CAPES flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Total Float
- The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project finish date. Calculated as late finish minus early finish, or late start minus early start.
- Free Float
- The time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of any successor. Equals the minimum early start of successors minus the activity's early finish.
- Critical Path
- The longest continuous path through the network, determining the shortest possible project duration. Activities on it have minimum total float, typically zero.
- Mandatory Constraint
- A hard date constraint such as Must Finish On that overrides logic. It can create negative float and break the integrity of the critical path calculation.
- Open End
- An activity missing a predecessor or successor. Open ends break logic continuity, distort float calculations, and are flagged by schedule quality checks.
- Work Breakdown Structure
- A hierarchical, deliverable-oriented decomposition of project scope. Its lowest level, the work package, links schedule activities to cost accounts.
- Schedule Basis Document
- A record of assumptions, calendars, constraints, coding structures, exclusions, and data sources used to develop the schedule. Supports validation and future updates.
- Rolling Wave Planning
- An iterative planning technique where near-term work is detailed while future work remains at a higher summary level, elaborated as the project progresses.
- Activity Calendar
- Defines working days, shifts, and holidays for an activity. Mismatched calendars between linked activities can create logic gaps or unexpected float.
- Finish-to-Start Relationship
- A logic link where the successor cannot start until the predecessor finishes. It is the most common and preferred relationship type in CPM networks.
- Start-to-Start Relationship
- A logic link where the successor starts after the predecessor starts. It usually requires a lag to represent the intended overlap meaningfully.
- PERT Three-Point Estimate
- Expected duration = (Optimistic + 4 x Most Likely + Pessimistic) / 6. Standard deviation = (Pessimistic - Optimistic) / 6, used for risk-informed durations.
- Hard Logic
- A mandatory sequence driven by physical or technical constraints, such as curing concrete before framing. It cannot be resequenced without changing the work method.
- Forward Pass
- A CPM calculation moving start to finish: early start equals the maximum early finish of predecessors plus lag; early finish equals early start plus duration.
- Backward Pass
- A CPM calculation moving finish to start: late finish equals the minimum late start of successors minus lag; late start equals late finish minus duration.
- Negative Float
- Occurs when a constraint or imposed finish date cannot be met with current logic and durations. It signals the schedule is behind a required date.
- Hammock Activity
- A summary activity spanning from one point to another in the network. Its duration is derived from its span and it does not drive logic.
- Resource Leveling
- Adjusting activity start and finish dates to resolve resource over-allocation. It may extend project duration and consume float, especially on the critical path.
- Resource Smoothing
- Shifting work within available float to reduce resource demand peaks without changing the critical path or project finish date. Also called time-limited leveling.
- Resource Histogram
- A bar chart of resource demand per time period compared against available capacity. Peaks above the capacity line indicate over-allocation requiring leveling.
- Cost-Loaded Schedule
- A schedule with budgeted costs assigned to activities. Its total should reconcile to the project budget and supports time-phased cash flow and earned value.
- Earned Value
- EV = percent complete x budget at completion. Compared with planned value and actual cost to derive schedule and cost variances and performance indices.
- Schedule Performance Index
- SPI = Earned Value / Planned Value. A value below 1.0 indicates the project is behind the planned schedule at the data date.
- Estimate at Completion
- EAC = BAC / CPI when cost variance is typical; EAC = AC + (BAC - EV) when variance is atypical. Forecasts final project cost.
- Monte Carlo Simulation
- A quantitative risk technique that samples activity duration distributions repeatedly to produce a probability distribution of project completion dates for schedule risk analysis.
- P-Level Date
- A completion date associated with a confidence level from simulation. A P80 date means an 80 percent probability of finishing on or before that date.
- Schedule Contingency
- Reserve time added between a deterministic completion date and a selected confidence-level date. Held at project level rather than embedded in activity durations.
- Earned Schedule
- A time-based extension of earned value: earned schedule is the date when planned value equals current earned value. SPI(t) = ES / actual time.
- To-Complete Performance Index
- TCPI = (BAC - EV) / (BAC - AC) when targeting budget, or (BAC - EV) / (EAC - AC) when targeting EAC. Measures required cost efficiency.
- Out-of-Sequence Progress
- Work reported started or finished before its predecessors are complete. It distorts float and forecasts and must be identified and resolved during updates.
- Re-baselining
- A formally authorized reset of the performance measurement baseline, typically after approved scope or schedule changes. It is distinct from routine schedule updates.
- DCMA 14-Point Check
- A schedule quality assessment covering logic, leads and lags, hard constraints, high and negative float, high duration, invalid dates, resources, and missed activities.