General Planning Engineer Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

3. What do you find the most interesting about being a planning engineer?

4. What are the primary duties of a planning engineer?

5. Do you prefer to work in a team or independently?

6. Why are you interested in working with this company?

7. What do you know about this company?

8. What does a typical work day look like for a planning engineer?

9. Have you worked on a construction site?

10. Do you have any questions for us?

Questions About Experience And Background

1. Do you have any previous experience working as a planning engineer?

2. What is the biggest project you worked on so far in your career?

3. Tell us about your work history.

4. Tell us about your educational background.

5. Did someone refer you to this position? If so, who?

6. Do you have any additional training relevant to this position?

7. Do you think your previous experience can apply to this job? If so, how?

8. What skills or qualities do you think are essential to excel as a planning engineer?

9. What qualities do you think differentiate you from other candidates?

10. Express the process you follow to create a project plan.

In-Depth Planning Engineer Interview Questions

1. How many baselines can you have in one project?

2. How do you determine the success or failure of a project?

3. What are the basic things that you require to create a project plan?

4. What is the average duration of a milestone activity?

5. What is the best way to track the progress of a project?

6. Explain what a kick-off meeting is and its purpose in a project.

7. Explain the importance of the Cost Performance Indicator (CPI) in project planning.

8. Explain the importance of the Schedule Performance Indicator (SPI) in project

planning.

9. Do you know what Triple Constraint is? Please explain.

10. Are there any specific areas where you think you require improvement?
Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1. What is a project baseline?

Interviewers may start with this question to assess your knowledge of basic project
management concepts. This may also help them know about your planning skills. You
can answer this question by defining the term and providing a suitable example.

Example answer: "A project baseline is the starting point of a project plan. You use this
as a benchmark to monitor the progress of the actual project. This can help you
determine the overall performance of the project. For example, you determine the
project to complete in five weeks, but the schedule baseline has a completion time of
four weeks. This may indicate that you require to take measures to complete the project
in four weeks."

2. What do you require for developing a project plan?

This question may help the interviewers gauge your understanding of the components
essential for project planning. It is important for a planning engineer to be aware of all
the essential things that help in the development of a project plan. One way of
answering this question is by stating the components in the order in which you may
require them.

Example answer: "The first thing that I would require is the contract. It is an important
document for understanding the overall requirement of the project. I would then use the
schedule drawings to assess the area and the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) to determine an
estimated budget for the project. I would also require access to scheduling software to
manage project details and updates. Lastly, I would want to meet with the project team
to set productivity expectations."

3. What is the difference between free float and total float in project planning?

Interviewers may ask some technical questions to assess your knowledge. This can help
them know if you have the required knowledge for the job. You can answer this question
by defining both the terms and how they compare to each other.
Example answer: "Free float refers to the amount of delay acceptable before the start of
a project activity without affecting the start of the following activity. Total float refers to
the amount of delay acceptable for a project without affecting the overall project
completion time. While free float may affect a start of an activity or a project, a total float
can affect the overall project duration."

4. According to you, what is the greatest accomplishment in your career so far?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you identify success and setbacks. It can
also be an excellent opportunity for you to talk about your significant achievements in
your previous role. Try to pick one instance from your previous roles and talk about it.
You can also use statistical data if possible to explain your achievement in a quantifiable
manner.

Example answer: "At my previous job, there was a big project on which the company was
working. After the commencement of the project, I realised that the estimated duration
is inaccurate. The budget of the project was also inaccurate because of this. I
immediately communicated the error to all the stakeholders and reworked the plan.
That helped in saving 20% of the total cost than what we had estimated earlier."

5. Tell us about a time when you made a mistake. How did you resolve it?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to identify mistakes and
work on them. It can also help determine if you have accountability. You can answer this
question by talking about an instance where you made a mistake and explaining how
you addressed it.

Example answer: "At my previous workplace, I accidentally entered the budget details of
one project into another project. As soon as I realised my mistake, I cleared up the
budget details from both projects and re-entered the correct details. Throughout the
process, I kept my senior updated on the issue."
Acing the Planning Engineer Interview

Stepping into the realm of engineering requires technical skills and strategic foresight,
especially when aiming for a role as a planning engineer. This blog dives into the critical
aspects of planning engineer interview questions, offering both freshers and
experienced candidates a deep understanding of what to expect and how to prepare.

From understanding the role to acing the interview with seasoned strategies, this guide
covers it all to ensure you approach your interview with confidence and insight.

Role of Planning Engineer

The planning engineer is pivotal in project management, ensuring that engineering

projects are planned, coordinated, and executed efficiently. They are responsible for
developing effective strategies to complete projects on time, within budget, and to the
specified quality standards.

This involves detailed planning of project phases, resource allocation, risk assessment,
and contingency planning. The essence of their work lies in their ability to foresee
project needs and challenges, making their contributions crucial for the successful
delivery of engineering projects.

Their skill set includes strong analytical abilities, proficiency in project management
software, and excellent communication skills to liaise between various project
stakeholders.
Planning Engineer Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Q1. What is project planning, and why is it important?

Answer: Project planning involves defining project goals, establishing tasks, and
allocating resources to achieve objectives efficiently. It is crucial as it outlines the
project’s scope, timelines, and processes, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and
aware of their roles.

Q2. Can you describe the steps you take in the initial planning phase of a project?

Answer: I assess the project’s scope and objectives first. Then, I identify the necessary
resources, set realistic timelines, and establish critical milestones. I also conduct risk
analysis to mitigate potential challenges.

Q3. How do you handle changes to a project plan?

Answer: I approach changes systematically, assessing their impact, discussing potential

adjustments with stakeholders, and updating the project plan while ensuring resource
availability and alignment with the project goals.

Q4. What tools have you used for project planning and monitoring, and which are
most effective?

Answer: I have used tools like MS Project and Primavera P6. Primavera P6 is extremely
effective due to its robust features for scheduling, resource management, and progress
tracking.

Q5. What strategies would you implement to ensure a project remains on track?

Answer: My go-to strategies include regular monitoring of project milestones, resource

allocation, and budget. Additionally, I prioritise clear communication and prompt
problem-solving to address issues as they arise.
Planning Engineer Job Interview Questions and Answers [Experienced]

Q1. How do you integrate cost control with project planning?

Answer: Effective cost control is integrated by forecasting accurate budgets, regular

monitoring of expenditures, and adjusting the project plan to align with financial
objectives. Utilising software for real-time data helps maintain this balance.

Q2. Describe a challenging project you planned. What strategies did you use to
handle it?

Answer: In a high-stakes project involving multiple stakeholders, I managed challenges

by maintaining flexible but clear scheduling and resource management. Stakeholder
engagement through regular updates was key to navigating complexities.

Q3. What is your approach to risk management in project planning?

Answer: My approach involves identifying potential risks early through SWOT analysis,
quantifying their impact, and developing mitigation strategies. Regular risk assessments
during the project lifecycle are crucial for management.

Q4. Can you explain how you manage cross-functional teams in complex projects?

Answer: Managing cross-functional teams involves clear communication of project

goals, roles, and expectations. I foster an inclusive environment for collaboration while
ensuring accountability through KPIs and regular reviews.

Q5. How do you ensure compliance with industry standards during project
execution?

Answer: Compliance is ensured by staying updated with industry standards, integrating

these standards into the project planning phase, and conducting regular compliance
audits during the execution phase.
How to Ace Questions for Planning Engineer Interview [Tips]

Understand the Job Description: Tailor your preparation based on the specific
requirements and responsibilities mentioned in the job listing.

Rehearse Common Questions: Practise your responses to common planning engineer

interview questions to improve your confidence and fluency during the interview.

Showcase Relevant Experience: Use your experience to provide examples that

demonstrate your capabilities and how they align with the role’s demands.

Demonstrate Problem-solving Skills: Highlight instances where your intervention

successfully resolved project issues, emphasising your analytical and decision-making
skills.

Stay Updated: Keep abreast of the latest project management methodologies and
technologies that could impact your field.
10 Basic Interview Questions for a Planning Engineer

1. What experience do you have in planning engineering?

Answer: I have worked as a planning engineer for over 5 years, where I have been
responsible for developing and implementing project schedules, monitoring progress,
and identifying potential risks. I have also worked on a variety of projects, including
construction, infrastructure, and energy projects.

2. What software programs are you proficient in?

Answer: I am proficient in a variety of software programs, including Primavera P6,

Microsoft Project, and Excel. I have used these programs to develop and manage project
schedules, track progress, and analyze data.

3. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects?

Answer: When managing multiple projects, I prioritize tasks based on their level of
importance and urgency. I also make sure to communicate with my team and
stakeholders to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that deadlines are met.

4. How do you handle unexpected changes to a project schedule?

Answer: When unexpected changes occur, I assess the impact on the project schedule
and adjust accordingly. I also communicate with stakeholders to inform them of any
changes and work with my team to develop a plan to mitigate any potential risks.

5. How do you ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget?

Answer: To ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget, I develop and
monitor project schedules, track progress, and identify potential risks. I also work
closely with my team to ensure that everyone is working efficiently and that resources
are being used effectively.
6. How do you communicate project progress to stakeholders?

Answer: I communicate project progress to stakeholders through regular status reports,

meetings, and presentations. I also make sure to provide clear and concise updates that
are easy to understand and that address any concerns or questions that stakeholders
may have.

7. How do you manage project risks?

Answer: To manage project risks, I identify potential risks early on and develop a plan to
mitigate them. I also monitor risks throughout the project and make adjustments as
necessary. I work closely with my team to ensure that everyone is aware of potential
risks and that we are taking steps to minimize them.

8. How do you ensure that project documentation is complete and accurate?

Answer: To ensure that project documentation is complete and accurate, I develop a

document control system that outlines the procedures for creating, reviewing, and
storing project documents. I also conduct regular audits to ensure that documents are
up-to-date and that there are no gaps in the documentation.

9. How do you handle conflicts within a project team?

Answer: When conflicts arise within a project team, I work to identify the root cause of
the conflict and develop a plan to resolve it. I also make sure to communicate with all
parties involved and to listen to their perspectives to find a mutually beneficial solution.

10. How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices?

Answer: To stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices, I attend conferences
and workshops, read industry publications, and participate in professional
organizations. I also make sure to share my knowledge with my team and to incorporate
new ideas and practices into our projects.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR PLANNING ENGINEERS

Question-1: What is a Base Project Schedule?

Answer: A baseline is an approved program by both parties which is used as a

benchmark to measure the progress of a project.

Question-2: What is the Main Driver of a Project and how you will get it?

Answer: The main driver consists of the significant activities that are driving the project
at the critical path. To get it just go to last activity and check its driving activity, then go
to that driving activity and mark its driving also, same goes until you reach the first
activity.

This is typically done through scheduling software like Primavera P6, Microsoft Project,
etc.

Question-3: How many baselines are allowed in any project and which baseline decides
the success or failure of the project?

Answer: A project must have a minimum one project baseline & that number can go to
unlimited. But if you find a number of baselines that means the planning team is quite
inefficient – Avoid it! The latest baseline defines the success or failure of any project.

Question-4: What are the Key Performance Indicators – KPI’s?

Answer: A KPI is type performance measurement on a particular activity where

engaged.

KPI’s are defined by keeping a factor “What matters the most”. A careful study and
analysis are required to define because it differs from organization to organization like a
critical KPI for you may not be of any interest of other same type organization. It is
really a diverse area. Examples Rubber lining, Concrete Work, Machine Failures in a
Specific Duration, Plantation, Number of hiring/firings, Training, etc. etc.
Question-5: What you normally need to develop a plan?

Answer: I need the Contract documents to understand the scope, the schedule drawings
to know about areas, Bill of Quantity-BOQ including cost, scheduling software access.

Yes, I need to meet my project team to know about a little productivity rate if I don’t
know in case of any specific activity.

Question-6: How do you define a critical path?

Answer: The longest path & the minimum time required to complete a project. A
combination of activities with the total float as zero are included all.

Question-7: How much duration a milestone activity normally has?

Answer: Well, there are different types of milestones are there like start milestone,
finish milestone, etc. but all have ZERO duration.

Question-8: What is the difference between Free Float & Total Float?

Answer: Free Float – the amount of time we can delay an activity without affecting the
early start date of its successor activity. Total Float – the amount of time we can delay an
activity from its early start date without delaying the whole project finish.

The free float may affect the start of any activity but total float may affect the duration of
the overall project.

Question-9: What is the difference between Change order & Variation order Request?

Answer: Technically there is no such difference. Change order or Variation request is a

change in scope from the contract but as per contract. If you are much curious which
term should be used the better refer your contract documents. Personally, I have heard
the term Variation Order but never seen any documentation for. Everywhere they write
a Change Order Request.
Question-10: How to measure the progress of a project?

Answer: Normally there are three ways to measure the progress 1)-Man-hours, 2)-Cost
& 3)-Quantity

My preferred method is through Man-hours as It is more logical but I have to comply as

per contractual obligations as most of the companies prefer through Cost.

By the way, sometimes we have to use all three methods on a single project to get more
intensive project updated status.

Question-11: Have you heard about the Kick of Meeting?

Answer: Yes, I have handled a number of Kick of Meetings on different projects &
companies. the kick-off meeting is normally the first meeting of all major Stakeholders
including the Project Manager with his team and Owner’s representatives. Here, we
discuss high-level overall plans, things like how we are going to execute and once things
get clearer as project go forward then we do rolling wave planning.

These meetings can be conducted at the new phase starts during the execution of the
project also.

Question-12: What certification & qualification you have?

Answer: I am a Project Management Professional- PMP certified from Project

Management Institute – PMI. I am a Graduate Engineer & perusing Master in Project
Management.

Question-13: Do you know about CPI?

Answer: Yes, it’s a Cost Performance Indicator and it evaluates the performance in the
sense if the project is under-budget, over-budgeted or on track. The formula is for CPI is
the ratio of earned value – EV over actual costs – AC that is CPI =EV/AC
Question-14: What do you know about SPI?

Answer: It is the Schedule Performance Indicator and indicates the performance of

project work is completed to the baseline schedule. It is calculated by dividing the
earned value by the planned value that is SPI = EV/PV

Question-15: What you know about Triple Constraints?

Answer: Cost, Time and Scope with quality as the fundamental theme.

Question-16: What are undesirable in any plan?

Answer: Constraints, SF (Start to Finish) relationship, Log lags or leads, Negative Float,
etc.

Question-17: How to avoid Negative Float in a Baseline Schedule?

Answer: Negative float indicates that the activity is already delayed. Normally, a
constraint is the culprit of it. Remove all the constraints or use proper logic -
relationships to deal with it. Also, check dangling or out of sequence activities.

During updating a schedule, a negative float for some activities is very common. You
cannot avoid unless is going as planned.

Question-18: If you are reported 5 SPI, what it means? – Real Question was Asked to me!

Answer: They planner has made a blunder during calculations.

Question-19: What is an S Curve?

Answer: Graphical representation of ‘anything’ like Manhours, Cost, etc. plotted against
time.
Question-20: What do you know about Reflection Schedule?

Answer: Reflection function is always underestimated but it is a really great feature in

Primavera P6 Professional. A Reflection program is just a copy of the program to have a
look at different scenarios after making desirable changes. Once satisfied just merge in
the native program.

Question-21: What is ACWP, BCWP & BCWS?

Answer: ACWP is Actual Cost of Work Performed, BCWP is Budgeted Cost of Work
Performed & BCWS is Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled.

Question-22: How you will make a comparison of different updates for the same
schedule?

Answer: I will use Claim Digger function that is available in Primavera P6.

Question-23: How you will make a comparison of different updates for the same
schedule?

Answer: I will use Claim Digger function that is available in Primavera P6.

Question-24: Do you know any about Retained & Over-Ride Logic in Scheduling?

Answer: This only matters if the schedule is not going at it was planned, means a
difference is activities progress. The Progress Over-ride will not respect the logic
anymore if there is any variance and hence will shorten the critical path but with mostly
illogical out of sequence activities. In other sense, the activities will do as it is an open
end activity. The Retained logic is completely otherwise.
Question-25: What do you know about DCMA Scoring?

Answer: DCMA is 14-Point Assessment Metrics to evaluate any baseline schedule. It

includes; 1. Logic 2. Leads 3. Lags 4. Relationship Types 5. Hard Constraints 6. High Float
7. Negative Float 8. High Duration 9. Invalid Dates 10. Resources 11. Missed Tasks 12.
Critical Path Test 13. Critical Path Length Index (CPLI) 14. Baseline Execution Index
(BEI)

Question-26: What do you about Delay Analysis Techniques?

Answer: Normally it is defined in the Contract documents that how we are going to
calculate extension of time but if not then there must be a consensus for using any
available technique from both of the parties like 1) Impacted as planned 2) Windows
Analysis 3) Time Impact or 4) As-Built But-For.

Question-27: What is the difference between Float & Slack?

Answer: Nothing, just synonyms.

Question-28: What is the difference between Planner & a Scheduler?

Answer: Both are quite different but linked to each other tightly. Somewhere these are
just synonym to each other. Planner or Planning Engineer reads the IFC drawings, define
the activities, duration & resources according to site construction conditions. He knows
better all the phases of work to be done even during the tender stage and also at the
construction stage. It should be from an engineering background necessarily.

On the other hands, Scheduler takes-over the work done already by the planner to make
a more detailed one. This job does not require to have an engineering background.

I read somewhere on LinkedIn (by Mustafa Ozgoren) that

Planning is What & How? Scheduling is When & Who?

Both should be well versed in Planning software in any case.

Question-29: What is different % complete type in Primavera P6?

Answer: Physical, Units & Duration.

Question-30: What is different duration type in Primavera P6?

Answer: Fixed Units, Fixed Units/time, Fixed Duration & Units, Fixed Duration &
Units/Time.

Question-31: What is Productivity?

Answer: Productivity is the efficiency of any working entity. It is measured as the

amount of output for work per hour. Productivity rates define how efficient a team you
have.

Formula is Productivity = Output / Input

Example: Let say you have two masons (call A&B) and let’s review their work for last
week, A worked for 50 hours and B for 30 hours. A fixed 5000 blocks & B did 3500
blocks. As a planner, you may like A as it is putting more on but let’s have a check on
productivity for both

Mason A= 5000/50hrs = 100/hour

Mason B= 3500/30hrs =116/hour

Here, B is much more productive than A and hence you need to raise the skill level of A
type Mason by proper training, etc.

Question-32: What are the different levels of a Schedule?

Answer: There is a different school of thought to define levels of a program one says its
six levels, others say it’s five and even one thinks only four levels of a program are there
when scheduling.

Here, I will explain the six levels as most of the old school people still think as more
logical, there are
LEVEL-1: Overview Schedule

LEVEL-2: Area Wise Schedule

LEVEL-3: Discipline Wise Schedule

LEVEL-4: Major Activities Schedule

LEVEL-5: Detailed Activities Schedule

LEVEL-6: Micro-detail Activities Schedule

Question-33: What is the difference between Project Planner & Project Controller?

Answer: Project planner does the planning phase for the project from WBS
identification, identification of project deliverables, milestones, create the baseline, plan
the budget, cash flow and KPI’s and trackers. The planner is to prepare the program and
prepare an acceptable budget for all parties.

Project control provides assistance and ensures that the plan is controlled by providing
risk register, analyzing critical path, placing mitigation plans, track project KPI, and
ensures that the project is running on time and budget. Its focus is only productivity &
reports according to organizational norms.

Question-34: What you normally present in a Weekly Report?

Answer: It depends on the demands of stakeholders on a particular project. Normally, I

update the Schedule with a proper backup, do required baseline comparisons, Critical
Path that displays activities are important to consider on, three weeks lookahead –
3WLHS, EVM reports are also included in my report. I draw S curves for Man-hours,
Cost, Manpower Histogram, Equipment Histogram. Furthermore, I always update the
Procurement Schedule separately in MS Excel to track other materials. Long lead items
are already being tracked and updated accordingly in my baseline schedule.
Question-35: What are the different types of Primavera P6 activities?

Answer: These include

Task-Dependent: In this type assigned resources are scheduled based on the

activity’s calendar itself.

Resource Dependent: In this type, the assigned resources are scheduled based on

assigned calendars.

Level of Effort: This type of activity goes with dependent activities like

administrative issues.

Start Milestone: This is designated for the start of a major phase or stage of a

project. A milestone that has zero duration. It is just like a flag.

Finish Milestone: This is designated for the finish of the major phase or stage of a

project. A milestone that has zero duration. It is just like a flag.

Question-35: Differentiate between budgeted Cost and Budgeted Units?

Answer: Budgeted Cost for an activity is the total budgeted costs of all resources on that

particular activity whereas Budgeted units are budgeted units of work for the resource

assignment on any particular activity.

Question-36: When the Planning Phase /Stage is started for a Project?

Answer: Well, they say planning phase should be started before ending the initiation

phase but as per my thinking Planning should be started as soon as the project life cycle

starts.

Question-37: What is the difference between different Primavera Scheduling

Programmes?

Answer: There are few other programs but we will discuss below three as these are

mainly used for scheduling

1. Primavera P6 Professional

2. Primavera P6 EPPM (Web Client)

3. Primavera Contractor

Now, Primavera Contractor is the least costly and hence not have much features

like Enterprise and Admin menus are not available. It is limited to 2000 activities only.
No

Microsoft Project XML file support, No Resource Roles, No Enterprise Project Structure

(EPS) and it is installed only as standalone. Still, it is a great and powerful application.
The

interface is as of Primavera P6 Professional. A person that uses Primavera P6

Professional can handle it with ease.

Now let’s compare the other two major giants Primavera P6 Professional & Primavera
P6

EPPM
EPPM have some edge over Professional as it has more visual aids, can handle more

projects at once, installation is faster, need to be installed at only one machine whereas

Professional should be installed on each machine. Professional is a small-scaled as

compare to EPPM as it only can handle 100,000 activities. EPPM has more graphs,

different dashboards, and pivot tables to help the management to review the status

quickly whereas you need to use third-party software like MS Excel to get better

visualization when using P6 Professional.

Professional has more speed than EPPM, it needs no internet connection to be operated

whereas EPPM needs a good internet connection.

Question-38: What is normally you see on a Change Order Form?

Answer: There are five major & must mentions on any Change Order (CO) Form;

1.Change in the Scope – Either additions or reductions. A change is just color can be
referred into a change order even no monitory value involves. Better to document this

for reference to give credit.

2.Change in Cost – Either plus, negative or even zero.

3. Change in time – Never forget if you are on contractor side & must plan as per

resources or add optimum to avoid Liquidated Damages (L.D.). It should have a start &

finish date even though not necessary as per Change Order form.

4.Signatures – It should be signed by authorized parties two or more.

5.Date of Change Order – The signature date must be included on the Change Order

Form.

Question-39: Difference between MS Project and Primavera P6?

Answer: I have used both of these but in my opinion, Primavera P6 is way more
powerful

than MS Project. MS project only allows 11 baselines for any particular project but
Primavera P6 offers unlimited baselines. That shows that with Primavera P6 we can

handle complex projects.

In Primavera P6 multi-user can work at the same time, but in MS Project one must close

so the other user can open that project.

Web Support is also available in Primavera P6 EPPM that means a user can operate

through the internet without installing Primavera P6 software on a machine. That

makes

it a portable type of product.

MS Project is a user-friendly as most of the people are familiar with Microsoft products

like MS Excel buy Primavera P6 needs some basic skills/training to operate.

You can read more about these here MS Project and Primavera P6

Question-40: How you track Progress of a Project?

Answer: There are three ways to track the progress of a project

Man-hours

Cost

Quantities

Every client has his/her preferences to use any of the above methods but I use
Manhours.

The reason is it gives me proper control of resources that make tracking quite

easy and effective. One can get realistic manpower requirements for a particular project.

Many clients prefer cost but if a Project Manager filters activities with higher cost and
get

it done first then it will show some kind of fake overall progress. But it is good to have a

proper cash flow forecast.

Quantiles are preferred where material management is required mainly and it also helps

to track KPI’s of a constructions site. But being a planner, I must say tracking is really
tough with this method as you need to track most of the materials

Question-41: What is Reflection in Primavera P6?

Answer: It is one of the exclusive features in Primavera P6. Possible changes in a project

are done via reflection. Reelection is just like a what-if scenario.

Once changes are reviewed and approved then it can be merged into sources project.

Different possible scenarios are reviewed and the best one is merged after approval.

Scenarios Like: If your actual plan is lagging behind and Project Manager asks if I

provide you some extra resources (shift) then how long it will take to catch-up?

Question-42: What is the use of Claim Digger in Primavera P6?

Answer: The handiest function to compare two schedules for any change.

Claim Digger is one more exclusive kind of function in Primavera P6. Although it is a

separate product nowadays it is built-in in Primavera P6.

Claim Digger helps to track any change between two projects in terms of Activity
deleted,

added, change in relationships, change is duration, change in cost, change in units,

change is % age complete mainly.

Reports can be exported in HTML and CSV files or even Text.

Question-43: What you know about Rolling Wave Planning?

Answer: First is very high-level planning is done at project level when you only have a

concept because at that time you don’t have much resources or team members to

coordinate and so you make an expert judgment for estimations.

Then you do it on phase level. Phases are as per your organization norms. You may have

four phases or less/more.

Rolling wave planning is done at the deliverable level. It can be like lookahead weekly
base or even is done daily on foreman levels. It could be monthly as per stakeholders

requirements. See the below for pictorial view.

Question-44: Differentiate among WBS, Work Package and Activity?

Answer: WBS: Work Breakdown Structure- WBS is simply a decomposition of all the

works to complete any project. A WBS is arranged in a hierarchy having a clear and

logical group. A WBS is a deliverable-oriented.

Work Package: WP is the lowest level of any work breakdown structure from we can

manage the cost and duration estimation.

Activity: A discrete, planned portion of work to be performed in a project.

Still confusing? Let’s understand by an example

Say that we are building a house and flooring is one of the WBS (it depends on the team

how they define WBS in a plan). Now, these different floors are different work packages.
A team has to perform a series of activities like soil compaction, waterproofing, concrete

blending, rebars, etc. to complete the floor.

To understand, activities will complete work packages and that will ultimately complete

the WBS. It’s like a bottom-up scenario.

Question-45: What is the difference between Open-End activity and a Dangling

Activity?

Answer: An activity without predecessor or successor relationship is called Open-End

activity.

A Dangling Activity may have both predecessor and successor but is still dangling from

one end that leads to fake results for critical path and completion dates. It behaves the

same as of open-end activity but is the more difficult and complex scenario to find it.

It is undesirable in any program and needs to fix always.

Question-46: Is there any difference between a flag and a milestone in Primavera

P6?

Answer: A Milestone & A flag are event activities.

You cannot update Flags manually and it will be updated automatically whereas a

milestone needs to be updated manually.

By the way, I have never used the flag as it is an obsolete type term in Primavera P6

nowadays.

You can read more about How to Review and Submit a Baseline Plan

Question-47: What are the major different types of drawings you see on a

Construction Project?

Answer: There are four types we normally came across 1. Tender Drawings 2. AFC/IFC,
3.

Shop Drawings and 4. As-built Drawings

Tender Drawings: Drawings included in the tender documents are released by the

Clients for pre-qualified Contractors.

Approved for Construction Drawing: AFC – Approved for Construction or IFC – Issued

for Construction both terms are being used for drawings and documents that are

approved by authorities after review. IFC/AFC is a stamped or marked document or you

can say one of the controlled documents. Even some people are using a term IFC as

Information for Construction or Instructions for Construction. Another name is IFR –

Issued for Information.

These drawings are issued by Client/Consultant/PMT to EPC, Contractors, Supplier,

Vendors, Sub-Contractor, or Manufacture.

Shop Drawings: IFC is What to do & Shop Drawing is How to do? It is a drawing

produced by the contractor, supplier, vendor, sub-contractor, or manufacture in a

simplified way to be understandable to the hand executers at site or staff.

These are the most detailed drawings on any project. But before going for construction

approval is must from the Clients. Any change major/minor should be addressed.

As-Built Drawings: It shows that how actually the final project has turned out. It

contains all suggested modifications required later on site. These are mainly used for

maintenance teams later on.

Question-48: Have do you apply for Extension of Time or conduct a Delay Analysis?

Answer: First, I will gather delay events as per the contract. Like letters we have

sent/received for potential delays before 14 or 28 days of the event to occur (as per

contract), e-mails, minutes of meetings or any legal document supporting is collected.

Second, I will use these events with facts and figures to perform delay analysis in

Primavera P6 as per terms and conditions mentioned in the contract. Like, there are
many Delay Analysis Techniques namely Impact as Planned, Time Impact Analysis, As

Planned vs As Built, As-Built For, Windows Analysis, etc.

Once the second step is completed then I will evaluate overhead costs, Recheck

Equipment Warrantees, Material Shelf Life, etc. and finally present it to the concerned.

Question-49: What is the difference between Resource Levelling and Resource

Smoothing?

Answer: Both Resource Levelling and Resource Smoothing are Resource Optimization

Techniques. We use these techniques to get optimum result from our resources.

Every schedule is a resource constraint and during the development, we may find peaks

like in one month/week we need 250 men-counts but in others, we only need around

150-200 men-counts only. Hence, we will use resource optimization techniques to be

averaged and get a possible smooth graph. The same is applicable to deal with other
resources line Material, Equipment, etc.

Resource leveling is a “Parent” technique and may be followed by Resource smoothing,

you may call it a “Child” technique.

During Resource Leveling the Project overall duration may be changed as it is Resource

Constraint but in Resource Smoothing, we use slack/float for distribution and hence no

change in Project Duration.

Question-50: What you know about the Stakeholders on any Project?

Answer: The Stakeholder is any entity that is being or will be affected either positively
or

negatively by that project.

For example, if a refinery is being installed at a Sea then the Sea-life will be negatively

affected but the locals may get a huge rise in the quality of daily life. Both Sea-life and
locals are included in stakeholder.

We normally classify it as primary & secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders are

also called Key stakeholders. Though, there are a number of classifications in textbooks.

On a construction project, we normally use the following terms for these key

stakeholders

Client – Normally the Sponsor, who provides finance to run a project.

PMC – Project Management Consultant, is hired by Client.

PMT – Project Management Team

EPC – A contractor responsible to carry out Engineering, Procurement & Construction

on

a project

Contractor – Whoever wins a bid and awarded the contract. Usually a part of a big

project
Sub-Contractor – Contractor hires more resources to complete project on-time.

Further, there are Suppliers, Vendors, Project Team that you have to deal on any

construction Project.

Question-51: What do you know about Global Change in Primavera P6?

Answer: Global change is a function in Primavera P6 Professional that is used to do

tedious tasks in minutes. Like you can increase, decrease or remove the cost of all

activities in one shot. You can do the same with durations. You can apply this on

Activities, Resource Assignment, and Project Expenses for making changes globally. A

very handy feature but should be used carefully.

Question-52: Why we call Primavera “P6”?

Answer: Since 1983 to 2004, Primavera used P3 suffix for all kind of releases like P3

version 1.0, P3 version 3.0, etc. but this suffix changed to P6 to avoid confusion among
P3, SureTrak, and the Primavera. Later on, P6 is kept as suffix permanently.

You can read more about different versions of history here Primavera

Question-53: What is the job of a Planning Engineer?

Answer: On any project, daily tasks depend where he/she works like onsite or off-site.

But major jobs of any planning engineers are to Prepare Execution Plans, Monitoring &

Controlling, coordinating, Integrating the stakeholders on one page. Planning Engineer

is

a bridge between the client and contractors for smooth communication.

Question-54: How to become a Planning Engineer?

Answer: You must have a relevant degree in Engineering then you better start your

career from analyzing site work so you can learn the sequence of actual work. After that

get some training for software like Primavera P6, MS Project, Asta PowerProjects, Tilos,
etc. Prepare plans, practice and grab the opportunity as you find without considering

salary or other perks at the start. Get some project management training like PMP,

Prinace2, etc.

You can enter in this field without engineering degree but employers always prefer to

have a project planner with a relevant degree and hence you may not fit in most of the

big organizations easily – Better avoid if you are not an engineer.

Question 55: How does p6 calculate total float?

Answer: It’s the difference between the Late and Early Dates. Primavera P6 uses the

below formula to calculate total float

Total Float = Late Start – Early Start 0r you can say Total Float = Late Finish – Early
Finish

Question 56: What is a CPM schedule?

Answer: Critical Path Methodology – CPM or you can name it as a Critical Path Method
is one of the most popular techniques in the construction industry as it uses a

mathematical algorithm which helps to find out major critical jobs on any project

schedule.

Forward pass calculates the Early dates and backward pass calculates the late dates to
all

the activities. Early dates represent the most optimistic start and end dates of any
project

schedule. On the other hand, late dates give the idea that latest your activities can be

started and finish without impacting the project finish date.

Question 57: Is Critical Path the longest or shortest?

Answer: Critical path is the longest continuous chain of activities. It is the longest in

terms of path and shortest in terms of duration to complete a project from start to finish

than any other complete path on a schedule.

The Longest Path is for a project in its network from start to finish and the Total

Duration is longer than any other path on that particular network.

The Critical Path is a path where you have critical activities defined on a project

schedule.

The Critical path establishes minimum project duration and longest path controls
project

early completion.

Question 58: If you had to rate your Primavera P6 skills, from 1-10 how would you

rate it? (Real Question)

Answer: Well, as you know Primavera P6 is very powerful and versatile software. But I

would rate myself only 6 or 7 as compared to my working colleagues.

Question 59: How do you spend the most time doing each day?

Answer: I use Facebook a lot – Kidding! On a normal day, I use to review reports of
contractors, site engineers, clients comments and implementations. Daily construction

meeting and prepare Minutes of Meeting – MON and send a summary to the

stakeholders.

Question 60: What is the Revised Plan & how it differs from the Recovery Plan?

Answer: If we get any change in scope (Change Order) or claim that may lead to a

change in finish date (either positive or negative). In Recovery Plan that finish date is

fixed.

Question 61: What is Lead and Lag in Primavera P6?

Answer: Both are time duration that we can put to wait or accelerate the successor

activity. A lag is a lazy start and lead is an acceleration for the successor activity. A lead is

just a negative lag.

Question 62: What is Fast Tracking & Crashing?

Answer: Both are schedule compression techniques. Once a project plan is lagging

behind then we are asked to make a recovery plan. In the recovery plan, we use these

technique/techniques. In fast-tracking, we put activities in parallel. This increases risk.

But in crashing, we add more resources to cover up the lag. This is not risky but you
need

more budget in this scenario. Make sure, if you need to accelerate because of the other

party like client-side then being a contractor always make sure to claim acceleration
cost.

That may have a higher unit rate than in the actual contract.

Question 63: Differentiate between Gantt chart & Network Diagram?

Answer: Both are project management tools that help the teams to see the project in a

glance.

Gantt Chart displays activities, task, events plotted against time. It gives information like
activities start & finish, overlaps among activities. Start and end at the WBS level and the

whole project as summary bars. Length of the bars represents the duration of any

particular activity or task. Network Diagram explains the linkage of activities that helps

to understand the flow of work.

Question 64: How much float is allowed in any plan?

Answer: There is no hard and fast rule for this but as a thumb rule they say 10% of the

total project duration is allowed. For example, if the total duration is 300 days then 30

days float is OK to go. If it is higher then you need to adjust your P6 logic to decrease it
to

the optimum required level. By the way, it depends on project to project.

Question 65: How much Lag is allowed in any plan?

Answer: Lag is undesirable in a plan so does the lead. But some times lag is allowed but

they say for any activity is should be less than half of the total duration of that activity.
For example, if the duration of any activity is 14 days then lag should be less than 7 days.

Long legs are highly undesirable. You can adjust by proper logic during sequencing

activities.

Question 66: New Project Manager did not like you defined WBS in the approved

plan, what you will do now?

Answer: No problem, I will use Activity Codes function in Primavera P6 to get the
desired

one for any division he/she likes 􀀁

Question 67: What information is of your concern in a Project Charter?

Answer: Project Charter contains a high level of concise information about the project

like Project scope, governance, timeline, budget, constraints, and risk. It should be a

maximum of 6 pages document and is important for the team to read and grab all the
information included in there. You read more and see a Project Charter Example

Question 68: What is the difference between Earned Manhours and Actual

Manhours?

Answer: The Earned Man-hour is the original estimate and the actuals is the final cost of

that project.

For Example: Let say we have to build a wall through masonry blockwork. We estimated

that it needs 100 man-hours only.

If we hire 4 masons and they finish the first shift of 10 hours and report that 25% of
work

is done overall. In this case, they spent 40 manhours – the actual hours and 25 hours

(25% of 100) is the earned man-hours.

Question 69: How you compress (make recovery) a schedule in Primavera P6?

Answer: First of all, I insert the column to see the Total Float then try to find the logics
so
that I can reduce the float. I have options like to make activities in parallel (Fast
Tracking).

Otherwise;

I filter the critical path

Reduce the duration of activities on the critical path

Again filter the critical path and reduce the duration again – As path may change

now

Apply the same steps until the required compression is got.

This is called Crashing as here we need to add resources to get the job done.

This can be used for Recovery Plan, Mitigation Plan, Acceleration, etc whatever is the

name. In Recovery Plan the project end date is fixed.

Make sure to align your team before performing any procedure.

Question 70: Why Planning is important in any project?

Answer: Planning or the initiation phases are very prone to risk. If not done in a proper

way then the outcome on that particular project may be a drastic one. Below the graph

is a clear example.