A Gantt chart shows that the foundation work is 60% complete on Day 12 of a 20-day planned duration. The planned progress for Day 12 should be 75%. What is the schedule variance in days?
Correct Answer
C) 3 days behind
Actual progress (60%) represents 60% of 20 days = 12 days of work completed. Planned progress (75%) represents 75% of 20 days = 15 days of work should be completed. Variance = 15 - 12 = 3 days behind.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The calculation converts percentages to equivalent days of work. Actual work completed = 60% × 20 days = 12 days of work. Planned work by Day 12 = 75% × 20 days = 15 days of work. Schedule variance = 15 − 12 = 3 days behind schedule. This method translates abstract percentages into concrete time units, which is what the question asks for.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 2 days behind
2 days behind would result if you subtracted the actual day (12) from the planned equivalent days (15) incorrectly, perhaps using a different percentage or rounding. The correct arithmetic yields a 3-day variance, not 2.
Option B: 5 days behind
5 days behind might come from subtracting the actual completion percentage (60%) from the planned percentage (75%) to get 15 percentage points, then misinterpreting that as days. Percentage point differences must be converted to time units via multiplication by total duration.
Option D: 4 days behind
4 days behind is a common off-by-one error or results from using slightly different percentage rounding. The precise calculation gives exactly 3 days.
Memory Technique
Use the formula: Variance (days) = (Planned% − Actual%) × Total Duration. Here: (0.75 − 0.60) × 20 = 0.15 × 20 = 3 days. Always convert percentages to days before stating a time variance.
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