In any given project, you may have hundreds of tasks and dozens of dependencies. It can feel almost impossible to identify the most important tasks; the ones that, if missed, will impact your whole project. In other words, the ones you really need to worry about to make sure you meet your deadlines. Show
The critical path method, a project management technique created in the 1950s, allows you to identify these important tasks and stay on track throughout your project. Starting as hand-drawn diagrams and evolving into automated software, the critical path method has become an essential part of planning a project. What Is the Critical Path Method (CPM)?The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), an internationally recognized collection of processes and knowledge areas accepted as best practice for the project management profession, defines the critical path as “the sequence of scheduled activities that determines the duration of the project.” It is the longest sequence of tasks in a project plan that must be completed on time in order for the project to meet its deadline. If there is a delay in any task on the critical path, then your whole project will be delayed. Although many projects have only one critical path, some projects may have multiple critical paths. The critical path method is a step-by-step project management technique to identify activities on the critical path. It is an approach to project scheduling that breaks the project into several work tasks, displays them in a flow chart, and then calculates the project duration based on estimated durations for each task. It identifies tasks that are critical, time-wise, in completing the project. Dr. Larry Bennett, a civil engineer, project manager, and author of four books, including a guide on critical path written in 1978 and titled, “Critical Path Precedence Networks,” explains that the critical path method helps manage projects in two different ways: “It produces a planned schedule to guide the project team, and it forms the basis for tracking project schedule performance by comparing actual with planned task progress.” The Critical Path Method According to Two ExpertsWe asked two critical path users for the best way to explain it. Here's what they had to say: Background & History of Critical PathDr. Bennett is no stranger to critical path. He has applied critical path scheduling to a wide variety of projects since 1965. He has also spent 29 years on the engineering faculty at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in technical management, including project management and scheduling. In addition to his books, he has written more than 50 professional papers and articles on topics ranging from construction management to network techniques for project scheduling. Dr. Bennett points out that critical path has come a long way. In fact, the original critical path method was done by hand. As Dr. Bennett describes it: “The original critical path method used arrows to represent tasks and tied them together by connecting their beginning and end at nodes, so that proper sequencing was developed. This approach persisted for a decade, when a different method, with the same results, became popular. Professor John W. Fondahl, a professor of construction management at Stanford University, proposed in a 1961 paper that each task be represented by a node – square, circle, or oval – and the nodes be tied together with lines or arrows representing the sequence between tasks. This approach, referred to as the activity-on-node (AON) or precedence method, caught on rapidly and has supplanted the earlier activity-on-arrow (AOA) method in nearly all uses.” How the Critical Path Method Was CreatedUsing the critical path method to schedule projects began in the late 1950s, with two simultaneous, unrelated projects. The US Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile (Polaris) Program was behind schedule and needed help resolving the problem. The suggested solution was to divide the project into several thousand tasks, represent each task by an arrow, connect the arrows in proper sequence, estimate the duration of each task, and calculate the project duration and the degree of schedule criticality of each task. At about the same time, the EI DuPont de Nemours Company, an American chemical company, was experiencing delays in its plant turnarounds, a project to rearrange production facilities for different products. They, too, needed help and the proposed answer was similar to that of the Polaris Program. The developers of the Polaris Program’s approach called their solution the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), while the DuPont method was called Critical Path Method (CPM). Although these methods are similar, they used different techniques for estimating task duration. The PERT method used three different time estimations for each task duration and calculated the probability of project completion by any given time. The DuPont approach used one time duration for each task; it was concerned not only with project completion time, but also with analyzing the extra costs that would accrue if the project duration were decreased. Dr. Bennett says that today, “the terms PERT and CPM are used interchangeably, both meaning any network scheduling method and PERT having lost its inclusion of three time estimates and probabilities.” The Everyday Advantages of Critical PathAlthough it originated in the late 1950s, critical path is still incredibly important to project managers today. It provides a visual representation of project activities, clearly presents the time required to complete tasks, and tracks activities so you don’t fall behind. The critical path method also reduces uncertainty because you must calculate the shortest and longest time of completion of each activity. This forces you to consider unexpected factors that may impact your tasks and reduces the likelihood that an unexpected surprise will occur during your project. According to Dr. Bennett, the critical path method also has three main benefits for project managers:
Experts Share the #1 Advantage of Critical PathKey Steps in the Critical Path MethodThere are six steps in the critical path method: Step 1: Specify Each ActivityUsing the work breakdown structure, you need to identify each activity (or task) involved in the project. This activity specification list should only include higher-level activities. When detailed activities are used, the critical path analysis may become too complex to manage and maintain. A work breakdown structure breaks down projects into manageable sections. The first step is to identify the main deliverables of a project. Then you can start breaking down the high-level activities into smaller chunks of work. You can choose how to display your work breakdown structure. Some people use a tree structure, while others use lists or tables. An outline is one of the easiest ways to represent a work breakdown structure. Step 2: Establish Dependencies (Activity Sequence)Some activities will depend on the completion of others. Listing the immediate predecessors of each activity will help you identify the correct order. To correctly identify activities and their precedence, ask yourself these three questions for each activity on your list from step one:
Step 3: Draw the Network DiagramOnce you have identified the activities and their dependencies, you can draw the critical path analysis chart (CPA), known as the network diagram. The network diagram is a visual representation of the order of your activities based on dependencies. This critical path diagram used to be drawn by-hand, but there are now software programs that can create this diagram for you. Step 4: Estimate Activity Completion TimeUsing past experience or the knowledge of an experienced team member, you must now estimate the time required to complete each activity. If you are managing a smaller project, you will most likely estimate time in days. If you are working with a complex project, you may have to measure time in weeks. If you don’t feel comfortable using your best-guess estimates, you can use the 3-point estimation method, which is designed to put more weight on the most realistic timeframe. In three-point estimation, you must come up with three time estimates for every task, based on prior experience or best guesses. The estimation method is presented in formulas in order to calculate the time duration more accurately. a = the best-case estimate These three values identify what happens in an optimal state, what is the most likely, and what happens in the worst case scenario. Once you’ve identified these values, you can use them in two different formulas. The first is used to find the Weighted Average, which puts more weight on the “Most Likely” value. The formula is as below. E stands for Estimate, and the 4 and 6 represent the standard method to place more weight on the most realistic value. E = (a + 4m + b) / 6 The second way of using these values is known as Triangular Distribution. The main difference is that this method doesn’t put more weight on the “Most Likely” value. The formula is as below. E stands for Estimate, and the 3 represents the standard method. E = (a + m + b)/3 Step 5: Identify the Critical PathThere are two ways you can now identify the critical path. You can eyeball your network diagram and simply identify the longest path throughout the network -- the longest sequence of activities on the path. Be sure to look for the longest path in terms of longest duration in days, not the path with the most boxes or nodes. You can also identify critical activities with the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique, identifying the earliest start and finish times, and the latest start and finish times for each activity. If you have multiple critical paths, you will run into network sensitivity. A project schedule is considered sensitive if the critical path is likely to change once the project begins. The more critical paths in a project, the higher the probability of a change in schedule. Step 6: Update the Critical Path Diagram to Show ProgressAs the project progresses, you will learn the actual activity completion times. The network diagram can then be updated to include this information (rather than continuing to use estimations). By updating the network diagram as new information emerges, you may recalculate a different critical path. You will also have a more realistic view of the project completion due date and will be able to tell if you are on track or falling behind. Other Scenarios in the Critical Path MethodOne of the biggest benefits of the critical path method is identifying the crucial tasks that, if missed, will impact your project’s completion date. It will also provide visibility into your project’s status, allowing you to see if you are on track. Shortening Your ScheduleAs you’re going through the critical path method, you may find that you want to intentionally shorten the duration of your project or that you need to compress your project schedule in order to meet the deadline. There are two ways to do this: fast tracking or crashing. Fast Tracking In fast tracking, you look at the critical path and decide which activities can be done parallel to each other, to move the project along faster. You only need to review the activities on the critical path because all the other activities have float (if you shorten the duration of those activities, you’re only giving them more float). While fast tracking reduces your project timeframe, it also involves risk because you are performing parallel activities that were originally planned to be performed in sequence. Crash Duration Crash duration, or crashing, refers to the shortest possible time for which an activity can be scheduled. This happens by adding more resources to completing that certain activity. However, crashing the critical path results in lower quality of work because the goal in crash duration is speed. Managing Resource ConstraintsAs you manage your project, you may also run into resource constraint issues that could change the critical path. If you try to schedule certain activities at the same time, you may find that you need more people than are available. As a result, those activities will need to be rescheduled. Resource leveling is the process of resolving these conflicts. Resource Leveling and Expansion With resource leveling, you can resolve conflicts over allocating resources. A resource-leveled schedule may include delays due from resource bottlenecks (a resource being unavailable at the necessary time). Resource leveling may also result in a previously shorter path becoming the longest or most “resource critical” path. This happens when the tasks on the critical path are affected by resource constraints. A similar concept is called the critical chain, which protects activity and project durations from unexpected delays due to resource constraints. Assessing the Final ProjectThese scenarios demonstrate all the unexpected changes that can occur when managing a project, and how they can affect the critical path. While things are always subject to change, the good news is that you can measure the variance from your original project schedule and track how it impacted your final project. Flexibility and Assessing Delays A schedule created from the critical path method naturally involves a lot of fluctuation because you have to use best-guess estimates to calculate time. If one mistake is made in activity completion time, your whole critical path schedule could change. Or, you may need to purposefully delay project activities due to resource constraints. Sorting out these delays and determining what caused them can help you avoid similar issues in the future. An important part of your post-project plan is the As Built Critical Path, which analyzes the specific causes and impacts of changes between the planned schedule and actual schedule implemented. The As-Built Critical Path is a schedule that shows the dates that the activities actually occurred and allocates time by determining the responsibility for the delays on the critical path. How to Use PERT in the Critical Path MethodIf you recall the history of the critical path method described earlier in this article, you’ll remember that the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), developed by the Navy in the late 1950s to help produce missiles faster, is a variation on the critical path method that takes a more skeptical view of activity time estimates. What is PERT?Critical path method and PERT are often used in the same contexts and scenarios. Although they are similar, you should understand each concept and their differences. A PERT chart, or activity-on-arrow diagram, is a visual representation of your project’s schedule, showing the sequence of tasks and which can be completed at the same time. A PERT chart is made with a lot of the same information that is used in the critical path method, like earliest and latest start dates, earliest and latest finish dates, and slack (or float) between activities. But, the biggest difference between the critical path method and PERT is in time estimation. In the critical path method, time variance is not accounted for. You’re using best-guess estimates for completion time, and those times may change. With PERT, you’re putting more weight on the most realistic completion time. Critical Path Method and PERTYou can use PERT in your critical path method in step four of the process, when you have to estimate activity completion times. The purpose of using PERT is to bias time estimates toward the most likely scenario and move away from unrealistically short timeframes. To use PERT, you must estimate the shortest possible time each activity will take, the most likely length of time, and the longest time it might take if the activity lasts longer than expected. With that information, you can use this formula when you have to estimate activity completion times in the critical path method (step four). Shortest time + 4x likely time + longest time / 6 = expected activity completion time How to Find the Critical Path on a PERT ChartYou can identify the critical path on a PERT chart because the chart includes the same information needed for the network diagram in the critical path method. A PERT chart is drawn with circles for each activity, with the name of the activity and estimated duration in each circle. Arrows represent the paths that relate to dependencies. To find the critical path on the PERT chart, first identify how many paths you can take from start to finish. Then, add up the total duration of activities on that path. For example, Path 1 duration: 12 days (task 1 and task 3) In this case, the critical path is task 1 and task 3 because it has the longest duration. Critical Path SoftwareWhen the critical path method was first developed, you had to identify the critical path by hand, drawing the network diagram with “nodes” to present the stages of a project and connecting the nodes with arrows or “arcs.” However, drawing nodes, tables, and arrows can be a time-consuming, difficult task, especially when things are constantly changing at the beginning of a project. Rather than relying on hand-draw diagrams, there are a number of project management software programs available today that will do the work for you and identify the critical path with the click of a button. Here are two different tools with critical path features: Find the Critical Path with Microsoft ProjectYou can display the critical path in the Gantt chart view of Microsoft Project. First, you must enter all your tasks, their start and end dates, the duration of each task, and identify the predecessors. Then, you can adjust the view of your MS Project file to display the critical path.
Tasks on the critical path now have red Gantt bars. Identify Critical Path in Other ViewsYou can see the critical path in any task view by highlighting it.
In a network diagram, tasks on the critical path automatically show up in red. No highlighting is needed. See the Critical Path in a Master ProjectEntire subprojects can be on the critical path when you’re managing a master project. To identify subprojects on the critical path, you can adjust Microsoft Project to treat the subprojects like summary tasks.
Make sure the Inserted projects are calculated like summary tasks box is selected. Change the Tasks on the Critical PathCritical tasks typically have no slack. However, you can tell Microsoft Project to include tasks with one or more days of slack on the critical path, so you can identify any potential problems that may arise.
Identify the Critical Path in Seconds with Smartsheet
With this pre-made Gantt chart template, complete with sections, sub-tasks, and sub-sub-tasks already formatted, all you need to do is enter your own project planning information. A Gantt chart will automatically be made for you, and with the click of a button, you can identify the critical path on the Gantt chart. Here’s how to find the critical path in Smartsheet, using a Gantt chart template: 1. Choose a Gantt Chart Template
2. List Your Task InformationA pre-made, formatted template will open with sample content filled in for reference. This section is where you add your activities, or tasks, from your work breakdown structure. This is also where you can show the hierarchy, or relationship, between tasks. The yellow cells at the top are there simply for instructional reference. To delete them, right-click on each yellow box and select Delete Row.
On the left side of each row, you can attach files directly to a task or start a discussion with a colleague about a task, adding more context to your project. 3. Provide Start and End DatesAdd start and end dates for each task. If you click and drag either end of a green task bar on the right in the Gantt view, Smartsheet will automatically change the matching dates in the task table.
You can also manually enter a date in the cell. Smartsheet will automatically calculate the duration of each task for you. 4. Add % Complete and Assigned To InformationThe % Complete and Assigned To columns provide more context around your project. In the Gantt view on the right side, you can quickly see how much of a task has been completed by the length of the thin grey bars inside the task bars. The Assigned To column allows you to assign the task to a particular team member, providing visibility into who is doing what.
5. Establish PredecessorsPredecessors are used to create dependencies between tasks (identifying which tasks need to happen before or after another task).
You can also create predecessor dependencies from the Gantt chart on the right. Drag the bottom, right-corner of a Gantt bar down to the Gantt bar of the task that should follow it. The Predecessor column will be automatically updated. 6. Identify the Critical PathNow that you have created a Gantt chart in Smartsheet, you can identify the critical path on the Gantt chart with the click of a button.
How to Import a Microsoft Project File (.MPP) into SmartsheetSmartsheet works with Microsoft Project, so if you already have your project planning information stored in Microsoft Project, you can easily import that directly to Smartsheet.
Studying for the PMP Exam? Here’s What You Need to Know about the Critical Path Method
Critical path is an important part of the PMP Exam and there will certainly be questions about it on the test. You’ll need to be able to draw a network diagram, identify the critical path, use the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique, and calculate slack. Here is an overview of the most important things to know about the critical path method to help you pass the PMP exam: How to Draw a Network DiagramOn the PMP Exam, you will be asked to draw a network diagram. The exam will list all the activities in a project and will tell you when the activities can start. With that information, you’ll be asked to identify the critical path and its duration. To explain how to draw a network diagram, Bennett has created a sample eight-task project:
To answer the question, you’ll need to draw a network diagram. Here’s how:
After you have drawn the network diagram, you will be able to find the critical path. Remember: the critical path is the longest duration path throughout the network in days, not the path with the most boxes. In this example, the critical path is Design Tank Project, Construct Tank Foundation, Assemble Tank, and Test & Commission Tank, with a total duration of 54 days. You can identify the critical path by eyeballing the diagram to find the longest duration in days, or you could use the Forward Pass/Backward Pass Technique outlined in the next section. How to Use the Forward Pass/Backward Pass TechniqueThe Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique is another way to find the critical path. It is best used when you have multiple branches, or multiple entry points, for an activity. You may also need to use the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique if you are asked to identify the earliest start or finish times, or latest start or finish times, for an activity. Or, to find the slack (or float) for each activity. Before you start using the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique, here are some terms that you first need to understand:
As you run the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique through your network diagram, arrange each value according to the follow legend (SL stands for slack, which we’ll cover in the next
section). How to Do the Forward Pass: Finding the Earliest Start Time and Finish TimeThere are two formulas in the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique. The first is the Forward Pass formula for you to use as you move from beginning to end in your network diagram (from your first activity to your last). This formula will find the earliest start time (ES) and the earliest finish time (EF) for each activity. To start the Forward Pass, make the ES of the first task zero. For all other tasks, the ES is the same as its immediate predecessor’s EF. Use this formula to calculate EF: EF = ES + Duration So, for Design Tank Project, the ES is zero and, the EF is 10 (10+ duration of 0). We also know that the ES for Select Tank Supplier is 10 and the EF is 18 (10 + duration of 8). Continue like this throughout the network diagram. How to Do the Backward Pass: Finding the Latest Start Time and Finish TimeThe second formula is for Backward Pass, when you are moving from the last activity to the first activity (you are moving backwards). This formula will find the latest start time (LS) and latest finish time (LF) for each activity. To start the Backward Pass, make the last activities LF the same as its EF. For all other tasks, the LF is the same as its immediate predecessor’s LS. Use this formula to calculate LS: LS = LF - Duration For the Test & Commission Tank, the LF is 54 and, the LS is 50 (54 - duration of 4). For Assemble Tank, the LF is also 50 and, the LS is 35 (50 - duration of 15 days). Continue this formula throughout the network diagram. To check that you’ve done Backward Pass correctly, the first activity (Activity A) should have an LS (latest start time) of 0. Here’s the completed Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique: Two Rules to Remember for Forward Pass/Backward PassDuring the Forward Pass, if you find activities that join (multiple activities that flow into one activity), you must run the Forward Pass formula for each entry point and use the highest value from the formulas. During the Backward Pass, if you have activities that join, you must run the formula for each entry point and use the lowest value. How to Calculate Float or Slack on the PMP ExamNow that you have calculated ES and LS for each activity, you can find the float (or slack). The slack time, also known as float time, for an activity is the time between the earliest and latest start time. Critical activities, activities on the critical path, will always have zero slack. There are two formulas to calculate slack based on the values you identified in the Forward Pass/Backward Pass technique. Slack = LF - EF Slack = LS - ES You will have to use this process if you are asked to identify an activity’s slack on the PMP exam. Or, if you’re not sure which activities are on the critical path, you could find the slack of each activity, knowing that activities on the critical path always have zero slack. The final figure below shows the slack values for each task. You can see that the four tasks on the critical path have zero slack -- Design Tank Project, Construct Tank Foundation, Assemble Tank, and Test & Commission Tank. Key Critical Path Terms for the PMP ExamHere are the most important terms related to the critical path method that you should understand before taking the PMP exam.
The Easiest Way to Find the Critical Path
The good news is that finding the critical path in your project continues to get easier and easier. Traditionally drawn by hand, you can now find the critical path in seconds with project management software. When it comes to the right tools, Smartsheet is the easiest, fastest way to identify critical path. Smartsheet is a cloud-based work collaboration tool that is powerful enough for project managers, yet easy enough for anyone to use. Built with a familiar, spreadsheet-inspired layout, Smartsheet enables you to coordinate anything: creating project plans, sharing content, providing visibility, and of course, finding the critical path. Experience firsthand how easy it is to use Smartsheet in your project planning and sign up for a free 30-day trial. There is no obligation and trial users have access to a number of templates, training, and support resources to get started in minutes.
What happens if an activity not on the critical path is delayed?If tasks outside of the critical path are delayed, they typically do not affect the timeline of the project unless the delay exceeds the float for that task. The critical path of the project can change throughout execution based on actual task start and end times, and duration or if tasks are changed.
Why is it important to know what activities are on the critical path?Using the critical path method is important when managing a project because it identifies all the tasks needed to complete the project, then determines the tasks that must be done on time, those that can be delayed if needed and how much float or slack you have.
What may happen if your project has more than one critical path?One risk often encountered when executing projects with more than one critical path is the potential for tasks outside the primary path to be neglected. It's easy for the project team and executives to be so focused on the primary critical path that other important issues outside of that narrow scope go unnoticed.
What happens if critical path is altered?The critical path can change as critical tasks are completed, or as tasks in another series of tasks are delayed. There is always one overall critical path for any project schedule. The new critical path then becomes the series of tasks you track more closely to ensure the finish date you want.
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