Project Monitoring and Control MCQ with answer and solution

Concept

A Gantt chart (bar chart) plots project activities against time. It allows the project manager to easily compare actual work done with the planned schedule.

Step-by-step solution

1. Understand what a Gantt chart is: It is a horizontal bar chart where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis lists activities. 2. In a Gantt chart, planned start and finish dates are marked as horizontal bars. 3. As work proceeds, the actual progress is hatched or shaded directly on or alongside these bars. 4. Therefore, it visually indicates the comparison between actual progress and scheduled progress. Answer: (A) comparison of actual progress with the scheduled progress

Explanation

A Gantt chart displays activities as bars along a timeline. By shading the bar according to work completed, we can compare actual progress with planned progress. It does not track cost curves or inventory directly.

Why the other options are wrong

B: The balance of work is not directly given by the chart alone without comparing planned versus actual. C: Progressive cost over time is shown by an S-curve or cost curve, not a basic Gantt chart. D: Inventory costs are monitored using inventory control methods like ABC analysis, EOQ, or ledger cards.

Shortcut

Gantt chart = Bar chart used for scheduling and progress monitoring.

Common mistake

Students sometimes confuse Gantt charts with S-curves (which show progressive cost) or inventory control models (ABC analysis).