Answer:All about Early Start, Early Finish, Late Start and Late Finish
This topic is very important from PMP exam perspective. You must expect a question or two based on the calculations of Early Start and Finish and Late Start and Finish.
Also, before we get into the details, it is very important that you have the understanding of the previous concepts that build up this topic, specifically the 3 listed below,
Network Diagrams
Critical Path
Float / Slack
Now, we already know that Float or Slack is the amount of time an activity can be delayed without impacting the project end date. But the early start or early finish and late start or late finish numbers can actually show you how much freedom you really have.
Early Start – The earliest time that an activity can start
Early Finish – The earliest time that an activity can finish
Late Start – The latest time that an activity can start
Late Finish – The latest time that an activity can finish
Each activity in Network Diagram is represented as below,
Explanation: