Oregon Construction Contractors (CCB) Practice Test

Which scheduling method illustrates the interdependence of tasks and determines task sequences and durations?

1. Bar chart scheduling

2. Gantt chart scheduling

3. Critical Path Method

4. Waterfall scheduling

The correct answer is: Critical Path Method

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is the scheduling technique that illustrates the interdependence of tasks and determines the sequences and durations necessary to complete a project. By identifying all the tasks involved, their durations, and the relationships (dependencies) between them, CPM enables project managers to pinpoint the longest stretch of dependent activities and measure the time required to complete a project from start to finish. This method relies heavily on creating a network diagram that showcases how tasks link together, highlighting which tasks are critical to the project's timeline. If any task on the critical path is delayed, the entire project will be delayed, which emphasizes the importance of managing these critical tasks effectively. In contrast, other methods, such as bar charts and Gantt charts, primarily focus on visualizing timelines without delving deeply into the intricacies of task dependencies. While these tools can display project schedules, they do not inherently offer the analytical depth concerning task interdependencies and critical timelines that CPM does. Waterfall scheduling also adheres to a linear approach, lacking the flexibility and analytical aspects required to ascertain task interdependencies.