Pass the AACE International Professional Level Certifications PSP Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

 Understand Free Float:Free float is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying the start of its immediate successor.

 Review Activity F in the Diagram:

Activity F has a successor that starts later, providing room for 2 months of free float.

 Cross-Verification:

Option A: Incorrect. Overestimates the float.

Option B: Incorrect. No float is incorrect for F.

Option C: Incorrect. 1 month is insufficient.

Option D: Correct. Matches the calculated free float for Activity F.

Industry-recognized methodologies for quantifying critical delays include:

Periodic Windows Analysis, which evaluates delays in defined time periods.

Collapsed As-Built Analysis, comparing completed work to a hypothetical as-built schedule without delays.

Time Impact Analysis, assessing the impact of delays based on scheduled activities​​.

A Gantt Chart (Option A) is a scheduling visualization tool, not a methodology for delay analysis. It lacks the analytical rigor and methodology required for critical delay quantification.

Negative total float occurs when an activity’s scheduled completion date extends beyond the project deadline due to constraints. This condition indicates that the activity is still pending and needs immediate attention to avoid further delays.

Option A (milestone) is unrelated.

Option B (critical path) is not necessarily true, as activities with negative float can exist off the critical path under certain constraints.

Option C (completed in the past) is incorrect as negative float applies only to future or ongoing activities​​.

The time an activity can be delayed from its early start without impacting the overall project completion date is called total float.

Option A (negative float) refers to delays beyond permissible limits.

Option B (free float) refers to delays without affecting the early start of any successor.

Option D (interfering float) is a lesser-used term denoting the time available without delaying the project completion but affecting a successor’s float​.

 Preventing Structural Steel Delays:

Incorporating realistic timeframes for shop drawing review and resubmittals in the baseline schedule prevents design-related delays.

 Evaluation of Other Options:

A: Adding time buffers does not address the root cause.

C: Concurrent review may create confusion and errors.

D: Switching to post-tensioned concrete is a significant design change, not a practical solution for a scheduling issue.

 Verification with PSP Guidelines:Adequate review time aligns with PSP scheduling best practices (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2B: Schedule Development and Baseline Creation).

 Mitigating Late Completion:

A procurement agent could monitor and expedite long-lead equipment, reducing delivery delays that often affect project timelines.

 Evaluation of Other Options:

A: Hiring a senior project manager may not address the specific issue.

B: Self-performing may not resolve procurement delays.

D: Better structural steel drawings relate to design, not equipment delays.

 Verification with PSP Guidelines:PSP emphasizes early identification and mitigation of procurement risks (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2B: Procurement and Supply Chain Management).

Original Completion Date (Normal Schedule):

Project completion is originally set for 03-01-04 (based on all durations and dependencies).

Slippage Details:

Activity 1001: Slipped by 10 days.

Activity 10002: Slipped by 35 days.

Remaining activities retain original durations.

Revised Completion Date Calculation:

Adjust original completion date for the cumulative slippage of 35 days (largest impact).

New completion date = 03-01-04 + 10 days = 03-11-04.

Cross-Verification with Answer Options:

Option A (02-19-04): Incorrect. Ignores slippage.

Option B (03-21-04): Incorrect. Overestimates slippage impact.

Option D (03-20-04): Incorrect. Does not align with the logical sequence.

Option C (03-11-04): Correct. Matches adjusted completion date.

References:

PSP Study Guide (2019), Section 2A – Schedule Development, Subsections on Forward and Backward Pass Calculations.

AACE Recommended Practices, RP 10S-90.

 Activity-specific costs in CPM schedules typically include direct expenses like materials (C), field-related overhead (D), and specific schedule management tasks (B).

 Home office expenses are classified as indirect costs and are not associated with any specific activity within the project schedule. They are accounted for in broader financial statements rather than in the activity-based budget.

 References: PSP Study Guide, Section 1.3.10 – Cost Estimate Development, explains how costs are categorized and assigned in schedules.

 Understanding the Problem Context:

Activity C is currently set to complete on Day 40.

Activity A has a 5-day delay in starting, so adjustments are needed to maintain the Day 40 completion date for Activity C.

The key is to identify which adjustment will fail to maintain the timeline.

 Option-by-Option Analysis:

A. Reduce the duration of 'A' from 20 days to 10 days and replace the relationship from 'B' to 'C' with FSO (Finish-to-Start with Offset):

Reducing Activity A’s duration from 20 to 10 days might mitigate part of the delay, but replacing the relationship between B and C with FSO introduces an offset.

FSO relationships typically delay the start of successor activities (Activity C in this case).

This would likely push Activity C beyond Day 40 because the delay in B's finish, coupled with the offset, would result in C starting later.

This adjustment does NOT maintain the completion date of Activity C.

B. Replace the relationship from 'B' to 'C' with SSO (Start-to-Start with Offset):

An SSO relationship allows Activity C to begin once Activity B starts (with or without an offset).

This adjustment effectively overlaps the schedules of B and C, mitigating delays from A.

This adjustment can maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40.

C. Reduce the duration of 'B' from 10 days to 5 days by compressing work effort:

Reducing B’s duration by compressing its schedule shortens its timeline, allowing Activity C to start sooner.

This adjustment offsets the delay caused by Activity A.

This adjustment can maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40.

 Final Answer and Justification:

The adjustment described in A will NOT maintain the completion date of Activity C at Day 40 because the FSO relationship introduces delays, making it ineffective in this scenario.

Options B and C offer feasible adjustments to maintain the timeline.

 Study Guide Reference:

Refer to the PSP Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2 – Scheduling, Subchapter 2.2.4: Relationships (p. 151-157), which details the impact of logical relationships (FSO, SSO) on schedule timelines.

Additionally, review AACE Recommended Practice 52R-06: Time Impact Analysis for insights into how delays affect dependent activities and methods for mitigating them.