Project Planning & Scheduling Flashcards

Which contract type places the greatest financial risk on the contractor if costs exceed estimates?

Answer: Lump sum (fixed price)

Under a lump sum contract the contractor bears all cost overrun risk since the price is fixed regardless of actual costs.

What is the purpose of a pre-construction meeting with subcontractors?

Answer: To align all parties on schedule, site rules, and communication procedures

Pre-construction meetings establish expectations for schedule, safety, coordination, and communication before work begins.

Which scheduling constraint requires a successor activity to start no earlier than a specified date, regardless of predecessor completion?

Answer: Start-no-earlier-than (SNET)

A Start-No-Earlier-Than constraint forces the activity to wait until a defined calendar date before it can begin.

When scheduling inspections, a contractor should order them so that:

Answer: Each inspection is scheduled only after the preceding required inspection is passed

Building codes require inspections in sequence; work cannot be covered until the relevant inspection is approved.

A 'look-ahead schedule' in residential construction typically covers what time horizon?

Answer: Two to six weeks

Look-ahead schedules (typically 2–6 weeks) provide short-term planning detail to coordinate crews and materials in the near term.

Which WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) level directly relates to cost account tracking in residential construction?

Answer: Level 3 — work package

Work packages at Level 3 of the WBS are the lowest level where cost and schedule are assigned and tracked.

A subcontractor's work depends on the general contractor supplying temporary power. This is best documented as:

Answer: A constraint or assumption in the schedule

Owner- or GC-furnished items that a subcontractor depends on must be documented as constraints or assumptions so accountability is clear.