Project Management and Scheduling
This domain tests whether you can plan, sequence, and control work. Understand the critical path method (CPM): the critical path is the longest chain of dependent activities and determines the shortest project duration. Any delay on the critical path delays the whole project; float (slack) is the time an activity can slip without delaying completion. Questions love to give a small network and ask for the critical path or total float.
Know the common schedule types: Gantt charts (bar charts for communication), CPM networks (for logic and float), and linear schedules (for repetitive work like paving). Understand predecessor/successor relationships and the four dependency types (finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, start-to-finish).
Master change management: a change order documents scope, cost, and time impacts. Understand submittals, RFIs, shop drawings, and the punch list as quality-control tools. Know the difference between substantial completion and final completion, and how each affects retainage and warranty.
Worked example: Activities A (5 days) and B (3 days) run in parallel; C (4 days) depends on both. A finishes day 5, B finishes day 3, so C starts day 5 and finishes day 9. The critical path is A→C (9 days); B has 2 days of float.
Traps: assuming the activity with the most work is critical; ignoring float; treating a delay on a non-critical activity as project delay; confusing substantial with final completion.