Final answer:
The calculated project finish date being before the expected finish date indicates the presence of slack. This slack provides a buffer for delays without affecting the target completion date. It's crucial for project management, especially when multitasking, but must be managed wisely.
Therefore, option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you schedule from the project start date and the calculated project finish date is before the expected project finish date, then the project has slack that is equal to the difference in time between the calculated finish time and expected finish time. This slack time or float allows for some flexibility within the project schedule. It provides a buffer for project tasks to slip without immediately impacting the project's target completion date.
In project management, particularly using software like MS Project, understanding and managing slack is crucial. For instance, if engineers are multitasking across multiple projects, the slack in their schedules can help to prevent issues if one task takes longer than anticipated. As in the video game controller design example, the slack might allow the project to still be ready before the critical holiday season even if some tasks encounter delays.
However, it's important to note that slack does not mean a project will always be finished under budget or without any other issues. Each task needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that the use of slack does not lead to complacency, risking the project's timely completion.