Primavera Interview Questions with Answers
- What is Primavera P6?
Answer: Primavera P6 is a project management software that allows organizations to manage their projects effectively. It helps in planning, scheduling, and controlling projects of any size.
2. Explain the difference between PERT and CPM.
Answer: PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is a probabilistic method used for estimating the time required to complete a project. CPM (Critical Path Method) is a deterministic method used to identify the critical path and calculate project duration.
3. What is a WBS (Work Breakdown Structure)?
Answer: A WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team. It breaks down the project into smaller, more manageable parts.
4. What is the critical path in Primavera P6?
Answer: The critical path in Primavera P6 is the longest sequence of activities that determines the minimum time required to complete a project.
5. Explain the purpose of resource leveling.
Answer: Resource leveling in Primavera P6 is used to smooth out resource utilization over the course of a project, ensuring that resources are not overallocated during specific time periods.
6. What is a baseline in Primavera P6?
Answer: A baseline in Primavera P6 is a snapshot of the project’s schedule at a specific point in time. It includes the original project plan, which can be used for comparison with the current schedule.
7. How can you handle out-of-sequence activities in Primavera P6?
Answer: In Primavera P6, you can handle out-of-sequence activities by adjusting the user preference settings to allow or disallow such activities.
8. Explain the concept of Earned Value Management (EVM) in Primavera P6.
Answer: EVM in Primavera P6 involves tracking and evaluating the performance of a project in terms of cost and schedule. It helps in determining the project’s current status and predicting future performance.
9. What is a constraint in Primavera P6?
Answer: A constraint in Primavera P6 is a restriction placed on the start or finish date of an activity. Common constraints include “Must Start On” or “Must Finish On.”
10. How do you assign resources to activities in Primavera P6?
Answer: Resources are assigned to activities in Primavera P6 by entering the resource names and units in the Resource Assignments tab of the activity details.
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11. Explain the difference between a milestone and a task in Primavera P6.
Answer: A milestone is a significant event with no duration, while a task has a specific duration. Milestones mark key points in a project.
12. What is a baseline in Primavera P6, and why is it important?
Answer: A baseline in Primavera P6 is a snapshot of the project plan at a specific point. It’s important for comparing planned versus actual progress and assessing project performance.
13. How can you handle resource overallocation in Primavera P6?
Answer: Resource overallocation can be addressed in Primavera P6 by adjusting resource assignments, leveling resources, or using resource histograms to visualize and manage workloads.
14. What are lag and lead in Primavera P6 scheduling?
Answer: Lag is a delay between the finish of one activity and the start of another. Lead is an overlap where the successor activity can start before the predecessor finishes.
15. What are activity codes in Primavera P6?
Answer: Activity codes in Primavera P6 are user-defined labels or identifiers assigned to activities for categorization and sorting purposes.
16. How can you export data from Primavera P6 to Excel?
Answer: Data can be exported from Primavera P6 to Excel by selecting the desired data, right-clicking, and choosing “Copy Selected Rows.” Then, paste it into an Excel sheet.
17. Explain the concept of float in project scheduling.
Answer: Float, also known as slack, is the total time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project’s end date. There’s total float (total slack) and free float (free slack).
18. What is a resource curve in Primavera P6?
Answer: A resource curve in Primavera P6 is a graphical representation of resource utilization over time, helping to visualize and manage resource workloads.
19. How does Primavera P6 handle risk management?
Answer: Primavera P6 supports risk management by allowing users to assign risk levels to activities, evaluate potential impacts on project schedules, and incorporate risk analysis into planning.
20. Explain the purpose of a reflection project in Primavera P6.
Answer: A reflection project in Primavera P6 allows users to create a copy of the current project schedule for “what-if” analysis or to explore alternative scenarios without affecting the original project.
