Project Schedule Management

5 minutes 5 Questions

Project Schedule Management involves the processes needed to manage the timely completion of a project. It encompasses a range of tools and techniques that allow the project manager to visualize, quantify, and manage project timelines and milestones. The purpose is to ensure that the project is delivered on time without exceeding the planned resources. It includes defining and sequencing activities, estimating durations, developing and controlling the schedule.

Guide to Project Schedule Management

Why is Project Schedule Management Important:
Project Schedule Management is a key component of project management that helps in planning, coordinating and controlling the time aspect of projects. It ensures projects are delivered on time, resources are properly allocated and project milestones are met which directly impacts the success of the project.

What is Project Schedule Management:
It refers to the actions and procedures involved in planning, scheduling and controlling project activities to fulfill project objectives within a given timeframe. It makes use of tools like Gantt Charts, CPM, PERT, etc. for schedule planning and resource allocation.

How it Works:
It begins with defining activities and tasks necessary for the project, estimating the resources and time required for each task, identifying relationships between tasks, sequencing and scheduling them, and finally controlling and adjusting the schedule for any changes.

Exam tips: Answering questions on Project Schedule Management:
When answering exam questions related to this topic, always focus on the main steps involved in the process - defining activities, sequencing them, estimating resources and time required, and controlling the schedule. Make sure you understand the various project scheduling tools.
Always take into account risk management and external factors that can potentially affect the project schedule. Give balanced attention to all aspects - planning, scheduling, and controlling.

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Question 1

You are behind schedule on a critical path of your project. In order to make up for lost time, what technique can be used?

Resource leveling Cost budgeting Fast-tracking Scope reduction

Correct Answer: Fast-tracking

The correct answer is 'Fast-tracking'. When behind schedule on a critical path of a project, fast-tracking is a common technique used to catch up. This involves doing multiple activities simultaneously that were initially planned to be done in sequence, thus saving time. On the other hand, 'Scope reduction' would compromise the project's initial goals, making it an undesirable option. 'Cost budgeting' relates to the control of expenses in a project and not to the schedule management, hence it's not an appropriate response for this question. 'Resource leveling' manages the project timeline by adjusting the start and end times of tasks to match resources availability, but it doesn't necessarily speed up processes. It focuses on the fair and efficient allocation of resources rather than on catching up with the schedule.

Question 2

A project manager needs to ensure that project activities are scheduled with some flexibility, allowing for adjustments in activity durations without affecting the overall project completion date. Which term describes the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project?

Total Float Free Float Negative Float Schedule Variance

Correct Answer: Total Float

Total Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the overall project completion date. It represents the scheduling flexibility within the project network while ensuring that the project's end date remains unaffected. Free Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of its successor activities, but it doesn't consider the project's end date. Negative Float indicates that the project schedule is behind and the activities must be accelerated to meet the deadline. Schedule Variance measures the difference between the planned progress and the actual progress in terms of time, but doesn't directly relate to activity delay without affecting the project completion date. Therefore, Total Float is the correct term that describes the required scheduling flexibility.

Question 3

A project manager decides to introduce a lag in the project schedule between two activities. What is the effect of adding a lag?

It delays the start of the next activity. It shortens the total project time. It accelerates the previous activity. It allows both activities to overlap.

Correct Answer: It delays the start of the next activity.

Introducing a lag in the project schedule creates a delay between two activities. This means that after the first activity is completed, there is a waiting period before the next activity begins. Therefore, adding a lag delays the start of the next activity. It does not allow activities to overlap (which would be a lead), accelerate the previous activity, or shorten the total project time.

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