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Fast Tracking

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Fast Tracking is a schedule compression technique where activities or phases normally performed in sequence are undertaken in parallel for at least a portion of their duration. The objective is to reduce the project timeline without incurring additional costs typically associated with resource augmentation, as seen in crashing. In practice, fast tracking can involve starting a subsequent task before the predecessor task is fully completed. For example, beginning the design phase before the completion of requirements gathering. This approach can significantly shorten the project duration since tasks are overlapped rather than waiting for each to finish sequentially. However, fast tracking introduces additional risks and may increase the potential for rework. Overlapping tasks that are dependent on the outputs of previous activities can lead to errors if preceding tasks are not sufficiently complete to provide accurate input. This can result in quality issues, increased costs due to rework, and schedule delays if problems are discovered later in the project. Effective fast tracking requires careful analysis of the project schedule to identify tasks that can be overlapped with minimal risk. It often involves scrutinizing discretionary dependencies (soft logic), which are defined by the project team and can be adjusted as opposed to mandatory dependencies (hard logic), which are inherent to the work itself. Communication and coordination are critical when implementing fast tracking. Project managers must ensure that all team members understand the changes in the schedule and the expectations for their tasks. Regular monitoring and control are necessary to promptly identify and address any issues arising from the adjusted schedule. In essence, fast tracking is a strategy to expedite project completion by performing tasks in parallel, thereby reducing the overall schedule. While it can be effective in shortening project duration without additional costs, it requires meticulous planning and risk management to mitigate the potential negative impacts on quality and project objectives.

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Question 1

What is the primary risk associated with Fast Tracking in project scheduling?

Correct Answer: Increased likelihood of rework due to parallel activities

The primary risk associated with Fast Tracking in project scheduling is the increased likelihood of rework due to parallel activities. Here's why: Fast Tracking involves running activities in parallel that would normally be done in sequence. This compression technique can save time but introduces significant risks: 1. Dependencies between parallel activities may be overlooked 2. Work may need to be redone if issues are discovered in dependent activities 3. Quality issues may arise from incomplete prerequisites 4. Communication becomes more complex between parallel teams The other options are less accurate because: - Extended duration due to resource constraints is more associated with Resource Leveling, not Fast Tracking - Decreased team performance from compression is more associated with Crashing, not Fast Tracking - Higher costs from additional resources primarily relates to Crashing, where additional resources are deliberately added

Question 2

In a project where Fast Tracking is being implemented, what sequence of activities would be most appropriate to overlap?

Correct Answer: Activities with minimal dependencies and clear handoff points

Fast Tracking is a schedule compression technique where phases or activities that would normally be done in sequence are performed in parallel. For this to be successful, the following criteria must be met: 1. Activities should have clear handoff points to ensure smooth transitions 2. Dependencies between overlapped activities should be minimal to reduce risks 3. Work should be able to begin before preceding work is completely finished The correct answer focuses on these key elements - minimal dependencies and clear handoff points, which are essential for successful Fast Tracking. The other options are incorrect because: - Activities with high interdependencies increase the risk of rework and errors when Fast Tracked - Extensive resource sharing and continuous communication requirements make parallel execution more complex and risky - Sequential activities requiring complete predecessor input are not suitable for Fast Tracking as they need full completion before the next phase can begin

Question 3

During fast tracking implementation, a project manager notices schedule compression efforts are not yielding expected results. What phase of fast tracking is most appropriate to evaluate next?

Correct Answer: Review dependencies between parallel activities and adjust their overlap percentage

When fast tracking efforts are not yielding expected results, the first logical step is to evaluate and adjust the overlap percentage between parallel activities. Schedule compression through fast tracking involves running activities in parallel that would normally be done in sequence. When this isn't working as planned, reviewing and adjusting the dependencies and overlap percentages between these parallel activities is crucial. This allows for fine-tuning the compression strategy while maintaining project integrity. Adding more resources (crashing) is a different compression technique and shouldn't be the next step if fast tracking isn't working effectively. Modifying project scope would be a last resort and represents a significant change that could impact project objectives. While analyzing the critical path for additional parallel opportunities might seem logical, it's more important to first optimize the current parallel activities that aren't performing as expected before adding more complexity.

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