Project management & scheduling: North Carolina Contractor Business & Law Practice Questions

What does a bar (Gantt) chart show?

A bar chart lists activities with bars showing start, duration and finish. It is easy to read but does not clearly show which activities depend on each other.

In the critical path method (CPM), what is the critical path?

Critical activities have zero total float. Any delay to one of them delays project completion unless the schedule is recovered elsewhere.

What is total float (slack) for an activity?

Total float = late start - early start (or late finish - early finish). Activities on the critical path have zero total float.

Path A takes 30 days, path B 24 days and path C 28 days, all running from start to finish. What is the project duration and the float on path B?

The longest path (A, 30 days) is critical and sets the duration. Path B has 30 - 24 = 6 days of float.

In a schedule, what is a finish-to-start relationship?

Finish-to-start is the most common logic tie: for example, drywall cannot start until rough-in inspections are complete.

What is a milestone in a project schedule?

Milestones mark points such as notice to proceed, dry-in or substantial completion. They have no duration and are used to track progress.

Why does a project manager compare the schedule baseline with actual progress?

Tracking actual dates against the baseline shows which activities are behind and whether the critical path has shifted, so the manager can add crews, resequence or document delays.

What is a submittal?

Submittals show how the contractor intends to meet the design. The architect or engineer reviews them for general conformance before fabrication or installation.

Why should submittals be tracked on a log with dates?

A submittal log shows what was sent, when, and its status. It helps manage review times and supports delay claims if approvals are slow.

What is a request for information (RFI)?

RFIs resolve gaps, conflicts or unclear details. An answer that changes the scope, price or time should lead to a change order.

Why are daily logs (daily reports) important?

Daily logs record weather, crews, equipment, deliveries, inspections, visitors, delays and instructions. Records made at the time are strong evidence in disputes.

What is a schedule of values?

The schedule of values divides the contract into line items. Each pay application reports the percent complete for each line, so the owner can check billing against progress.

A line item worth $40,000 is 60% complete. Previous billings for it were $16,000. What should the contractor bill for it this period, before retainage?

Work complete to date = $40,000 x 60% = $24,000. Minus $16,000 previously billed = $8,000 this period.

What is a punch list?

At or near substantial completion, the owner and designer walk the project and list minor work to complete or fix. Final payment usually depends on finishing it.

Which documents are commonly part of project closeout?

Closeout delivers what the owner needs to operate and maintain the building, plus proof that subcontractors and suppliers are paid, before final payment and retainage release.