The Critical Path Method

Zalokar, F.J. The Critical Path Method-A Presentation and Evaluation, monograph published by General Electric Co., Schenectady, May 18,1964. 

I believe that we now need to expand the Critical Path Method of analysis to cover all the items which are directly and indirectly involved in the expansion of the coal industry to the 1 billion tons per year level. These include the usual ones such as capital, manpower, equipment, and, in addition, the environmental, legislative, political and social items. The latter have become as important as the other more common items. 

When the times for each project task are very firm a special method, the Critical Path Method (CPM), can be used to ask more sophisticated questions about how to shorten the project time. The types of questions that can be asked are what are the benefits to the completion date by adding more manpower to task A or more capital into task B ... 

Although project management was certainly applied in practice prior to the mid-1950 s, the development of the critical path method and the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is considered to be the initiation of the modern practice of project management. The critical path method is a network analysis technique used to predict project duration by analyzing which sequence of activities or path most likely has the least amount of scheduling flexibility or... 

Action systems will tighten up as time compresses. Project management systems such as the Critical Path Method and the Program Evaluation and Review Technique, so successfully used in the Sixties, will find wider application. 

Network analysis can be used to describe the complicated precedence relationships between the activities of a large project. The resulting description can be used to determine a timetable for the activities and to predict a completion date for the project. Examples of network planning methods (or project planning methods) are the Critical Path Methods (CPM) and Performance Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) (Chryssolouris 2006). 

Critical path The series of activities that determines the duration of a project. It is the longest path through the project. The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a technique to predict the project s duration by analyzing the path of activities with the least amount of scheduling flexibility. (Adapted from PMBOK Guide— 2000 edition )... 

The Gantt chart was invented by Henry Gantt in the early part of the last century. Gantt charts coordinate various activities (with a common ultimate goal) of various people. Such charts are the predecessor of the most powerful methods of the Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). 

By visualizing the components of a task or project and understanding the relationships between them, you will be prepared to apply the Critical Path Method, which is discussed in Chapter 6, or other network methods. In addition, partitioning a task or project into its component parts provides the basis for effective delegation, which is discussed in Chapter 4 and is another way to make effective use of your time. 

THE CRITICAL PATH METHOD Introduction The Four Schedule Questions... 

The Critical Path Method (CPM) enables us to answer the four questions. Note that the four questions relate to the Chapter 5 project planning-execution-closing process. That is, first question applies to planning the project, the second and third questions to executing the project, and the fourth question to closing the project. 

Figure 6.4 Network diagram used for the example application of the Critical Path Method.

Table 6.2 Status of project tasks at the end week 10 to be used as basis for updating the Critical Path Method for the project.

Figure 6.11 Software enables repeated use of the Critical Path Method on projects by doing...

APPLY THE CRITICAL PATH METHOD The exercise provides an oppor-trmity to use the CPM to determine the minimum completion time of a project and its critical path. This lesson will also improve your understanding of project duration and total float. Suggested tasks are ... 

Expanded the treatment of project management from one chapter to two (Chapters 5 and 6) with additions including a more detailed presentation of the project planning-execution-closing process and discussions of the Critical Path Method and scope creep prevention and resolution. 

Project Management and Teamwork [7] by Karl Smith of the University of Minnesota teaches engineering students to work effectively and efficiently in project teams. Case studies of student work demonstrate the various aspects of project work, including the project life cycle, project scoping, monitoring, documentation, and scheduling. The e q)lanation of the critical path method is excellent, as are the chapters on teamwork skills. 

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