MBA 742 Module 3-Lecture 1, Module 4
- Lecture 1 Latest Exam Fully Solved
2025-2026 Updated.
Schedule Network Analysis - Answer The technique of identifying early and late start dates,
as well as early and late finish dates, for the uncompleted portions of project schedule activities.
Schedule network analysis includes Critical Path, CPM (Critical Path Method), CCM (Critical
Chain Method)
Critical Path - Answer The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a
project, which determines the shortest possible duration.
CPM (Critical Path Method) - Answer A method used to estimate the minimum project
duration and determine the amount of scheduling flexibility on the logical network paths within
the schedule module.
CCM ( Critical Chain Method) - Answer A schedule method that allows the project team to
place buffers on any limited resources and project uncertainties.
What is the major difference between CPM & CCM? - Answer CPM is focused on the tasks (it
is a task based model), and CCM focuses on the resources (it is a resource based model)
In order to determine the project's critical path, it is necessary to perform a forward pass and a
backward pass through the network. The forward pass will identify the early-start and early
finish times, and the backward pass will identify the late-start and late-finish times. - Answer
Forward Pass - Answer A critical path method technique for calculating the early start and
early finish dates by working forward through the schedule model from the project start date or
a given point in time.
Backward Pass - Answer A critical path method technique for calculating the late start and
late finish dates by working backward through the schedule model from the project end date
Free Float - Answer The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without
delaying the early start date of any successor or violating a schedule constraint.
, Total Float - Answer The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended
from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule
constraint
A useful way of describing the critical path is as a continuous string(s) of critical activities in the
schedule between the Start and Finish of the project. The sum of the activity durations in the
Critical Path is equal to the Project's Duration; therefore, a delay to any Critical Activity will
result in a delay to the Project Completion Date - Answer
Critical Activity - Answer Any activity in the schedule that does not possess any float: Total
Float=0
The critical path method is used to calculate the amount of scheduling flexibility that exists
based on the parameters and known constraints entered into the model (activity durations,
logical relationships, leads, lags). On any network path, the schedule flexibility is measured by
the amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date
without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint, and it is termed "total
float". Thecritical path in the model is normally characterized by zero total float for that path. -
Answer
Theearly finish (EF) for the last activity in the network is also the project duration - Answer
CPM does not take into account any resource limitations. - Answer
The critical chain approach attempts to address two major project management goals: - Answer
completing projects more quickly and funneling more project through the organization without
adding resources. To reduce project cycle time and deliver projects more quickly, the critical
chain focuses on the longest sequence of activities through the project and considers the logical
and resource dependencies within a project.
What often causes a project to slip? - Answer The unavailability of "critical' resources
Components of using the CCM - Answer •Build a critical path network diagram.
•Apply resources and then identify the resource-limited schedule that may have an altered
critical path.
•Identify the "drum resource" that is the root cause of the resource-constrained critical path.
•Identify the resource-constrained critical path as the critical chain.
•Add buffers that are non-work schedule activities to manage uncertainty
•Determine the size of the buffer based on uncertainty in duration of the chain of dependent
activities
•Plan for the latest possible start and finish dates and focus on managing buffer durations
- Lecture 1 Latest Exam Fully Solved
2025-2026 Updated.
Schedule Network Analysis - Answer The technique of identifying early and late start dates,
as well as early and late finish dates, for the uncompleted portions of project schedule activities.
Schedule network analysis includes Critical Path, CPM (Critical Path Method), CCM (Critical
Chain Method)
Critical Path - Answer The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a
project, which determines the shortest possible duration.
CPM (Critical Path Method) - Answer A method used to estimate the minimum project
duration and determine the amount of scheduling flexibility on the logical network paths within
the schedule module.
CCM ( Critical Chain Method) - Answer A schedule method that allows the project team to
place buffers on any limited resources and project uncertainties.
What is the major difference between CPM & CCM? - Answer CPM is focused on the tasks (it
is a task based model), and CCM focuses on the resources (it is a resource based model)
In order to determine the project's critical path, it is necessary to perform a forward pass and a
backward pass through the network. The forward pass will identify the early-start and early
finish times, and the backward pass will identify the late-start and late-finish times. - Answer
Forward Pass - Answer A critical path method technique for calculating the early start and
early finish dates by working forward through the schedule model from the project start date or
a given point in time.
Backward Pass - Answer A critical path method technique for calculating the late start and
late finish dates by working backward through the schedule model from the project end date
Free Float - Answer The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without
delaying the early start date of any successor or violating a schedule constraint.
, Total Float - Answer The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended
from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule
constraint
A useful way of describing the critical path is as a continuous string(s) of critical activities in the
schedule between the Start and Finish of the project. The sum of the activity durations in the
Critical Path is equal to the Project's Duration; therefore, a delay to any Critical Activity will
result in a delay to the Project Completion Date - Answer
Critical Activity - Answer Any activity in the schedule that does not possess any float: Total
Float=0
The critical path method is used to calculate the amount of scheduling flexibility that exists
based on the parameters and known constraints entered into the model (activity durations,
logical relationships, leads, lags). On any network path, the schedule flexibility is measured by
the amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date
without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint, and it is termed "total
float". Thecritical path in the model is normally characterized by zero total float for that path. -
Answer
Theearly finish (EF) for the last activity in the network is also the project duration - Answer
CPM does not take into account any resource limitations. - Answer
The critical chain approach attempts to address two major project management goals: - Answer
completing projects more quickly and funneling more project through the organization without
adding resources. To reduce project cycle time and deliver projects more quickly, the critical
chain focuses on the longest sequence of activities through the project and considers the logical
and resource dependencies within a project.
What often causes a project to slip? - Answer The unavailability of "critical' resources
Components of using the CCM - Answer •Build a critical path network diagram.
•Apply resources and then identify the resource-limited schedule that may have an altered
critical path.
•Identify the "drum resource" that is the root cause of the resource-constrained critical path.
•Identify the resource-constrained critical path as the critical chain.
•Add buffers that are non-work schedule activities to manage uncertainty
•Determine the size of the buffer based on uncertainty in duration of the chain of dependent
activities
•Plan for the latest possible start and finish dates and focus on managing buffer durations
