Critical Path Method

Correct Answer: Path D

In project management, the critical path is the longest duration path through a network diagram. It indicates the minimum total duration of the project. The other paths, A, B, and C, have less duration than D, so they have reserve time and delay is possible without delaying the project. However, any delay in path D will delay the whole project because it is the longest path. Therefore, Path D is the critical path.

Correct Answer: It will be delayed by 2 days

In a project where tasks A and B must be completed before moving on to C, and C must precede D, the increase in C's time by 2 days will directly impact the project end date. If task C, originally 5 days, is extended by 2 days it becomes 7 days. Given that task D cannot start until C is finished, it also gets delayed by 2 days. Task A requires 4 days and Task B requires 3 days but since they can run concurrently, the larger of the two (4 days) is what's accounted for. This means the total time for the project, with the extension, becomes 4 (A or B) + 7 (extended C) + 6 (D) to equal 17 days. The original timeline was 15 days hence the extension leads to a delay of 2 days. This is why the other answers are incorrect because only the answer 'It will be delayed by 2 days' accurately reflects this increase in time due to the extension of task C.

Correct Answer: The critical path is extended by 2 days.

The tasks in the project are sequential, with Task A leading to Task B, and Task B leading to Task C. The original critical path duration is calculated as the sum of the durations of these tasks, i.e., A+B+C, which is 3+4+5 = 12 days. When Task C is delayed by 2 days, the total duration of the critical path changes to A+B+(C+2), i.e., 3+4+(5+2) = 14 days. So, the critical path is extended by 2 days. The other answers are wrong because the duration is neither shortened - a delay in a task on the critical path will never shorten its duration, nor remains unchanged - any delay in any of the tasks on the critical path will always result in an extension, and it's not extended by 4 days - there was only a delay of 2 days in Task C.