AACE International Updated PSP Exam Questions and Answers by pola

 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.

Activity Overview and Dependencies:

From the provided schedule data, Activity 3001 (Excavation, Dam Site) starts with multiple logical relationships:

Successor activities include SS (Start-to-Start) and FS (Finish-to-Start) dependencies with other tasks.

Specifically, these relationships link 3001 to 4001 (Excavation, Spillway) and 5001 (Drill and Grout, Dam Site).

Normal Schedule Context:

Excluding Activity 1000, we focus on Activity 3001's logical relationships to determine which activities are concurrent.

In the "Normal Schedule", Activity 3001 has a duration of 152 days and overlaps with Activities 4001 (152 days) and 5001 (102 days). Both activities share similar dependencies and durations with Activity 3001, making them concurrent.

Schedule Dependency Analysis:

Concurrent activities are identified by overlapping durations and logical relationships that align their schedules.

Activity 4001 is linked via SS and FF dependencies, ensuring simultaneous start and finish points.

Activity 5001 starts as 3001 progresses (SS and FS dependencies).

Final Answer Validation:

Other listed activities, such as 2003 and 7001 (Answer A) or 2004 (Answer B), are not logically or temporally concurrent based on their dependencies and durations.

Only 4001 and 5001 have concurrent schedules aligning with Activity 3001.

Study Guide Reference:

Planning and Scheduling Professional Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2 – Scheduling, sections on "Dependencies and Constraints" (p. 157) and "Sequencing Activities" (p. 151).

For further insights into identifying concurrency using logical relationships, refer to AACE's Recommended Practice 10S-90: Cost Engineering Terminology.

This structured approach ensures alignment with PSP standards and principles in evaluating concurrent activities in complex schedules.

 Late Finish Analysis for Activity C (Develop Plans and Specs):

Activity C duration is 5 months, starting after Activity A (3 months).

Late finish = Early start of successor (Activity E) = 10 months.

 Cross-Verification:

Based on backward pass calculations, Activity C must end by month 10 to not delay its successor.

 Verification with PSP Guidelines:

Late finish values are calculated during backward pass (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2A: Backward Pass and Float Calculations).

 Impact of Overrun:

Drafting (Activity C) and manufacturing (Activity D) are critical path activities.

A 5-day overrun in drafting consumes all available time for manufacturing.

Therefore, manufacturing cannot be delayed without affecting the release of the product.

 Verification with PSP Guidelines:

The PSP Study Guide specifies that critical path activities have zero float, so delays propagate directly to the project finish (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2A: Critical Path and Float).