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The critical path method (CPM) is a prominently utilized project management method for timely project work within budget and time-based limitations. Before diving into CPM’s significance in project management, let us first decode exactly what a critical path method is.
Notably, the critical path method is a project management methodology that describes a strategy for successfully identifying activities required to finish a project. It primarily works as a project management approach to help schedule and track different aspects of a project to ensure optimum results.
CPM is a widely leveraged methodology by project managers to plan a project pipeline from start to end. This method breaks different stages of a project into separate work tasks, creates a flow chart out of these stages and then aligns the timeline for them based on each task’s significance.
Though it may look risky to use a critical path in project management, it does have some advantages. And, these are:
If you are curious about how project managers handle all this and more, then you can sign up for Edureka’s PMP certification and get live training on such project management methods and more.
But, if you are a complete beginner and hoping to kickstart your journey right from scratch, then check out the project management tutorial to set the base.
Now that you have explored so much about CPM in project management, let’s examine how to calculate the critical path.
This is the cornerstone of CPM, where you list and identify each individual job needed to finish your project. The most widely used strategy for this step is the work breakdown structure (WBS). It breaks the project down into smaller, more manageable jobs to ensure that you cover everything in this step, beginning to end.
Once you have tasks at hand, you need to establish a correlation and find dependencies between them. Dependencies mean a relationship where one task needs to be completed (or at least partially completed) before another can begin. Dependencies can be mandatory or discretionary.
CPM heavily relies on visual representations of project schedules. These diagrams clearly show the tasks and their dependencies so the team is well aware of their responsibilities. Common network diagram tools include the arrow diagramming method (ADM) and the precedence diagramming method (PDM).
A project manager needs to assign a realistic time estimate to each task on the list. While making these estimates, he/she considers factors like resource availability, task complexity, and potential risks.
This is the heart of CPM. You can use the forward pass method to calculate the critical path.
To do this, you have to start at the project’s beginning and calculate the “earliest start (ES)” and “earliest finish (EF)” times for each task. ES is the earliest possible time a task can start, considering its dependencies. EF is the earliest time a task can be completed based on its ES and duration.
At the end of making the critical path, your calculation should show EF = ES + duration.
Remember that the starting activity always has an ES time of 0.
In CPM, float refers to the leeway or buffer period a task has before it starts impacting the overall project. There are two types of float.
This is the total amount of time an activity can be delayed without affecting the project completion date.
There are two ways to calculate this:
It is the amount of flexibility an activity has within the context of its immediate dependencies.
You can use this formula to calculate FF.
The steps may sound very simple theoretically, but the execution part is a bit tricky. You will need to use multiple project management tools to eliminate as many human errors as possible.
After we understand what is critical path in project management and how it is calculated, we can discuss how to use it.
You can use CPM to identify ways to shorten your project timeline. It is done with the help of two methods: fast-tracking and crashing.
In fast-tracking, you identify the tasks that can be done simultaneously and get them done.
While crashing, you allocate more resources to a specific task to speed it up.
CPM also helps in identifying resource constraints. Based on the analysis, you can then move team members, negotiate for budget/time or reschedule tasks.
Data gathered through CPM can be used as guidelines for future projects, allowing for more precise calculations. Some of the most crucial data points include task durations, dependency mappings, and the evolution of the critical path throughout the project.
By and large, CPM is a great tool that is not limited to project timeline creation. It supports project managers in their ongoing efforts to sharpen their decision-making abilities and get ready for difficult circumstances.
If you wish to discover more about project management practices, then check out Edureka’s project management courses to redeem that competitive edge needed to thrive in this domain.
Both methods are good for different purposes. PERT is good for projects without setting due dates, while CPM is better for projects with strict deadlines.
You can calculate the critical path by simply identifying the shortest route on the diagram or by using the formula: earliest finish (EF) = earliest start (ES) + duration. Here, ES will always be 0.
CPM helps project managers identify the longest stretch of dependent tasks of a project and what can be the shortest time to finish the project.
A very relatable example of a critical path is planning a wedding. The ultimate goal is executing the wedding ceremony, but smaller tasks like picking outfits, booking the venue, inviting guests, etc., need to be completed. So, for example, “choose wedding date” would depend on “book reception venue.”
Course Name | Date | Details |
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PMP Certification Training | Class Starts on 21st December,2024 21st December SAT&SUN (Weekend Batch) | View Details |
PMP Certification Training | Class Starts on 4th January,2025 4th January SAT&SUN (Weekend Batch) | View Details |
PMP Certification Training | Class Starts on 20th January,2025 20th January MON-FRI (Weekday Batch) | View Details |
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