6.5 Tools and Techniques: 2.critical Path Method (CPM)
6.5 Tools and Techniques: 2.critical Path Method (CPM)
C=2 4 E=1
A=2 B=5
start 1 2 3 6 finish
D=7 5 F=2
CPM:
• If one or more activities on the critical path takes longer than
planned, the whole project schedule will slip unless corrective action
is taken
• Misconceptions:
– The critical path is not the one with all the critical activities; it only
accounts for time.
– There can be more than one critical path if the lengths of two or
more paths are the same
– The critical path can change as the project progresses
6.5 Tools and Techniques
Slack / Float:
• Is the amount of time that an activity can slip or be delayed without
delaying the finish date of the project.
• Typically we calculate Slack using forward and backward pass.
• Float can be +ve or –ve.
• There are several types of Slack:
– Free Slack.
– Total Slack.
– Project Slack.
6.5 Tools and Techniques
*
Case Study
A 90
B 15
C 30
D 60
E 60
F 75
G 40
H 15
J 30
K 20
Case Study
F H
ST G B C
J K EN
A E D
40 75 115 220 235
15
F H
115 75 190 265 280
45
G
G B C
C J
J K
K
0 0 40 175 135 190 190 0 220 280 0 310 310 0 330