What is the total float of an activity on the baseline schedule's critical path?

What is the total float of an activity on the baseline schedule's critical path?

• A. Equal to the activity duration
• B. Zero
• C. Equal to the project's total float
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (B)

Total float shows how long an activity can be delayed without delaying the project's finish. For an activity on the baseline schedule’s critical path, there is no room to delay without impacting completion date. In other words, the early dates equal the late dates (ES = LS and EF = LF), so the total float is zero. This zero float means any delay on that activity pushes the project end date, which is why those activities are on the critical path. Activities not on the critical path have positive total float, indicating some scheduling flexibility. Even with multiple critical paths, the activities on any one of them still have zero total float.

Total float shows how long an activity can be delayed without delaying the project's finish. For an activity on the baseline schedule’s critical path, there is no room to delay without impacting completion date. In other words, the early dates equal the late dates (ES = LS and EF = LF), so the total float is zero. This zero float means any delay on that activity pushes the project end date, which is why those activities are on the critical path. Activities not on the critical path have positive total float, indicating some scheduling flexibility. Even with multiple critical paths, the activities on any one of them still have zero total float.