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Early Start and Early Finish Dates

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In Critical Path Method (CPM), the early start (ES) and early finish (EF) dates concept is crucial. It represents the earliest start and end times for each project activity, assuming everything prior was completed as soon as possible. ES is calculated from the project start towards the finish, and …

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CAPM - Early Start and Early Finish Dates Example Questions

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Question 1

In a project with tasks A (4 days), B (3 days), and C (5 days), where B can start after A finishes and C after B, if the project begins on March 1st, what's the Early Start date for task C?

Correct Answer: March 8th

The correct answer is March 8th. Let's break down the calculation: 1. Task A starts on March 1st and takes 4 days, finishing on March 4th. 2. Task B can start immediately after Task A, so it begins on March 5th and takes 3 days, finishing on March 7th. 3. Task C can start after Task B finishes, making its Early Start date March 8th. This calculation assumes a standard workweek with no breaks or holidays. The other answers are incorrect: - March 9th is too late, as it doesn't account for the earliest possible start date. - March 7th is too early, as it doesn't allow for the completion of Task B. - March 10th is also too late and introduces unnecessary delays not mentioned in the original project description. In project management, the Early Start date is the earliest date a task can begin, based on the completion of its predecessors and the project network logic. This calculation demonstrates the critical path method, which is essential for CAPM certification.

Question 2

In a construction project, the Early Start date for a critical task is identified as Day 5. If the duration of the task is 10 days, what is the Early Finish date for this task?

Correct Answer: Day 14

The Early Finish date for a task is calculated by adding the task duration to the Early Start date. In this case, the Early Start date is Day 5 and the task duration is 10 days. Therefore, the Early Finish date for this task would be Day 14, which is calculated by adding 10 days to Day 5.

Question 3

In a project with tasks S (3 days), T (6 days), and U (4 days), where T can start only after S finishes and U after T, if the project begins on April 1st, what's the Early Start date for task U?

Correct Answer: April 10th

The correct answer is April 10th. Here's the step-by-step calculation:

1. Task S starts on April 1st and takes 3 days, finishing on April 3rd.
2. Task T can only start after S finishes, so it begins on April 4th and lasts 6 days, ending on April 9th.
3. Task U can only start after T finishes, making its Early Start date April 10th.

This calculation assumes a standard workweek with no breaks or holidays.

The other options are incorrect:

'April 11th, considering potential resource availability constraints' adds unnecessary complexity. Early Start dates are calculated based on the given durations and dependencies, not potential constraints.

'April 9th, assuming optimized task transitions' is incorrect as it doesn't account for the full duration of Task T.

'April 13th, factoring in possible administrative delays' introduces delays that are not part of the Early Start calculation.

In project management, Early Start dates are determined by the network diagram and task durations, not by potential constraints or optimizations.

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