Schedule Issues

Critical path delay: Impact of delayed activities on the overall project completion.
Resource conflicts: Overallocation of resources to tasks, potentially leading to schedule delays and conflicts.
Negative float: Indicates that activities on the schedule cannot meet the imposed deadline without adjustments.
Critical Path Length: The length of time it will take to complete all the activities on the critical path.
Schedule Compression: Strategies to shorten the project duration (e.g., fast-tracking, crashing).

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Description

Test your understanding of the Critical Path Method (CPM) and its key concepts, including float types, dependencies, and scheduling techniques. This quiz will challenge your knowledge about how to efficiently manage project timelines and resources.