Critical Path Method (CPM) MCQs – Software Project Management
1. What does CPM stand for in project management?
A) Critical Path Method
B) Critical Path Model
C) Cost Path Management
D) Comprehensive Path Method
Answer: A
2. What is the primary purpose of the Critical Path Method?
A) To determine the shortest path through the project schedule
B) To estimate project costs
C) To manage project risks
D) To define project scope
Answer: A
3. In CPM, what is the “critical path”?
A) The sequence of tasks that determines the shortest time to complete the project
B) The sequence of tasks that has the most cost
C) The path with the most resources
D) The sequence of tasks with the least risk
Answer: A
4. How is the critical path determined?
A) By identifying the longest path through the project with the least amount of slack
B) By calculating the shortest path through the project
C) By summing up all task durations
D) By selecting the path with the most resources
Answer: A
5. What does “float” or “slack” mean in CPM?
A) The amount of time that a task can be delayed without delaying the project
B) The total duration of the critical path
C) The time required to complete a task
D) The difference between optimistic and pessimistic time estimates
Answer: A
6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the critical path?
A) It has zero or minimal slack
B) It determines the project’s minimum completion time
C) It includes the longest sequence of dependent tasks
D) It represents tasks with the lowest cost
Answer: D
7. What is a “project network diagram” used for in CPM?
A) To visualize the sequence and dependencies of project tasks
B) To estimate project costs
C) To manage project risks
D) To allocate resources
Answer: A
8. How can changes to tasks on the critical path affect the project?
A) They directly affect the project’s completion time
B) They affect only the project budget
C) They have no impact on the project schedule
D) They impact the project scope
Answer: A
9. What is the “earliest start time” in CPM?
A) The earliest time an activity can start based on its dependencies
B) The latest time an activity can start without delaying the project
C) The time required to complete an activity
D) The average start time of all activities
Answer: A
10. What does “latest finish time” represent in CPM?
A) The latest time by which an activity must be completed to avoid delaying the project
B) The earliest time an activity can finish
C) The duration of an activity
D) The average finish time of all activities
Answer: A
11. Which technique is used to calculate the total project duration in CPM?
A) By summing the durations of tasks on the critical path
B) By averaging the durations of all tasks
C) By estimating the costs of all tasks
D) By calculating the resource requirements
Answer: A
12. What is the primary benefit of identifying the critical path?
A) It helps prioritize tasks that directly impact the project completion time
B) It estimates project costs accurately
C) It allocates resources effectively
D) It manages project risks
Answer: A
13. What is a “dependency” in the context of CPM?
A) A relationship where one task must be completed before another can start
B) A task that has no impact on the project schedule
C) A resource allocation plan
D) A cost estimate for a task
Answer: A
14. In CPM, what is the purpose of a “forward pass” calculation?
A) To determine the earliest start and finish times for each task
B) To determine the latest start and finish times for each task
C) To calculate the project’s total cost
D) To allocate project resources
Answer: A
15. What does a “backward pass” calculation help determine in CPM?
A) The latest start and finish times for each task
B) The earliest start and finish times for each task
C) The total project duration
D) The cost of each task
Answer: A