How is progress determined using the Start/Finish method?

How is progress determined using the Start/Finish method?

• A. Progress is tracked only by final completion.
• B. Progress is measured by cost ratio.
• C. Progress is determined solely by supervisor opinion.
• D. A task's progress is given a percentage and payments are made based on that determination.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is linking payments to measured progress. In the Start/Finish approach, each task’s work is quantified as a percentage of the total job. Payments are then made in proportion to that percentage—if a task is 40% complete, 40% of the contract value for that task is paid. This creates a clear, objective cash-flow mechanism that mirrors how much work has actually been completed, reducing the risk of paying too little or too much before the work is finished. It also provides a transparent basis for progress verification, which helps prevent disputes over value. The other ways of determining progress aren’t aligned with this method: waiting for final completion delays payments until the very end, using a cost ratio can misrepresent actual progress, and relying solely on supervisor opinion introduces subjectivity. The method described—assigning a progress percentage and paying accordingly—is the most direct way to reflect real progress in payments.

The key idea here is linking payments to measured progress. In the Start/Finish approach, each task’s work is quantified as a percentage of the total job. Payments are then made in proportion to that percentage—if a task is 40% complete, 40% of the contract value for that task is paid. This creates a clear, objective cash-flow mechanism that mirrors how much work has actually been completed, reducing the risk of paying too little or too much before the work is finished. It also provides a transparent basis for progress verification, which helps prevent disputes over value.

The other ways of determining progress aren’t aligned with this method: waiting for final completion delays payments until the very end, using a cost ratio can misrepresent actual progress, and relying solely on supervisor opinion introduces subjectivity. The method described—assigning a progress percentage and paying accordingly—is the most direct way to reflect real progress in payments.