Critical Path Method

Problem 16.1-2:

Activity Time Immediate

Activity (weeks) Predecessor(s)
A 3 none
B 4 A
C 2 B
D 5 B
E 4 C
F 3 D
G 2 E, F

A-B-C-E-G 15 weeks
A-B-D-F-G 17 weeks

2. a. completion time for the project is 17 weeks

2. b. critical path: A-B-D-F-G
Problem 16.4-8:

Optimistic Most Likely Pessimistic Expected

Immediate Time Time Time Time
Activity Predecessor(s) (weeks) (weeks) (weeks) (weeks) Variance
A None 3 6 9 6.00 1.00
B A 3 5 7 5.00 0.44
C A 4 7 12 7.33 1.78
D B 4 8 10 7.67 1.00
E C 5 10 16 10.17 3.36
F D, E 3 4 5 4.00 0.11
G D, E 3 6 8 5.83 0.69
H F 4 6 10 6.33 1.00
I G 5 8 11 8.00 1.00
J H, I 3 3 3 3.00 0.00

Expected 38 week
Completion 38 week probabilit 42 week 42 week
Path Time Variance z-value y z-value probability
ABDFHJ 32.00 3.56 3.17 0.99+ 5.29 0.99+
ABDGIJ 35.50 4.13 1.23 0.89 3.20 0.99+
ACEFHJ 36.83 7.58 0.42 0.66 1.88 0.97
ACEGIJ* 40.33** 7.83 -0.83 0.20 0.60*** 0.73****
* Critical path is A-C-E-G-I-J.
** Expected project completion time 40.33 weeks.
*** Probability of completing project in 38 weeks or less is .20 or 20%.
**** Probability of completing project in 42 weeks or less is 0.73 or 73%.
Problem 16.9-10:

Normal Normal Crash Crash Maximum Crash Cost

Time Cost Time Cost Weeks per Week
Activity (weeks) ($) (weeks) ($) Reduced ($)
A 4 800 3 1,200 1 400
B 3 900 2 1,000 1 100
C 5 1,250 3 2,250 2 500
D 2 800 2 800 0 0
E 5 1,500 4 2,000 1 500
F 6 2,000 5 3,000 1 1,000
G 4 600 3 900 1 300
H 3 900 3 900 0 0

A-B-E-G-H 19 weeks
A-C-E-G-H 21 weeks
A-C-F-G-H 22 weeks critical path
A-D-F-G-H 19 weeks

Crashing:
1. Consider A, C, F, and G; reduce G by 1 week at a cost of $300.
ABEGH: 18 weeks. ACEGH: 20 weeks; ACFGH: 21 weeks; ADFGH: 18 weeks.
2. Consider A, C, and F; reduce A by 1 week at a cost of $400.
ABEGH: 17 weeks. ACEGH: 19 weeks; ACFGH: 20 weeks; ADFGH: 17 weeks.
3. Consider C and F; reduce C by 1 week at a cost of $500.
ABEGH: 17 weeks. ACEGH: 19 weeks; ACFGH: 19 weeks; ADFGH: 18 weeks.

Thus, crashing activities G, A, and C reduces the project completion time by 3

weeks (22 weeks down to 19 weeks) at a cost of $1,200.