International Project Management Association (IPMA) Practice Exam

The range of time between an activity's early finish date and its late finish date is known as?

1. Expected duration

2. Non-productive time

3. The most likely delay

4. Float or slack

The correct answer is: Float or slack

The time between an activity's early finish date and its late finish date is known as float or slack. Float, often referred to as slack, is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without affecting the overall project timeline. It provides flexibility in scheduling tasks and allows project managers to manage resources effectively, ensuring that project milestones are met without unnecessary pressure on the project team. Understanding float is crucial for project planning and resource allocation. A higher float value gives more leeway for potential delays, allowing project managers to prioritize tasks without immediate risks to deadlines. In contrast, activities with little to no float require close monitoring, as any delay can impact the completion of the overall project. The other options do not accurately describe the concept of float. Expected duration concerns the anticipated time to complete an activity rather than the flexibility of timing. Non-productive time typically refers to periods where resources are not engaged in productive work, and the most likely delay does not capture the essence of the time buffer represented by float.