American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Why does PERT's task increment escalate in intervals of ten?

1. To allow for better budget estimations.

2. To simplify task tracking for managers.

3. To insert new tasks as the project progresses.

4. To provide a standard format for reporting progress.

The correct answer is: To insert new tasks as the project progresses.

The correct choice relates to the nature of Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), which is designed to enhance project management through systematic analysis of tasks. PERT’s use of task increments that escalate in intervals of ten serves primarily to facilitate flexibility in project planning. This approach allows project managers to more easily add new tasks as the project evolves and requires adjustments based on resource availability or unforeseen challenges. In many project scenarios, adjustments are necessary and having clearly defined ten-unit increments enables a structured framework for integrating these new tasks seamlessly into the ongoing project management processes. By using these increments, it is possible to maintain clarity in scheduling while effectively accommodating the dynamic nature of project development. The other options are less aligned with the primary function of PERT’s design. While budget estimations, task tracking simplifications, and reporting formats are important in project management, they do not explain the specific rationale for employing task increments in the way that facilitates the addition of new tasks. The focus on task integration underlies the practical efficiency that PERT aims to achieve in managing complex projects.