Project Planning & Scheduling Flashcards

A fence contractor is managing three simultaneous projects. Which planning tool is MOST useful for tracking the status of each project's key milestones at a glance?

Answer: Master schedule or portfolio dashboard

A master schedule or portfolio dashboard consolidates milestone status across multiple projects, enabling high-level oversight and resource coordination.

When scheduling concrete post footing installation in winter conditions, which factor MOST directly affects the curing time allowance in the schedule?

Answer: Ambient temperature, which slows concrete curing below 50°F

Cold ambient temperatures significantly slow concrete hydration and curing, requiring extended cure time windows in the project schedule.

A change order adds 150 linear feet to an in-progress fence project. What schedule impact should the contractor formally document?

Answer: The additional time required to complete the extra scope and any shift in completion date

Change orders must document both cost and schedule impacts, including any extension to the project completion date caused by the added scope.

Which scheduling metric measures the percentage of planned work actually completed by a specific date?

Answer: Schedule Performance Index (SPI) or percent complete

Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and percent-complete metrics compare the work accomplished against the planned progress at any given point in the project.

When planning equipment needs for a large post-driving project, the contractor should schedule the post driver based on:

Answer: The number of posts per day the machine can drive and its availability window

Equipment scheduling must align the machine's production rate and rental/availability window with the post installation phase of the project timeline.

A fence contractor identifies that soil conditions require augering rather than driving posts, adding one day per 50 posts. This discovery should trigger a:

Answer: Schedule revision and potential change order to reflect the added duration and cost

Unforeseen site conditions that change the installation method must be documented as a schedule revision and, where applicable, a change order for the client.

Which of the following BEST describes a 'pull planning' approach in fence project scheduling?

Answer: Working backward from the project completion date to determine when each predecessor task must start

Pull planning (used in Last Planner and lean construction) works backward from the end goal, identifying the latest start for each task to meet the completion date.