Critical Chain Method

Correct Answer: Team members delay starting tasks until the last possible moment

In Critical Chain Project Management, Student Syndrome refers to the natural human tendency to procrastinate and delay starting work until pressure builds up. This behavior often leads to team members waiting until the last possible moment to begin their assigned tasks. This phenomenon significantly impacts project schedules by: - Consuming safety margins unnecessarily - Creating artificial time pressure - Increasing project risks - Potentially causing delays in subsequent tasks The other answers are incorrect because: - Focusing on critical tasks before non-critical ones is actually a good practice and not related to Student Syndrome - Studying and preparing extensively is not characteristic of Student Syndrome; it's the opposite of procrastination - Completing tasks faster under pressure may occasionally happen but is not the primary effect of Student Syndrome - delays and increased risks are the main consequences

Correct Answer: The project manager focuses on buffer management and removing impediments

In Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), the project manager's role shifts significantly from traditional project management approaches. The correct answer reflects CCPM's core principles, where the focus is on managing buffers and removing obstacles that could delay the project. Buffer management is a key component of CCPM, helping ensure project completion dates are met by actively monitoring and managing time buffers. The other answers are incorrect because they represent traditional project management approaches that CCPM aims to move away from: - Maintaining extensive documentation of schedule variations goes against CCPM's streamlined approach - Tracking individual task completions and detailed status reports contradicts CCPM's focus on the critical chain and buffer management - Frequent schedule optimizations and resource calendar updates represent micromanagement that CCPM seeks to reduce CCPM emphasizes simplification and focuses on the vital few factors that truly impact project completion, rather than detailed tracking of every variance or task.

Correct Answer: Based on buffer penetration and time remaining to completion

In Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), task priorities are primarily determined by buffer penetration and the time remaining until project completion. This is a fundamental principle of CCPM. CCPM uses buffer management as a key control mechanism, where the rate of buffer consumption compared to project progress determines task priorities. Tasks that are consuming more buffer relative to their chain completion become higher priority. Why other options are incorrect: Resource availability and dependencies, while important for scheduling, are not the primary drivers for CCPM task prioritization during execution. Team consensus through status meetings is too subjective and slow for CCPM's dynamic prioritization needs. Earned value metrics, while valuable for project tracking, are not used in CCPM for determining task priorities. CCPM focuses on buffer management rather than traditional performance metrics.