Level 3 - Programming and Planning

Question 1

N 1. What is PERT? (Method of programme creation)

Answer 1

Programme, Evaluation, and Review Technique

Three estimates for a project programme:

• The most Optimistic (Shortest)
• The most pessimistic (Longest)
• The most likely (an average of the two)

Question 2

N 2. What is a Project Programme?

Answer 2

A sequence in which tasks must be carried out to ensure a project can be completed on time.

Question 3

N 3. What can be identified from the project programme?

Answer 3

• Start Date.
• Completion Date.
• List of activities to complete the project
• The start date for each activity.
• The completion date of each activity.

From evaluation of the programme you can identify:

• The amount of ‘Float’ each activity has.
• The Critical Path.
• Tasks which can only be carried out sequentially.
• Tasks which can be carried out simultaneously.

Question 4

N 4. What should a programme help you do?

Answer 4

• Plan Activities.
• Monitor progress.
• Manage Resources.

Question 5

N 5. What types of Programme are there?

Answer 5

• Clients Overall Programme (Development Programme)
• Design Programme (Pre-construction programme)
• Information Release Schedule (IRS)
• Contractors Master Programme (Construction Programme)

Question 6

N 6. What goes into the Clients Overall Programme?

Answer 6

• Everything, from the appointment of the consultant, through to the completion of the project.
• This will include work outside the scope of the Main Contractor.

Question 7

N 7. What goes into the design Programme?

Answer 7

It describes the sequence of design tasks, i.e. from the process of design from inception through the Technical Design.

Question 8

N 8. What goes into an information release schedule?

Answer 8

The dates by which information needs to be released by the design team, to avoid any delays.

Question 9

N 9. What goes into the Contractors Master Programme?

Answer 9

The schedule and sequence of construction activities.

Question 10

N 10. Can you employ a consultant to produce a programme?

Answer 10

Yes, on large projects they can prepare the outline programme.

Question 11

N 11. What should you consider when preparing a programme?

Answer 11

• Items with a long lead-in
• Pre-contract works
• Pre-fabrication elements
• Phasing and Sectional Completion
• CDM Planning Period
• Works outside of the main contract
• Relationships with other projects

Question 12

N 12. What is the CDM planning period?

Answer 12

An amount of time given to the Contractor, allowing the Contractor to assess Health and Safety issues and plan their works before construction commences.

Question 13

N 13. How long is the CDM planning period?

Answer 13

Not specified, it should be proportional to the size and complexity of the project and the risk.

Question 14

N 14. What is a Flow diagram?

Answer 14

A Graphical representation of a process of steps/sequences is required to achieve an end goal.

Question 15

N 15. What is the benefit of using a Flow Diagram?

Answer 15

It helps the team to understand the different processes and relationships between activities.

Question 16

N 16. What is an Activity Schedule?

Answer 16

A list of activities which outlines the works required to complete a project/package etc.

Question 17

N 17. When would you use an Activity Schedule?

Answer 17

A simple project with few activities.

Question 18

N 18. What type of contract uses an Activity Schedule?

Answer 18

New Engineering Contracts, Engineering and Construction Contract Options A and C.

Question 19

N 19. How is an activity schedule represented graphically on a programme?

Answer 19

• Typically using a Gantt chart.

- Each activity gets a bar.

Question 20

N 20. What should a PM do when receiving a contractors programme?

Answer 20

• Check that it is not front-loaded.

- Check the activity timescales are reasonable and realistic

Question 21

N 21. What is a Gantt chart?

Answer 21

A way of displaying a programme, through a combination of bars, each relating to an activity and having a specified duration.

Question 22

N 22. What does a Gantt chart programme show?

Answer 22

The:

• Start Date.
• Duration.
• Completion date.
• Of both activities and the project as a whole.

Question 23

N 23. What are the advantages of a Gantt chart?

Answer 23

• It is suitable for construction as it offers a high level of detail
• It shows the timescale
• Easy to read and to understand
• Not detailed enough for cost planning and estimates

Question 24

N 24. What is the critical path?

Answer 24

• The shortest sequence in which a project can be completed.

- Also referred to as the bottleneck of the project.

Question 25

N 25. What is Critical Path Analysis?

Answer 25

• A way of analysing the programme, to see if the critical path duration can be shortened; or
• Activities altered in sequence.

Question 26

N 26. What do you aim to identify when undertaking a Critical Path Analysis?

Answer 26

• Any items with slack that can be used to improve the programme’s critical path.
• Identify risky items within the programme, i.e. items on the critical path that also have significantly long lead-in-times on materials etc.

Question 27

N 27. What is a Key Milestone?

Answer 27

Specific points along the programme are used to measure progress.

Question 28

N 28. What is the benefit of having Key Milestones?

Answer 28

Helps the project keep site of:

• The key dates.
• The key deadlines.

Question 29

N 29. What is Float?

Answer 29

• The amount of time an activity can be delayed, before it impacts on the completion of the works.

Question 30

N 30. Can tasks on the Critical Path have float?

Answer 30

• No, if they did you would identify them through Critical Path Analysis and amend the programme.

Question 31

N 31. What are the types of Float?

Answer 31

• Total Float.

* Free Float.

Question 32

N 32. What is Total Float?

Answer 32

• The amount of time an activity can be delayed, before it impacts on the overall completion date.

Question 33

N 33. What is Free Float?

Answer 33

• The amount of time an activity can be delayed, before it impacts on the start date of another activity.

Question 34

N 34. What valuation method gives the most accurate cash flow forecast in terms of time and surety of value?

Answer 34

• Stage Payments.

Question 35

N 35. What are Stage Payments?

Answer 35

• Payment which are made in instalments, but do not necessarily reflect the value of work completed.

Question 36

N 37. How can you monitor progress on site?

Answer 36

• Compare progress to programme.
• Compare Valuations against cash flow forecast.
• Use the ‘S’ curve principles.
• Milestone Chart.

Question 37

N 47. What are the Three types of delay?

Answer 37

• Contract Led.
• Client Led.
• Neutral.

Question 38

N 48. What is Concurrent delay?

Answer 38

• Where multiple delays for numerous causes overlap. The difficulty is in determining the root cause.

Question 39

N 49. What types of concurrent delay are there?

Answer 39

• Parallel Fault.
• Overlapping Events.
• Truly Concurrent Events.

Question 40

N 50. How do you assess Concurrent Delay?

Answer 40

• You must determine the root cause, true concurrent delay is actually very rare.
• Once you determine the root cause, you should really discard any other delays.
• Use the Malmaison approach.
o This is where if it is considered that one of the delays is the clients risks, then the contractor should be entitled to a Extension of Time without loss and expense.
o It will have to claim for loss and expense separately.