PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlinePredictive, Plan-Based MethodologiesMedium
A construction project manager is evaluating potential delays caused by recent adverse weather conditions. To understand the impact on the project's end date, which schedule network analysis technique should be employed to determine the earliest and latest possible finish dates for the project activities?
- AResource Leveling
- BFast Tracking
- CCritical Path Method (CPM)
- DCrashing
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Critical Path Method (CPM)
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a schedule network analysis technique used to determine the earliest and latest possible start and finish dates for activities, and identify the critical path, which dictates the project's shortest possible duration.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Resource Leveling is a technique to optimize resource utilization, not to determine earliest/latest dates or critical path.
- B. Fast Tracking is a schedule compression technique that involves performing activities in parallel, not for calculating dates.
- D. Crashing is a schedule compression technique that involves adding resources to shorten duration, not for calculating dates.
Critical Path Method (CPM)
A schedule network analysis technique to determine the longest path through the project network diagram, representing the shortest possible project duration.
- Calculates earliest and latest start/finish dates.
- Identifies critical activities with zero float.
- Used to determine overall project duration.
Memory trick: CPM finds the core path, PERT handles uncertainty. What's the shortest time?