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CAPM Practice: Demonstrate an understanding of a project management plan schedule

Question 43 of 85 in Demonstrate an understanding of a project management plan schedule

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A project schedule shows that Activity D has an Early Start (ES) of day 10 and a Late Start (LS) of day 10. What does this mean?

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Correct answer: Activity D is on the critical path with zero float

Explanation

When Early Start equals Late Start (ES = LS), Total Float = LS - ES = 0. Zero float means the activity is on the critical path. It cannot be delayed even one day without delaying the project. The fact that both ES and LS are day 10 confirms this activity has no scheduling flexibility.

**Why not A:** Having ES = LS = day 10 does not mean the activity is ahead of schedule. These are calculated schedule values from the forward and backward passes, not comparisons of planned versus actual performance. Being "ahead by 10 days" is not what equal ES and LS values indicate.

**Why not B:** While Activity D must start on day 10, we cannot determine it will finish on day 20 without knowing its duration. ES = LS = day 10 tells us the start date and that the activity is critical, but the finish date depends on the activity's duration, which is not provided.

**Why not D:** Total float = LS - ES = 10 - 10 = 0, not 10. The activity has zero float, meaning it is on the critical path with no scheduling flexibility. Having 10 days of float would require LS to be 20 while ES is 10.

Key Concept

This question covers Demonstrate an understanding of a project management plan schedule under Demonstrate an understanding of a project management plan schedule (Predictive, Plan-Based Methodologies).

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