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Schedule Variance & Delay Analysis Flashcards

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  1. A forensic schedule analyst is reconstructing an as-built critical path. Which source document is most authoritative for determining actual activity durations?

    Answer: Daily reports, progress photos, and contemporaneous records

    Contemporaneous records such as daily reports and progress photos provide the most reliable evidence of when work actually started, proceeded, and finished.

  2. On a complex project with multiple near-critical paths, which schedule metric best signals that a previously non-critical path is approaching criticality?

    Answer: Decreasing total float on activities along that path

    Decreasing total float on a near-critical path is the clearest warning signal that the path is consuming its buffer and may become critical if the trend continues.

  3. A schedule update shows the project will finish 20 days late. The contractor applies acceleration measures and brings the delay to 8 days. The remaining 8-day delay is still the owner's responsibility. What type of recovery is this?

    Answer: Voluntary mitigation

    Voluntary mitigation occurs when a contractor takes steps to reduce delay impacts without being directed by the owner, typically to maintain goodwill or avoid liquidated damages.

  4. Which AACE International Recommended Practice is specifically associated with forensic schedule analysis and delay claim methodologies?

    Answer: RP 29R-03

    AACE RP 29R-03 (Forensic Schedule Analysis) provides detailed guidance on accepted methods for analyzing schedule delays, including TIA, Window Analysis, and As-Built vs. As-Planned.

  5. A contractor's schedule shows Activity Y with Early Finish Day 50 and Late Finish Day 50, while Activity Z has Early Finish Day 60 and Late Finish Day 68. Which activity is on the critical path?

    Answer: Activity Y, because Total Float = 0

    Activity Y has zero total float (LF − EF = 50 − 50 = 0), making it critical; Activity Z has 8 days of float and is not on the critical path.

  6. In a delay claim, the concept of 'float ownership' is significant because:

    Answer: It determines which party can consume project float without liability for resulting delays

    Float ownership determines whether the contractor or owner has the right to use available float; most contracts assign float to the project (not the contractor), meaning owners can use it without owing the contractor time relief.

  7. A project has BAC = $500,000, EV = $300,000, PV = $375,000, and AC = $320,000. What is the Schedule Performance Index (SPI)?

    Answer: 0.80

    SPI = EV / PV = $300,000 / $375,000 = 0.80, indicating the project is completing only 80% of the planned work for the time elapsed.