In a CPM network, you have parallel activities: Path 1 takes 15 days, Path 2 takes 12 days, and Path 3 takes 18 days. If Path 3 is delayed by 4 days, what is the impact on project duration?
Correct Answer
B) 4-day delay to project completion
Path 3 is already the critical path at 18 days. A 4-day delay extends it to 22 days, creating a 4-day delay to overall project completion since all parallel paths must finish before the project can continue.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Path 3 at 18 days is the critical path (longest duration) among the three parallel paths. When the critical path is delayed by 4 days, it extends from 18 to 22 days. Since all parallel activities must complete before the project can proceed to the next phase, any delay to the critical path directly impacts the overall project duration by the same amount.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: No impact - other paths will finish first
This would only be true if Path 3 was not the critical path. Since Path 3 has the longest duration (18 days), it controls project completion timing.
Option C: 2-day delay to project completion
There is no mathematical basis for a 2-day delay. The delay to the critical path directly translates to project delay on a 1:1 ratio.
Option D: 6-day delay to project completion
This incorrectly adds the delay (4 days) to something else. The project delay equals the critical path delay, not 4+2=6 days.
Memory Technique
Critical = Crucial. Any delay to the CRITICAL path is CRUCIAL to project timing - it delays the whole project by the same amount.
Reference Hint
Project Management chapter, specifically Critical Path Method (CPM) and network scheduling sections
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