What does the collapsed as-built method aim to achieve?

The collapsed as-built method is a scheduling technique primarily used in project management to analyze delays. It aims to model a "but-for" scenario by removing delays from the actual as-built schedule. This methodology is utilized to understand how the project would have progressed had the identified delays not occurred. Essentially, it allows project managers to visualize the project timeline by focusing on the original intent without the impact of delays, thereby providing insights into the true potential of the project delivery timeframe.

This method is particularly valuable in delay analysis as it helps in quantifying the effects of delays on the overall project schedule. By stripping out the impacts of specific delays, the method creates a clearer picture of the project’s performance and helps in distinguishing between excusable and non-excusable delays.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary purpose of the collapsed as-built method. While including all project delays in a final report can be important for comprehensive reporting, it does not reflect the aim of modeling a scenario without those delays. Similarly, summarizing overall project success and developing backup plans, while relevant to project management, do not directly relate to the specific function of the collapsed as-built method which focuses on analyzing and visualizing the schedule excluding delays.