COSC 354 Project Management Exam #3 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest
Update 2025-2026
Steps involved in the planning and scheduling process - Answers - Establish Project Objective(s)
- Typically owner driven
- Identify Project Tasks/Activities (definable work activities)
- Determine Task/Activity Sequence (what activity must proceed and what activity must
succeed?)
- Determine Task/Activity Durations (the estimate can be very helpful here)
- Perform Schedule calculations (if using CPM) to determine the project's Critical Path
- Revise and Adjust the Schedule (Could the duration be shortened to take advantage of a bonus
for finishing early?)
- Monitor and Control against the baseline or target schedule (the goal is to stay on target and
finish the project on time!)
Scheduling throughout the project (preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction) -
Answers Preconstruction Phase:
- Planning and scheduling is a key activity during this phase
- Project financing, commitments to the owner, and market projections all depend upon the
scheduled start and completion date
- The initial schedule should be viewed as an opportunity to build the project on paper and help
the project team to begin making intelligent management decisions
- As the project evolves, the team will continually refine the schedule to optimize the project
activity durations
Construction Phase:
- Schedules are essential to the successful coordination of a project's day-to-day operations
(material, equipment, and labor)
- As a project progresses, delays will occur! Anticipate delays and be ready to effectively deal
with them.
- Job progress is closely tracked, and the schedule is often placed on the wall of the job
office/trailer where it is clearly visible to everyone (which Lean Builder tool is this?)
, Postconstruction Phase:
- In this final phase, the schedule can be used to coordinate and control when the owner begins
to occupy the facility
- Most projects require testing and acceptance of equipment and systems (remember
commissioning?) and training of end users. The schedule can be helpful in this regard as well!
- Lastly, postconstruction scheduling can be part of an effective recordkeeping program for
"after action" reviews so that better planning and scheduling can occur on future projects
The types of schedules and the pros/cons of each - Answers Bar Charts: Graphically Represents:
- Planned overall length of project
- Planned duration of each major project component
- Calendar start and finish dates for each project phase Advantages
- Simple and quick to produce
- Simple to read/comprehend
- Good for executive review and public meetings Disadvantages
- Does not communicate the interrelationships among project activities
Matrix Schedule:
- Typically used for repetitive work, such as multi-story buildings
- A good tool for communicating/controlling field activities because it can be posted in the job
office and updated as work progresses
Advantages
- Easily understood by nontechnical people
- Best when used as a coordination tool in the field
Disadvantages
- Lacks detail
- does not typically consider all project activities
Update 2025-2026
Steps involved in the planning and scheduling process - Answers - Establish Project Objective(s)
- Typically owner driven
- Identify Project Tasks/Activities (definable work activities)
- Determine Task/Activity Sequence (what activity must proceed and what activity must
succeed?)
- Determine Task/Activity Durations (the estimate can be very helpful here)
- Perform Schedule calculations (if using CPM) to determine the project's Critical Path
- Revise and Adjust the Schedule (Could the duration be shortened to take advantage of a bonus
for finishing early?)
- Monitor and Control against the baseline or target schedule (the goal is to stay on target and
finish the project on time!)
Scheduling throughout the project (preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction) -
Answers Preconstruction Phase:
- Planning and scheduling is a key activity during this phase
- Project financing, commitments to the owner, and market projections all depend upon the
scheduled start and completion date
- The initial schedule should be viewed as an opportunity to build the project on paper and help
the project team to begin making intelligent management decisions
- As the project evolves, the team will continually refine the schedule to optimize the project
activity durations
Construction Phase:
- Schedules are essential to the successful coordination of a project's day-to-day operations
(material, equipment, and labor)
- As a project progresses, delays will occur! Anticipate delays and be ready to effectively deal
with them.
- Job progress is closely tracked, and the schedule is often placed on the wall of the job
office/trailer where it is clearly visible to everyone (which Lean Builder tool is this?)
, Postconstruction Phase:
- In this final phase, the schedule can be used to coordinate and control when the owner begins
to occupy the facility
- Most projects require testing and acceptance of equipment and systems (remember
commissioning?) and training of end users. The schedule can be helpful in this regard as well!
- Lastly, postconstruction scheduling can be part of an effective recordkeeping program for
"after action" reviews so that better planning and scheduling can occur on future projects
The types of schedules and the pros/cons of each - Answers Bar Charts: Graphically Represents:
- Planned overall length of project
- Planned duration of each major project component
- Calendar start and finish dates for each project phase Advantages
- Simple and quick to produce
- Simple to read/comprehend
- Good for executive review and public meetings Disadvantages
- Does not communicate the interrelationships among project activities
Matrix Schedule:
- Typically used for repetitive work, such as multi-story buildings
- A good tool for communicating/controlling field activities because it can be posted in the job
office and updated as work progresses
Advantages
- Easily understood by nontechnical people
- Best when used as a coordination tool in the field
Disadvantages
- Lacks detail
- does not typically consider all project activities
