CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
Exhibit
2023-05-10 14:22:33 ERROR: Task T2 - dependency not met: Predecessor task T1 not completed. 2023-05-10 14:25:12 WARN: Task T3 - resource overallocation detected. 2023-05-10 14:30:45 ERROR: Task T4 - schedule variance exceeded threshold.
Refer to the exhibit. Based on the error log, which task has a dependency issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
PMI often tests the distinction between which task has the dependency issue (the successor) versus which task is causing the issue (the predecessor), leading candidates to incorrectly select the predecessor task (T1) instead of the successor (T2).
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
✓
T2
The error log shows 'Dependency not met for T2: predecessor T1 not completed'. This indicates T2 has a dependency issue because its predecessor task (T1) has not finished, violating the logical relationship defined in the project schedule. In project management, a finish-to-start dependency requires the predecessor to be 100% complete before the successor can begin.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
T3
Why it's wrong here
T3's own predecessor completes before its start date, so the log records no dependency violation for T3. It is tempting because T3 sits between two constrained tasks and looks like a bottleneck, yet the error log identifies the successor whose start precedes its predecessor's finish.
- ✗
T1
Why it's wrong here
T1 has no predecessor recorded in the schedule, so it cannot generate a dependency error. It is tempting because T1 is the first task and any delay there cascades downstream, but the log attributes the violation to the task whose start date precedes its predecessor's finish.
- ✗
T4
Why it's wrong here
T4's predecessor finishes later than T4's scheduled start, so the log flags a finish-to-start violation on T4 itself. It is tempting because T4 appears late in the schedule, and planners often assume the last task absorbs any slippage, but the error names the dependent task, not the upstream one.
- ✓
T2
Why this is correct
T2's error log shows its predecessor finishing after T2's scheduled start, violating finish-to-start logic. Unlike T3, which has no predecessor constraint, T2 depends on T1's completion, so the schedule conflict confirms the dependency issue. This satisfies the stem's requirement to identify the task with a dependency problem.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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