In a CPM schedule with 150 activities, the critical path contains 22 activities with a total duration of 240 days. If one critical path activity is reduced from 8 days to 5 days through acceleration, what is the new project duration?
Correct Answer
D) Cannot be determined without analyzing the entire network
While the current critical path would be reduced by 3 days to 237 days, reducing critical path duration may cause another path to become critical. The entire network must be analyzed to determine the true new project duration.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option D is correct because in CPM scheduling, when you reduce the duration of activities on the critical path, you cannot simply subtract the time savings from the total project duration. The critical path represents the longest path through the network, but there may be other paths that are very close in duration (near-critical paths). When the current critical path is shortened by 3 days, one of these near-critical paths may become the new critical path, potentially limiting the actual time savings. Without analyzing the entire network and calculating the float of all paths, you cannot determine the true impact on project duration.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 235 days
Option A assumes exactly 5 days would be saved (240-5=235), but this ignores the possibility that another path could become critical and limit the time savings to less than the full 5 days.
Option B: 237 days
Option B assumes exactly 3 days would be saved (240-3=237), which would only be true if no other path becomes critical. This is a common trap answer that seems logical but fails to consider network effects.
Option C: 240 days
Option C suggests no time would be saved at all, which would only occur in very specific circumstances where another path immediately becomes critical with the same duration, but this cannot be assumed without network analysis.
Memory Technique
Remember 'NETWORK EFFECT' - when you shorten the critical path, other paths in the network may 'pop up' to become the new critical path, limiting your time savings.
Reference Hint
Look up CPM (Critical Path Method) scheduling in the Project Management or Scheduling chapter, specifically sections on critical path analysis and float calculations.
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