A project manager discovers that steel delivery is delayed, but the affected activities have 6 days of total float. The delay is expected to be 4 days. What is the impact on the project completion date?
Correct Answer
C) No impact on project completion date
Since the activities have 6 days of total float and the delay is only 4 days, the delay can be absorbed within the available float without affecting the project completion date.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Total float represents the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion date. Since the steel delivery delay is only 4 days and the affected activities have 6 days of total float available, the entire delay can be absorbed within the existing float. This means there is still 2 days of float remaining (6 - 4 = 2) and no impact on the critical path or project completion date.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Project will be delayed by 4 days
This assumes the delay directly impacts the project completion date, but ignores the concept of float. When activities have total float available, delays up to that float amount do not affect project completion.
Option D: Project will be delayed by 2 days
This confuses the available float time with project delay. The 6 days represents the buffer time available, not the amount of delay that would occur.
Memory Technique
Float = Buffer. Think of float as a 'cushion' that absorbs delays. As long as the delay fits within the cushion, the project stays on schedule.
Reference Hint
Project Management chapter covering Critical Path Method (CPM), specifically sections on float calculations and schedule analysis
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