In scheduling, what is lead?

• A. Buffer time after project end.
• B. Dependency type.
• C. Cost of delaying a task.
• D. Lead is overlap between activities.

Answer: (D)

Lead in scheduling refers to the overlap between two activities, where the successor can start before the predecessor finishes. This accelerates the project by reducing idle time between tasks. For example, with a lead, Task B can begin a few days before Task A ends, instead of waiting until A is fully completed. This is different from lag, which would delay the start of the next task after the previous one finishes. The other options don’t describe this overlapping relationship: a buffer after the project end is a contingency concept, a dependency type is a broader term for how tasks relate (like finish-to-start or start-to-start), and the cost of delaying a task is a consequence, not a scheduling relationship.