The focus is on achieving a balanced workload by utilizing available slack in the schedule. The three point estimation can also be done by using simple average formula. The two main forms of float are free float and total float. Includes nine-module-program tuition and all teaching materials. Total float can be calculated by subtracting the early start date of an activity from its late start date (or early finish. 1. Free float, on the other hand,. I never thought that total float and clear float were different conceptualized before my PMP exam preparation. Total float is the total amount of time an activity on the schedule network diagram can be delayed without affecting the project finish date. The former is called “free float”, and the latter is called “total float”. On a critical path, the total float is zero. A float is either total float or free float. This. It is the flexibility or buffer time available within an activity. After we define the activities and estimate their duration, we are ready to create an activity network diagram which is a graphical representation of the logical relationship (i. Gantt charts are easy to read and are commonly used to display schedule activities. GPM® and Forensic Total Float. In Figure 2, a milestone is shown for which a ‘Finish On or Before’ constraint has been added with a constraint date on 06-07-18. Total Float = LF – EF (or LS – ES)Total float is more commonly referenced than free float by project managers. The Free Agile PrepCast. Here's a post explaining the difference between the two, with an example: Total Float vs Free Float. In Project Scheduling, Float (or Slack) is the amount of scheduling flexibility. The float exists because the finish-on. For activity B, the total float is 11 weeks; you could delay activity B by 11 weeks without delaying the project. These charts display the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Description and implementing procedures maintained by LBNL’s Project Management Office (PMO). Based on project management in terms of time, discretionary dependency is sometimes referred to as preferred logic, preferential logic or soft logic. To choose, what type of critical path you want in Primavera P6, change the settings of the project. Total Float: Total Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project end date or an intermediary milestone. GPM represents logical relationships of dated objects – such as activities,. 7. We first want to show the MFPs analysis when the last task in the float path is the end-of-project task, and the calculation is for Total Float. It refers to the amount of time that must be saved to complete a project on time. Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep: Rita's Course in a Book for Pearson vue trick card declined 2020Store | Project Management InstitutePoint of total assumption - Wikipedia2021 PMP Cost - The Complete GuideGestión de proyectos. That means, when Activity A will finish, B. This provides the maximum number of days a task can be delayed without impacting the project’s planned end date. A float is either total float or free float. (2) Resource Leveling, called Resource Leveling, is a technique that avoids over-allocation. Suggested Answer: A 🗳️ Total float or slack is computed by subtracting the early start date from the late start date, or 19 גˆ’ 10 = 9. Total Float: Amount of time an activity can be delayed without effecting the Project Completion date. Start: Feb 21, 2023 Get Offer. The critical path method (CPM) is a project management technique that’s used by project managers to create an accurate project schedule. This can be opened by selecting Tools > Schedule > Schedule Options. Total float = LS - ES or LF - EF Free float: This refers to how long an activity can be delayed. Then you must follow these three additional steps to develop a critical chain network diagram: Step 4: Calculate the total float To calculate the total float of a task, project managers need to subtract the duration of each task from the difference between the late finish date and the early finish date of each task. Total Float and Free Float are used in Critical Path Method (CPM) to…Float or Slack in Project Management. When using the Critical Path Method of scheduling, total float can be calculated using the following formula: Late Date – Early Date = Total Float. Formulas within Project Management. It’s what project managers are hoping for. Activity 2 is on the critical path so it will have a float of zero. When calculating float, know that zero (0) float means that if one delay occurs, the project will fall behind schedule. The float calculations for the sample schedule are shown in Exhibit 5. The earliest and latest that each activity can start and finish without making the project longer. Mostly the Total Float is owned by the project and can be consumed either by owner or contractor on a ‘first-come-first-serve’ basis. Take this free practice exam on PMP formulas to familiarize yourself with some of the PMP formula concepts. Trong quá trình thực hiện dự án, luôn có những thay đổi xuất hiện và ảnh hưởng tới dự án, đặc biệt là tới tiến độ. The amount of time an activity can slip before it affects another activity’s finish date. Total Float (TF) :LS – ES , LF – EF. Free float is the duration that a task can be postponed without delaying the ES of the successor activity. I am a software engineer by education. Forward Pass: The first step in the CPM scheduling algorithm. It is the difference between the latest finish time of the activity in question and the earliest starting time of the. Today we will fly the NEW Dehavilland DHC-2 Beaver Float version from Victoria up the Squamish River to Whistler. If you use level of effort or WBS summary activities in your schedule always make sure that the schedule calculates “Total Float” as “Finish Float=Late Finish-Early Finish”. This paper presents the concept of GPM forensic total float and its role in retrospective schedule analysis, whether in updating or forensic analysis. where total float is determined by the difference between late finish dates and early finish dates. Demonstration: Calculate MFP – Total Float. One frequent mistake made when preparing a schedule is creating too many. 5% of the data points fall within 2 SD. Late finish – Early finish. Project planners use this method to develop project schedules, including IT, research, and construction. Don’t forget to check out the video. It is like a built in safety. Besides, there are two popular tools carrying the same names. The Project Management Glossary defines it as: “A technique that makes use of float when allocating resources so as not to affect total project duration. We calculate our Late Start and Late finish times. It is the flexibility or buffer time available within the entire project. Total float and free float pertain to the measure of time, or planning flexibility, connected with ongoing projects. Free Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the successor activity. Fast-Tracking. Uses bar charts instead of logic diagrams to portray the schedule. 34%+13. E_PERT= (O+P+4×M)/6. Total Float and Free Float are used in Critical Path Method (CPM) to…Good luck on this sample test and your PMP Exam! Question 1 - Qid 6113151, Risk Management, 2. 5% on either side of the mean. Free slack (or free float) refers to how much time a task can be delayed before a subsequent task — or the entire project itself — is also delayed. Resource smoothing. When calculating float, know that zero (0) float means that if one delay occurs, the project will fall behind schedule. Total Float of an activity = Late Finish of an activity – Early Finish of an activity. Early start and early finish are just that: the most initial time a task on a path can begin, and the earliest it can finish. 4 Float (Slack) Formulas Float (Slack) of an activity determines how long an activity can be delayed without affecting the project end date. Positive total float is caused when the backward pass is calculated from a schedule constraint that is later than the early finish date that has been calculated during forward pass calculation. Once these task sequences or paths. There are two types of float in project management: free float and total float. available free float is greater than potential delay). To simplify, total float is the room for delay an activity can have before impacting the end date of the job. In other words, it’s the flexibility that exists within the project schedule. The critical path method is a lengthy and complex concept. Hint: PMBOK 5, Page 553, Definition of PERT. Let’s consider that a project activity is not on the PMP critical path. In our example Activity B starts on Beginning of Day 6 (9 am) and finishes on End of Day 7 (5 pm). 8 terms. Project Management. I used to think she were synonymously. " But let's move on to a more concrete meaning. Each activity has its. Total float . e. Wish to contact Atul Gaur, send a twitter. – Float depicts the flexibility in a Network Path. Otherwise, you might encounter negative float for these kinds of activities: In. 1. Positive float activities are not on critical path . A. Float/Slack. 95. 3, you. To adjust slack and float for changes, identify the source and scope of the change, evaluate the options and alternatives, select the best option and implement it, and monitor and control the. To calculate the float, you need to have the earliest and latest start and finish times of each activity, which you can obtain from the critical path analysis. Step 1: Find Activities. Free float, on the other hand, is the amount of time a task can take before it impacts the next task of the project. The analysis also depends on the selection of Total Float or Free Float options. I will go over quick settings to get you in. ” How to calculate float in project management. The Total Float is simply the sum of the Free and Interfering Float. Instructor: Mike Miller. The critical path is the path with the least amount of free float. In considering the backward pass, we will use the same. Critical Path Analysis (CPA) is a project management technique that helps identify the critical tasks and the amount of time required to complete them. Here’s a breakdown of the two types of float: Total float: This is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed from the early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint. Total float is a project management tool used to identify risks and opportunities in a project. You use both of them while analyzing the project network diagrams and. 1. Total float is how long an activity can be delayed without putting off the project completion date. Total float is how many delays are allowed from the beginning of the project which will not interfere with the projected completion date. Total float is meant for activities not on the critical path. Visit: Total Float and Free Float. Total Float and Free Float are used in Critical Path Method (CPM) to…Discretionary dependencies should be fully documented since they can create arbitrary total float values and can limit later scheduling options. Total Float = Late Start (LS) – Early Start (ES) For this sake, we. Program Fee: $9,450. Step 1: Obtain the project data. Assemble two-tier bridge. In Figure 2, a milestone is shown for which a ‘Finish On or Before’ constraint has been added with a constraint date on 06-07-18. Project Selection Methods 5. Possitive Float is amount of time available to complete non-critical activities or work items without affecting the total project durationTotal float is the amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint. 5. However, non-crucial tasks may have some float, allowing for some flexibility in scheduling. Positive Float. It represents the flexibility and scheduling cushion available to project. Which of these activity relationships is least commonly used in Precedence Diagramming Method. By understanding the total float of a project, project managers can identify potential risks and opportunities that may arise. Take this free practice exam on PMP formulas to familiarize yourself with some of the PMP formula concepts. Process, 11. swan769. 5% = 47. If you have a constrained finish date for the project, the Baseline Schedule should have a Total Float value of 0. Total float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion date. Critical Activities can have either negative or zero Total Float. Tags: PMP Schedule Management. The critical path is the path through the network that has the highest total duration. Determine the earliest day you can start each project task, based on predecessors. Here’s a breakdown of the two types of float: Total float: This is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed from the early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint. The steps are:1. pick two (pick any two): Pick two, sometimes expressed as pick any two, is the principle that in many sets of three desirable qualities, those qualities will be somewhat mutually exclusive. Activity F has the most, with nine days of float: It can finish up to nine days later than its early finish date and not cause. Total float is how many delays are allowed from the beginning of the project which will not interfere with the projected completion date. Free Float: Float The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any immediately following schedule activities. This refers to a task that needs to be completed so quickly there isn’t any room for delays at all. Total Float: On the other hand, Total Float encompasses the total amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the final project completion date. Types of float in project management. If a task has float, you can spend more time on it than is allotted, without disrupting the rest of the project schedule. Buffers can be divided into project, feeding, and resource. Free float, also known as project float, is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of the next activity. - pasture/watercourse management . Total Float and Free Float Calculation 2 Project Management Professionals Hot Topics & Challenges - Time Management . They cannot finish late, or be moved, or the overall project. So if that particular activity was delayed it will not delay the completion of the project as per the project schedule. iv) Wall framing – 4 days. PERT Formula is one on the ways for doing three point estimation. Bài viết "MỌI KIẾN THỨC VỀ PMP®" bao gồm DANH SÁCH CÁC TỪ KHÓA/THUẬT NGỮ QUẢN LÝ DỰ ÁN QUAN TRỌNG mà tác giả tổng hợp được dựa trên:- Kinh nghiệm tác giả đã thi đậu (thi đỗ) ngay lần thi đầu tiên các chứng chỉ quốc tế PMP® (2012), PMI-RMP® (2013), PMI-SP® (2013), PgMP® (2018), PfMP® (2018), PMO-CP® (2018), PMI. A float is either total float or free float. Total Float. It is used to determine the critical path, as well as the float of each task. There are two types of float: total float and free float. Basic to CPM is for the planner to draw a project network first, and then to use CPM software to calculate activity dates and total floats, establish theHowever, the following are some tips and tricks to help You reducing high total floats: 1- link activities in a proper way as expected to be executed on-site. Online. In fact, there are two distinct types of float that project managers use to manage task timelines: total float and free float . By Praveen Malik, PMP July 22, 2023. Learn to use total slack, free slack, and critical path methodology in project. To fix this issue, find the milestones that have late date less than the early dates and total float equal zero, and dissolve these milestones. Such activities and tasks are considered critical. Let’s take the project of exam study and preparation as an. It is the total amount of time any task can be delayed without impacting the delivery date of the project. Free Float = ES of successor activity – EF. Free Float (slack): The amount of time the activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of the successor(s)You Ready for PMP - PMP Malaysia Kuala Lumpur l PMP Certification l PMP Total Float vs Free Float: Project Management Formulas PMP application - How to write clear project descriptionsPMP Certification Requirements | Project Management PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) Training Boot Jul 12, 2021 · Performance. Then you must follow these three additional steps to develop a critical chain network diagram:There are two types of float in project management: free float and total float. When you reach the activity labeled as 6. Note that our programs are management development courses and do not qualify for personal. Earned Value Management (EVM) SV = EV – PV. plTotal Float vs. The LBNL EVMS complies with the criteria for project cost and sched-ule control as required by DOE Order 413. Earliest and latest time value & total float are calculated as follows: Hence critical path for normal network is 1-2-5-6-7-8 along which activities have ‘o’ total float. The certification is an endorsement of project management experience and knowledge of its holder. Try to get an additional resource to complete the delayed activity. Washing the cup has a total float of 4 minutes and 30 seconds. The amount of time an activity can slip before it affects another activity’s finish date. Total float values can be positive, zero, or negative numbers in days. Optional Techniques ; Where appropriate, describes one or more alternative approaches that a program team might use, considering degree of difficulty,Resource smoothing is a technique used in project management to optimize resource allocation without extending project duration. Network Diagrams 3. Answer : A. In the context of project management, the term “free float” is used to describe amount of time that spans from the completion of one previously scheduled activity and extends to the point at which the next scheduled activity is set to begin. Discretionary dependencies should be fully documented since they can create arbitrary total float values and can limit later scheduling options. These 14 metrics are certainly not the only metrics that can be tracked to help realize the health of your schedule, but they will provide you with some important data, that you can to turn into information. If yes, then “free float” is your answer. 1. If yes, then “free float” is your answer. W Work breakdown structure (WBS) A deliverable-oriented grouping of project elements that organizes and defines the total scope of the project. Let's take an example to understand this. The float or slack is how long you can delay a task without waiting for the project. Negative Float - results when the time. Blog consists of essential resources for project management professionals and pmp aspirants. INDEPENDENT FLOAT. By Praveen Malik, PMP July 22, 2023. For example the total float for Task A = LS - ES = 4 - 1 = 3 days. It is usually known as slack. When using the Critical Path Method of scheduling, total float can be calculated using the following formula: Late Date – Early Date = Total Float. PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK & PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES. First things first… on the PMP Exam, Float is also written as Slack. 3-1,. Optimistic (O), Pessimistic (P), and Most Likely (M). 3-1,. subsequent tasks (" free float ") project completion date (" total float "). A. Early Start and Early Finish. Project Management. Float or slack is the amount of time that a task in a project network can be delayed without causing a delay to subsequent tasks ("free float") and project completion date ("total float"). The terms critical activity and critical task are often used interchangeably in project management. Each activity in Network Diagram is represented as below, Also, remember that Float can be calculated with these start and finish values using the formula below,Critical Path Analysis. Total float: The amount of time a task can be delayed without delaying the finish date. For example, if a task is scheduled to take 5 days to complete and it. These activities are having Finish to Start Relationships. Perception and Using Total Float. Place the train on the track. It can be helpful to know these distribution populations from the PMBOK ® Guide: + 1 σ. Best and Worst case. A concept related to, and crucial for using the Critical Path Method is float or slack. At project management, there are different guitar of flute: free float, total float, and project float. The easiest cause to spot is when constraints are introduced that cannot be met. Total Float: The total amount of time that a schedule activity may be delayed from its early start without delaying the project finish date, or violating a schedule constraint. Check out for more free engineering tutorials and math lessons!Project Management Tutorial: Use forward and backward pass to det. The easiest cause to spot is when constraints are introduced that cannot be met. In project management, “float” defines the amount of time a task can be delayed without causing a delay in: Any subsequent, dependent tasks - called “free float” Any delay in the overall project - called “total. Total Float vs Free Float is one of the most important concepts in PMP Certification training. Any float that Activity C uses isn’t available for Activity E. You can calculate it by subtracting the Early Start date of the activity from its Late Start Date. Regardless of the inclusion of “PMP” in the name, the concept of variance at completion is the same and in fact, is one of twelve earned value metrics. In the Critical Path Method shown in different books and videos, the float in the network diagram for activity is actual the total float of the activity. The formula for calculating slack time (ST) is simple. Free Float : The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any immediately following schedule activities. When you are asked to calculate the “Float” for an activity in the PMP Exam, you are asked to calculate the “Total Float“. Project manager cần phải tính toán kỹ lưỡng những giá trị này để lên kế hoạch quản lý tiến độ hợp lý và khả. The former is called “free float”, and the latter is called “total float”. I second to think your were synonymous. The term is used primarily in the Critical Path Method to distribute work among team members evenly where a project's critical activities are plotted on a timeline. Float is 0 on the critical path. Project management office - An organizational unit that oversees project management-related activities within an organization. Calculate critical path, project float, early start dates, and late start dates. The Backward Pass also establishes the total float in the network. Total Float = The Late Start date – The Early Start date. 19 Frequently Asked Questions on Critical Path Method Total Float vs. Ideally, the Total Float of a Critical Activity should always be zero. ALL ABOUT CRITICAL PATH METHOD (CPM). Total Float Activity E : Free Float #2 + Free Float #3 = 24 days; Total Float Activity G : Free Float #3 = 16 days; Total Float on critical activity is zero, as shown in the picture of a series of activities in red. In this article, we’re going to look in. This means that the earliest time it can finish is also the latest time it can finish; therefore, it can’t be delayed. Float management is a project management style known for its flexibility. There are mainly 3 types of float in project management: zero float, total float and free float. Finally, you might see the term “zero float time” used in project management. Calculation: (Late finish date) – (early finish date) or (Late start date) - (early start date). See below a link to a youtube video that shows an example how to calculate these. All the following formulas along with the full form of their abbreviations are listed in the downloadable cheat sheet. In project management, the terms slack and float describe the length of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the finish date of a subsequent activity, or the finish date of the entire project. Total Float: The amount that a task can move without affecting the final project completion date. This video describes what the Critical Path is, and what Float is, and how they relate to each other. The term Float expresses flexibility that helps in such schedule adjustments. Project Management Institute. -- 2nd ed. Inappropriate Level of Detail. , dependencies) among the project activities [1]. Using "float" in strategic plans allows management to more effectively regulate how the length of activities affects the completion of the works. To compute the early finish date given a duration of 4, we would start counting the activity on the morning of the 10th; therefore, the activity would be completed at the end of day 13, not 14 (10, 11, 12, 13). Total Float is an essential concept that ensures projects stay on schedule. The total float is the amount of money between the project’s cost and the amount of money the project has. Total Float, Lead time and Lag time. 14. if not the best, FREE site you can go to is pmclounge. Commit additional resources to work on the zero float tasks that will move the project finish date forward. 7. Total Float is the amount of time the project can be delayed without delaying the project finish date. 68. Lag is neither equivalent to Total Float nor to Free Float. These are: Confronting/Problem Solving Collaborating. Float in project management refers to how long you can delay a specific task without it affecting other tasks team members need to complete or having to push back. CPI = EV / AC. Negative float, also known as negative slack, is a common concept in project management that refers to the amount of time that must be saved to complete a project on time. When we have several non-critical path tasks chained together, the backward pass calculations show that they all have the same float. Knowledge of the benefits, uses, and. Total float is the total amount of time that a schedule activity may be delayed from its early start date without delaying the project finish date, or intermediary milestone. PMP Exam Set A – Q88. Total float Time by which an activity may be delayed or extended without affecting the overall duration or violating a target finish date. Float management helps you identify “float” or “slack” time within your project’s schedules, helps you work around delays, and streamlines your projects. Normal project duration = 3 + 9 + 6 + 4+ 10 =32 weeks. Free 2,500+ PMP questions for practice To practice your pre-exam and review each question with detail explanation, let try with our FREE Exam tool New matching, multiple choices exam questions from domain, process, business environment and agile which align with the new 2021 exam contain outline ID 3961 these types of dependencies can create. The PMI’s A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® How) usages day can of an project as one. See the below example, for the same activities but with a negative float. Could u please explain me the concept of free float. Standard Deviation in the PMP® Certification Exam. Expect Monetary Value (EMV) 6. Duration estimation can also accompany the creation of an activity network. Float. when the INDF is a negative value, we set the value to zero. Click on ‘Negative Float’ in the Filter column, and up will. Another way of looking at negative float is the time beyond the scheduled completion date that a project or activity requires to achieve completion. Don’t forget to check out the video. More simply, the range an activity can move around without affecting the end date of the project. It essentially signifies how much of a delay a task within a project can endure without. They mean the same thing. Define the various terms used in the development of network schedules, e. One way is to calculate the float by using PMP formula. This paper examines how project managers can use the graphical path method (GPM), a tool that can help them solve scheduling problems via a forensic total. horse sci. 4- Search for free float and total float and double-click on them to move them to the right where you can find all the columns which will show on your working area. The result of the analysis defines the critical path, a sequential set of related and essential steps. Total Float = LF – EF Total Float = LS – ES. Total float [FLOAT]: an activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint. free float. Term #9: Free float (FF) Free float is the same as total float — it even uses the same formula. Total Float is the maximum amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project whereas Free Float is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without impacting the Early Start date of any of its immediate successors. Free slack (or free float) is the amount of time you can delay a task, without impacting the early start (ES) of the successor(s). v) Roof framing – 6 days. Lag is neither equivalent to Total Float nor to Free Float. Preview. In project management, there are four types of dependencies: Finish to Start (FS) - Later task does not start until the previous task is finished. Total Float = LS – ES or LF – EF. In fast-tracking, you review the critical path and list all vital activities. Total Float - This is the total time by which an activity can be delayed without delaying the scheduled end date of the project. B. Tags: PMP Schedule Management. This post will outline how to enable the Total Slack, Free Slack and Negative Total Slack in MS Project. then hit F9. Mostly the Total Float is owned by the project and can be consumed either by owner or contractor on a ‘first-come-first-serve’ basis. Pessimistic, Optimistic and Most likely estimates. Early Finish – The earliest time that an activity can finish. A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart, developed by Henry Gantt, that illustrates a project schedule. You cannot develop your project network diagram. Anything can happen during the course of working on an extended task. Step 3 – Perform the Backward Pass. Mathematically Float is defined as: Float = LS – ES or LF – EF. Because of this fact, contractors often hide the Total Float by extending their activities in the schedule, manipulating the critical path. You should carefully analyze the critical path after applying schedule compression techniques. E_SA= (O+P+M)/3. Negative float (negative slack) is a common concept in project management. Welcome to DAU's Schedule Health Analysis Tool, which features the free, downloadable DCMA 14-Point Assessment macro for MS Project. Planned Value (PV) = 50% of $100,000 = $50,000. However, the following are some tips and tricks to help you reduce high total floats: 1- Link activities in a proper way as expected to be executed on-site. I'm also attaching a downloadable PDF file that illustrates the two concepts using a network diagram. Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification requires knowledge of the project schedule network diagram in terms of types, benefits, and how to create one. The Backward Pass determines the late dates, i. Project Management Institute (PMI) offers PMP certification which is a globally recognized accreditation. Reference: PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition, page 155Total float is the total amount of time that a schedule activity may be delayed from its early start date without delaying the project finish date, or intermediary milestone. Float represents the amount of time a particular task can be delayed without jeopardizing or delaying the entire project. A concept related to, and crucial for using the Critical Path Method is float or slack. The total float will be zero on the critical path. Total Float: Total float is what many of us are aware of, and is commonly referred to as a float. Project Management frameworks can be a little dry at times, but. cnqh. Total float refers to the amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project's overall duration. See moreWithin project management, there are different types of float: free float, total float, and project float. The total float can be calculated using either one of the following two formulas: Total Float = LF - EF; Total Float = LS - ES; To illustrate, we will use the first formula:. available free float is greater than potential delay). To create a critical chain network diagram, first, create a critical path network diagram. Note some informal resources may use the terms: VAC formula PMP, VAC PMP, or Variance at Completion PMP. An analysis technique used to identify the critical (essential) and non-critical (non-essential) activities associated with a business process or work plan and the amount of float (slack) associated with each activity. Free Float: Free float, also known as "slack," is the amount of. Project Management Academy's free PMP formula based practice questions are developed from PMBOK® Guide topics. If you use level of effort or WBS summary activities in your schedule always make sure that the schedule calculates “Total Float” as “Finish Float=Late Finish-Early Finish”. Project Management Foundations: Communication. Free slack (or free float) refers to how much time a task can be delayed before a subsequent task — or the entire project itself — is also delayed. In the Views list, double-click Detail Gantt. It can be calculated by subtracting the activity’s Early Start date from the Late Start date. The LF for the activity is 8 days. It is far too easy for certain activities to fall behind and get lost in the sea of endless jobs. Free Float. Negative float: This is the amount of time a project is behind schedule. ).