AACE International PSP Practice Test Questions Answers

Driving Activity Concept:

The driving activity in a backward pass is the one that determines the late start or finish of the dependent activity.

Activity 10001 (Valve House - Complete) is directly dependent on its successor, Activity 11001 (Spillway - Concrete).

Backward Pass Logic:

In backward pass calculations, the late start of Activity 11001 establishes the late finish of Activity 10001 due to their finish-to-start (FS) relationship.

This makes Activity 11001 the driving activity.

Verification:

According to the PSP Study Guide, driving activities are identified based on their logical ties and the critical path's constraints (Ref: PSP Study Guide, Chapter 2A: Activity Relationships and Critical Path Analysis).

Thus, the driving activity for Activity 10001 is A. Activity 11001.

To: Desmond Rayburn, Director of Information Services

From: Evan Marshal, Corporate Scheduler

Date: [Insert Current Date]

Subject: Mitigation Plan for Project JP-114 Delays

Current Problem and Potential Impacts

Project JP-114 has experienced schedule delays and cost overruns. The project has expended $37,000 against a planned budget of $30,000 to date, exceeding the planned budget by 23%. Additionally, productivity issues have impacted critical path activities, further delaying progress. With nine months remaining, failing to address these issues could result in penalties, further cost increases, and client dissatisfaction.

Courses of Action

Focus Existing Team on Critical Path with Periodic Overtime

Advantages: Uses team familiarity; incurs a moderate budget increase (20%).

Disadvantages: Risks resource strain and potential burnout if overtime is prolonged.

Outsource Work to Consultants

Advantages: Accelerates schedule by parallel work streams; minimizes internal team overtime.

Disadvantages: Higher budget impact (up to 40%); requires effective integration of external deliverables.

Mandatory Overtime (50-Hour Work Week)

Advantages: Ensures rapid progress across the project.

Disadvantages: Extremely high cost (60% increase); risks significant employee fatigue and declining morale.

Continue as Is and Accept Late Delivery Penalties

Advantages: No immediate resource strain.

Disadvantages: Significant penalties (50% budget increase); damages stakeholder confidence and corporate reputation.

Recommendation

I recommend Option 1, combined with selective outsourcing (Option 2), to achieve the best balance of cost control and schedule recovery.

Focus the internal team on critical path activities with targeted use of periodic overtime. This ensures efficient allocation of resources and minimizes strain while addressing the most urgent delays.

Outsource select non-critical tasks to experienced consultants. This parallel effort reduces the workload on the internal team, limits overtime, and accelerates overall progress.

Rationale:

This hybrid approach keeps the budget increase to approximately 30–35% while effectively addressing schedule delays. It balances cost efficiency, resource management, and stakeholder satisfaction. Proper coordination will ensure smooth integration between internal and external teams.

Conclusion

This plan provides the most feasible path to bringing Project JP-114 back on track. It mitigates risks of extended delays while maintaining budget discipline. I am available for further discussions to outline a detailed implementation plan.

Best Regards,

Evan Marshal

Corporate Scheduler

When planning a contractor's baseline critical path schedule for constructing a high-clearance bridge near an airport, a planner/scheduler must consider documents directly relevant to the project's execution and constraints. Here's the detailed reasoning:

Project Plans and Specifications (Option A):These documents contain the detailed design, materials, and methods necessary for construction. They are indispensable for planning the baseline critical path schedule.

Project Geotechnical Report (Option B):The geotechnical report provides critical information about soil conditions, foundational requirements, and potential challenges, which significantly influence construction sequencing and methods.

Regulations Published by the Government Aviation Agency (Option C):As the project is near an airport, these regulations will likely impose height restrictions, flight path considerations, and safety requirements. Compliance with these regulations is crucial to avoid project delays or legal issues.

Government's Report on Future High-Clearance Bridge Projects (Option D):This document provides information on future projects and does not pertain to the current construction project. It does not provide actionable data or constraints affecting the planning or execution of the baseline critical path schedule for the awarded project.

Conclusion: Option D is the least valuable document in this scenario as it does not contribute directly to the planning or scheduling of the current project.