How is the latest finish time of an activity computed?

• A. Min{LS of all immediate following activities}
• B. Max{EF of all immediate predecessors}
• C. ES + Activity time
• D. LF−Activity time

Answer: (A)

The latest finish time of an activity is computed by taking the minimum of the latest start times of all immediate following activities. This approach ensures that the activity's timing aligns with the constraints set by subsequent activities, allowing the project to maintain its overall schedule. By using the latest start times of successor activities, project managers can effectively work backward through the project timeline to identify the latest point by which the current activity can be completed without delaying the overall project.

In project management, particularly within the framework of the critical path method (CPM), understanding the latest finish time is essential for assessing which tasks have flexible scheduling (float) and which tasks are critical for on-time project completion. This helps in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources efficiently.

The other options represent different calculations that do not correctly define how to arrive at the latest finish time specifically.