Critical Path Method - CPM & PERT

The Critical Path Method (CPM) provides a way for project managers to determine
which tasks are critical (zero slack time) and which tasks can be delayed (and for how
long). Normally, you would need specialized software such as MS Project, but not any
more. Now you can simply download my CPM spreadsheet that implements the CPM
algorithm in Excel. If you can copy and paste, enter data into cells, and follow a few
simple guidelines, you can do a critical path analysis with almost no learning curve.

The CPM spreadsheet produces a Gantt Chart showing the critical path tasks as well
as the potential delay times for the flexible tasks. You may need to be familiar with
some of the basic terms used in the CPM method (see below), but the template is very
easy to use and does not require you to enter formulas. Unlike my other gantt chart
template, the gantt chart in the CPM spreadsheet is an actual bar chart object, and you
can resize it and change font sizes to get it to display the way you want.

The gantt chart in the Critical Path Method spreadsheet is very similar to what you'd see
using Microsoft Project, except that it doesn't add the lines with arrows pointing from the
end of one task to the start of a successor. But, that is an extremely minor limitation
compared to the benefit you'll get from the lower cost and ease of use.

Critical Path Method

Spreadsheet
Limitations in the free version:

● 25 tasks. The pro version allows up to 500.

● 6 predecessors per task. The pro version lets you include up to 10 per task.
● Critical tasks cannot be correctly identified until all tasks have a successor. The
new Pro version uses a modified algorithm that assumes all tasks have the
Finish task as a successor (making it much easier to use and understand).
● Task IDs must be numbers. The pro version allows you to use text or numbers.

CPM Spreadsheet (Pro Version)

Description
This spreadsheet implements the PERT algorithm and Critical Path Method to aid in
project planning and scheduling.

This version lets you include up to 500 tasks (more upon request, if necessary).

Unlike a normal project schedule or gantt chart, this spreadsheet lets you use the
statistical aspect of the PERT algorithm by defining the duration of a task using O-M-P
times (Optimistic, Most Likely, and Pessimistic). You can choose to calculate the
expected time (Duration) using either the Triangular or Beta distribution.

The Gantt Chart shows the tasks on the Critical Path as red bars, the flexible tasks as
blue bars, and the slack time as gray bar extensions. Milestones (tasks with zero
duration) are shown as black diamonds, but you don't have to mess with the axis
scaling like the free version.

Task dependencies are defined by simply listing the predecessors for each task.

Update 5/7/2019 - The new version 1.2 uses an updated algorithm that assumes all
tasks have the Finish task as a successor. This is a simple yet huge breakthrough that
makes the spreadsheet a lot easier to use.