A high-rise hotel is delivered using multiple-prime contracting. Before construction begins, an electrical contractor asks for more time for an activity that is not on the critical path, and the CPM shows no defined relationship between these activities. What is the best recommendation to the owner?

A high-rise hotel is delivered using multiple-prime contracting. Before construction begins, an electrical contractor asks for more time for an activity that is not on the critical path, and the CPM shows no defined relationship between these activities. What is the best recommendation to the owner?

• A. Reject the electrical contractor's change
• B. Re-sequence the activities
• C. Change the delivery method
• D. Terminate the electrical contractor

Answer: (B)

In CPM scheduling, project duration is defined by the critical path—the chain of tasks with zero total float. Activities not on that path have float, meaning their timing can slide a bit without delaying the finish, as long as dependencies allow it. If an electrical task not on the critical path requests more time and there are no defined relationships between these activities, the owner can protect the project finish by re-sequencing the non-critical activities. Re-sequencing adjusts the order or timing of those tasks so the extended duration of this electrical work sits in the non-critical part of the schedule and does not push any critical activities. This uses available float to absorb the change without affecting the completion date. Rejecting the change, changing the delivery method, or terminating the contractor would be unnecessary or inappropriate given that the overall finish date can be preserved by adjusting the sequence of non-critical work.

In CPM scheduling, project duration is defined by the critical path—the chain of tasks with zero total float. Activities not on that path have float, meaning their timing can slide a bit without delaying the finish, as long as dependencies allow it. If an electrical task not on the critical path requests more time and there are no defined relationships between these activities, the owner can protect the project finish by re-sequencing the non-critical activities. Re-sequencing adjusts the order or timing of those tasks so the extended duration of this electrical work sits in the non-critical part of the schedule and does not push any critical activities. This uses available float to absorb the change without affecting the completion date. Rejecting the change, changing the delivery method, or terminating the contractor would be unnecessary or inappropriate given that the overall finish date can be preserved by adjusting the sequence of non-critical work.