Project Planning & Execution Flashcards

When a handwriting analysis project requires outsourcing a portion of the work to a subcontractor, which ethical obligation applies?

Answer: The originating analyst must disclose involvement of subcontractors to the client and remain accountable for the work

Professional ethics require disclosure of subcontracted work, and the originating analyst retains overall accountability for the conclusions presented to the client.

What type of project schedule tool is most useful for mapping the dependencies between sample collection, examination, and reporting phases in a handwriting project?

Answer: A Gantt chart that sequences tasks and highlights dependencies

A Gantt chart visually maps tasks along a timeline and shows which tasks must be completed before others can begin, making dependencies clear.

After completing a handwriting analysis, an analyst is approached by the opposing party in a legal matter for a second opinion. Professionally, the analyst should:

Answer: Decline due to the conflict of interest created by prior engagement with the other side

Accepting a second engagement from the opposing party creates a direct conflict of interest and violates confidentiality obligations to the original client.

In the execution phase, 'point-by-point comparison' refers to:

Answer: Systematically evaluating specific corresponding features between the questioned and known writings

Point-by-point comparison involves methodically matching specific characteristics—such as formations, connections, and proportions—across questioned and known samples.

Which of the following best describes 'project closure' in the context of a handwriting analysis engagement?

Answer: Delivering the final report, archiving case files per retention policy, and formally closing the client engagement

Proper project closure includes delivering findings, storing records according to the firm's or applicable legal retention policy, and formally ending the engagement.

A client requests that an analyst alter the conclusion of a completed handwriting analysis report. The analyst's correct response is to:

Answer: Decline, explaining that conclusions must reflect the evidence and cannot be changed to suit a desired outcome

Altering a conclusion to suit a client's preference is unethical and potentially fraudulent; the analyst's duty is to the evidence and professional standards.

When planning a longitudinal handwriting analysis project (tracking changes in writing over time), which variable must be most carefully controlled?

Answer: Consistency in writing conditions such as paper type, writing instrument, and posture across all collection points

Controlling writing conditions across collection points isolates genuine temporal changes in handwriting from changes caused by different materials or circumstances.