CAPM Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies Practice Question
A project manager is planning a predictive project to upgrade a hospital's HVAC system. The project has a fixed budget and a strict regulatory deadline. The project manager needs to determine the total duration of the project by analyzing the sequence of activities and their dependencies. Which technique should the project manager use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the technique used to build the network diagram, such as the precedence diagramming method, with the technique used to calculate the total project duration.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Critical path method
The critical path method is the correct technique because it analyzes the schedule network to determine the longest path of dependent activities, which defines the shortest possible project duration. It calculates early and late dates and identifies float, enabling the project manager to focus on activities that directly affect the deadline. Other techniques either adjust the schedule for resources, provide probabilistic ranges, or build the network diagram without calculating total duration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Monte Carlo simulation
Why it's wrong here
Monte Carlo simulation is a quantitative risk analysis technique that runs many iterations to produce a probability distribution of possible project outcomes, such as duration or cost. It provides a range of possible durations with confidence levels, but it does not directly determine a single total duration based on the sequence of activities and dependencies. The project manager needs a deterministic schedule calculation, not a probabilistic analysis.
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Precedence diagramming method
Why it's wrong here
The precedence diagramming method (PDM) is a technique used to create a schedule network diagram by establishing logical relationships between activities. It is a modeling technique that shows dependencies, but it does not by itself calculate the total project duration. While PDM is used as a precursor to schedule analysis, the project manager needs a technique that computes the overall duration from the network, which is done by the critical path method.
- ✓
Critical path method
Why this is correct
The critical path method (CPM) is a schedule network analysis technique used to determine the total duration of a project by identifying the longest path of dependent activities. It calculates early start, early finish, late start, and late finish dates, and identifies the critical path, which determines the shortest possible project duration. In this scenario, the project manager needs to analyze activity sequences and dependencies to find the total duration, making CPM the appropriate technique.
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Resource leveling
Why it's wrong here
Resource leveling is a technique used to adjust the schedule to resolve resource over-allocation or to align with resource constraints. It may change the critical path and often extends the project duration. While it can affect the total duration, it is not used to determine the total duration based on activity sequences and dependencies. The project manager's primary need is to calculate the project duration, not to resolve resource conflicts.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
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