Overlapping Phases

Correct Answer: The impact of information exchange and design modifications

The correct answer focuses on information exchange and design modifications, which is the most critical consideration in managing dependencies between concurrent activities in overlapping phases. In overlapping phases, changes in one activity can significantly impact parallel activities. Managing information flow and design modifications is essential because: 1. Changes in upstream activities affect downstream activities 2. Design decisions made in one phase influence concurrent work 3. Clear communication channels are crucial for managing dependencies 4. Late modifications can cause rework and delays Other options are less relevant: - Resource allocation, while important, is secondary to managing information flow in overlapping phases - Schedule compression is a result of overlapping, not a primary consideration for managing dependencies - Percentage of overlap based on historical data is useful for planning but not for actively managing dependencies during execution

Correct Answer: The amount of information exchange between sequential activities

In schedule compression using overlapping phases (fast tracking), the most critical factor to monitor is the information exchange between sequential activities. When activities that would normally occur in sequence are overlapped, it creates dependencies where downstream activities begin before upstream activities are complete. The success of this approach heavily depends on how effectively information flows between these overlapping activities. If information flow is not properly managed, it can lead to rework, delays, and increased costs as downstream activities may need to be modified based on final outputs from upstream activities. While resource allocation, completion percentages, and risk exposure are important factors, they are secondary considerations. Resource allocation is more relevant to resource leveling than fast tracking. Completion percentages are tracking metrics rather than critical success factors. Risk exposure, while important, is a consequence of poor information exchange rather than the primary factor to monitor. The key to successful fast tracking lies in ensuring that preliminary information from preceding activities is reliable enough for subsequent activities to begin, making information exchange the most crucial factor to monitor.

Correct Answer: Using start-to-start relationships with appropriate lag time between phases

Start-to-start relationships with lag time is the best technique for managing overlapping phases and reducing rework risk. This approach allows phases to begin in sequence while maintaining a buffer through lag time, which: - Provides time for feedback and adjustments from preceding work - Enables early detection of issues before significant progress in dependent phases - Maintains flexibility to incorporate changes - Balances fast-tracking benefits with risk management Other approaches are less effective because: - Using negative lag in finish-to-start relationships increases risk by forcing activities to start before predecessors complete - Multiple finish-to-finish relationships don't address the progressive nature of work flow and feedback needs - Resource leveling adjustments focus on resource allocation rather than managing sequential work dependencies and feedback loops