TAMU COSC 475 - EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Five Branches of Critical Thinking - Answer -Problem Identification
Creative Thinking
Logical Analysis
Decision Making
Coordination
Problem Idnetification - Answer -Visualization
Fact Finding
Creative Thinking - Answer -Green Light Thinking
Brainstorming
Logical Analysis - Answer -Red Light Thinking
Reasoning
Decision Making - Answer -Gain Consensus
Decision Matrixes
Coordination - Answer -Plan Implementation
Control Stress
Notice to Proceed - Answer -implies that the site is free of encumbrances and the
contractor can occupy the site
The date of the NTP establishes the reference date from which the beginning of the
project is calculated
Fast Track - Answer -schedule method that starts activities at their ealiest possible time
to push subsequent activities up in their execution
Substantial Completion - Answer -the date is provided in the contract and represents
the earliest day that the owner can use the facility "for its intended purpose"
this date also specifies when liquidated damages will begin
Liquidated Damages - Answer -an assessment against the contractor for late
completion
intended to compensate the owner for lost revenue, the dates that control this are notice
to proceed and substantial completion
Stakeholders in Planning - Answer -Owners
Design Team
Builders
Agencies
Providers
, Reasons for project changes - Answer -People (different owners rep or superintendent)
Societal
Building Codes (every 3 years)
Environmental (Weather)
Unknown Conditions
Uncontrolled changes
Risk Scheduling - Answer -All high-risk items should be an activity in your schedule
Link high-risk activities to all affected activities
Delays lead to delays
4 Levels of WBS - Answer -Proposal
Pre-Construction
Construction
Look Ahead
Level 1: Proposal - Answer -goal is to summarize the overall project for client and
management
show start & finish dates for major project phases and milestone and include the project
time, goals, and objectives
Level 2: Preconstruction - Answer -contain more details for each summary phase
based on the level 1 schedule
Level 3: Construction - Answer -includes start and finish dates and links for all activities
critical path method is utilized
used as the project baseline for tracking progress
durations should not be longer than 10 days
Milestones - Answer -important items to watch that have zero durations (0 days)
May trigger the beginning or end of a phase
Ex: NTP, Dry-In, Substantial Completion, Top-Out, etc.
Information needed to determine a duration - Answer -Quantity of Work
Production Rate (Crew sizes, special productivity factor)
Hours per workday
Calculating Duration - Answer -Quantity of Work / Production Rate = Work Hours
Work Hours x Productivity Factor = Adjusted WH
Adj. Work Hours / Hours per workday = Activity Duration
Productivity Factor - Answer -production rates can be affected by multiple factors
EX: weather, congested space, layout, material handling, crew expertise, safety
requirements, complexity, etc.
Five Branches of Critical Thinking - Answer -Problem Identification
Creative Thinking
Logical Analysis
Decision Making
Coordination
Problem Idnetification - Answer -Visualization
Fact Finding
Creative Thinking - Answer -Green Light Thinking
Brainstorming
Logical Analysis - Answer -Red Light Thinking
Reasoning
Decision Making - Answer -Gain Consensus
Decision Matrixes
Coordination - Answer -Plan Implementation
Control Stress
Notice to Proceed - Answer -implies that the site is free of encumbrances and the
contractor can occupy the site
The date of the NTP establishes the reference date from which the beginning of the
project is calculated
Fast Track - Answer -schedule method that starts activities at their ealiest possible time
to push subsequent activities up in their execution
Substantial Completion - Answer -the date is provided in the contract and represents
the earliest day that the owner can use the facility "for its intended purpose"
this date also specifies when liquidated damages will begin
Liquidated Damages - Answer -an assessment against the contractor for late
completion
intended to compensate the owner for lost revenue, the dates that control this are notice
to proceed and substantial completion
Stakeholders in Planning - Answer -Owners
Design Team
Builders
Agencies
Providers
, Reasons for project changes - Answer -People (different owners rep or superintendent)
Societal
Building Codes (every 3 years)
Environmental (Weather)
Unknown Conditions
Uncontrolled changes
Risk Scheduling - Answer -All high-risk items should be an activity in your schedule
Link high-risk activities to all affected activities
Delays lead to delays
4 Levels of WBS - Answer -Proposal
Pre-Construction
Construction
Look Ahead
Level 1: Proposal - Answer -goal is to summarize the overall project for client and
management
show start & finish dates for major project phases and milestone and include the project
time, goals, and objectives
Level 2: Preconstruction - Answer -contain more details for each summary phase
based on the level 1 schedule
Level 3: Construction - Answer -includes start and finish dates and links for all activities
critical path method is utilized
used as the project baseline for tracking progress
durations should not be longer than 10 days
Milestones - Answer -important items to watch that have zero durations (0 days)
May trigger the beginning or end of a phase
Ex: NTP, Dry-In, Substantial Completion, Top-Out, etc.
Information needed to determine a duration - Answer -Quantity of Work
Production Rate (Crew sizes, special productivity factor)
Hours per workday
Calculating Duration - Answer -Quantity of Work / Production Rate = Work Hours
Work Hours x Productivity Factor = Adjusted WH
Adj. Work Hours / Hours per workday = Activity Duration
Productivity Factor - Answer -production rates can be affected by multiple factors
EX: weather, congested space, layout, material handling, crew expertise, safety
requirements, complexity, etc.
