PMI - Performing a Critical Path Analysis

Question 1

Elements of a typical Project Schedule
List

Answer 1

• Notes
• Task Name
• Duration
• Start Date
• Resource
• Bar Chart (Gantt Chart)

Question 2

Project Schedule
Definition

Answer 2

A table that identifies what activities need to take place, who is going to perform them, and when they are going to happen. Used to monitor project performance and stay up to date on the status of activities.

Question 3

Tools and techniques used to develop the Project Schedule
List

Answer 3

• Resource optimization
• Leveling
• Smoothing
• Data analysis
• Critical Path Method
• Critical chain method
• Project management information systems
• Agile release planning
• Leads and lags
• Schedule compression methods- crashing and fast tracking

Question 4

Resource Optimization - Schedule
Definition

Answer 4

The goal of resource optimization is to ensure that demand doesn’t exceed availability. So you use this technique when resources have been over allocated, are only available at specific times or are limited in numbers.

Question 5

Leveling - Resource Optimization
Definition

Answer 5

Involves lending some resources from one activity to another. Allocating resources to activities where they are most needed in order to complete the project on time.

Question 6

Smoothing - Resource Optimization
Definition

Answer 6

Delaying the start of a non-critical activity can help to eliminate a conflict where the same resources needed for two activities at once. The duration of the activity remains unchanged and there is no impact on the resources allotted to the activity. The only change is to the timing of the start of the activity.

Question 7

Data Analysis - Resource Optimization
Definition

Answer 7

Simulation and what if scenario analysis. Test the feasibility of the draft schedule by assessing a series of worst case scenarios based on the activity assumptions.

Question 8

Critical Path Method
Definition

Answer 8

use to develop the project schedule, calculate the minimum total project duration based on estimates of how long critical activities will take to complete. In a schedule network diagram, the longest full path linking activities that must be performed in sequence is known as the critical path.

Question 9

Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 9

a graphical representation of the logical relationships among the project schedule activities. Use this diagram to identify the critical path and float within the project schedule.

Question 10

Schedule Network Diagram - Elements
List

Answer 10

• Action Name (middle)
• Action Duration (top middle)
• Early Start Date (top left)
• Early Finish Date (top right)
• Late Start Date (bottom left)
• Late Finish Date (bottom right)
• Float (bottom middle)

Question 11

Critical chain method
Definition

Answer 11

is related to the critical path method. It uses estimates that are based on limited resource availability to determine a more realistic critical path. Add duration buffers time to the network diagram.

Question 12

Schedule Network Diagram
- Early Start Date
- Early Finish Date
- Late Start Date
- Late Finish Date

Answer 12

The early start date, the earliest possible start date for each activity to begin.
The early finish date, the earliest date each activity can end.
The late start date the latest possible time for each activity to begin.

Early and late dates can be difference and give the activities Float time so they can be moved within the schedule without pushing out project deadline.

Question 13

Leads - Schedule
Definition

Answer 13

A lead is when an activity can begin before a predecessor activity is complete. For example, an editor may edit a manuscript chapter by chapter instead of waiting for the entire manuscript to be completed to save time. The start to start relationship between these activities creates a lead.

Question 14

Lag - Schedule
Definition

Answer 14

A lag, is when successor activity is delayed. For example, if cement must dry before the next scheduled activity can start, the added time between the finish of the predecessor activity to the start of the successor activity represents a lag.

Question 15

Schedule Compression
Definition

Answer 15

Reducing a project’s duration without changing its scope. Two ways you can do this are known as crashing and fast tracking.

Question 16

Crashing - Schedule Compression
Definition

Answer 16

Crashing involves shortening the duration of activities, usually by assigning more resources to those activities. This is a trade-offs between costs and the schedule. If more resources are allocated an activity can often be completed faster, but this means spending more on resources.

Question 17

Fast tracking - Schedule Compression
Definition`

Answer 17

Involves scheduling two or more activities to be performed in parallel instead of one at a time. This helps speed up a project.

Question 18

The Forward Pass - Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 18

In order to figure out how long our project will take, we are going to conduct a pass through our project schedule, from left to right chronologically from beginning to end. To figure out how long it will take. This is called a forward pass

Question 19

The Backward Pass - Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 19

Then, in order to figure out how long a project will take we conduct a forward path to determine the early start and early finish stage for all of the activities in our schedule. Most schedules have activities with flexible start and finish dates, in order to determine which activities have flexibility we will conduct a backward path and find the late start and finish date.

Question 20

Float - Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 20

The flexibility in our schedule is also known as float. Float is how long the activity can be delayed without affecting your project schedule.

Question 21

Total Float Calculation - Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 21

Float is how long the activity can be delayed without affecting your project schedule. Since the float can be used anywhere along the path, it is called total float. The total float is calculated by subtracting the early finish from the late finish, or the early start from the late start.

Question 22

Free Float - Schedule Network Diagram
Definition

Answer 22

Free float is how long you can delay an activity WITHOUT delaying the NEXT scheduled activity on the path.

Question 23

Identify the critical path - Schedule Network Diagram

Answer 23

The activities along this path must complete on time in order for the overall project schedule to be met or the shortest possible time for the project to finish (longest path). In summary, the critical path can be identified as the path with 0 float.

Question 24

Critical Path - Protect

Answer 24

Protect the activities on the critical path so that the project stays on schedule.