The Critical Path Method

Prensa Presented by Antonio , MBA, PMP, CCP, CSTE for Project Management Institute Puerto Rico Chapter
June 20, 2002 San Juan, Puerto Rico

"I believe that this nation should itself to achieving a commit goal, before this decade is out, of landing a May 27,1961 man on the moon..." - John F. Kennedy,

On July 20, 1969, just eight years after Kennedy's speech, Apollo 11 landed two men on the moon. This achievement was possible only with careful NASA used the critical path method to production planning that included the help determine an critical path efficient schedule for the tasks that method. led to the moon landing.

Discussion Topics
Background Some questions about the project What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)? Why the CPM? How to use the CPM ? Questions and Answers

Background
The critical path method (CPM) was invented by project managers in the early 1950's. The US Navy adapted and improved it to manage the Polaris missile project in the late 1950's

Some questions about the project

How long will the entire project take to complete? Which determine total project time? activities Which activity times should be shortened, if possible, or in other words, how many resources should be allocated to each activity?

What is the CPM?

Critical Path Method i a procedure using network analysis to whic (CPM), s those for are the critical path: identify any delay in h ie where tasks project completio o these tasks will lengthen on the timescale, unless action is taken. n f the For all tasks off the critical path, a degree of tolerance is possible (eg. late start, late completion, early start, etc.). Network charts and CPM analysis used to be carried out by hand. Softwar i now available which requires the onl t enter the tasks, duration of each tas an e s user dependencie upon other tasks; a network chart and y o d CPM is then automatically created. k s

Why the CPM?

identifie task whic The CPM must be completed s time for th whole on s h formally project to be completed on time e task ca be for Identifies whil i resource needsnto be reallocated s delayed a which catch fup on missed tasks e to It helps you identif th minimum length of time needed to complete a project y e to The CPM determines both the early start and th late start date each activity in the schedule. e for

How to use the CPM?

Project Network Diagram
Any schematic of project activities. display 2 1 3 5 7 4 of the logical relationships

6 8

How to use the CPM?

Draw arrows from Start node to the First activitys node

List the activities And relationships

Create a start node

Sequentially Arrange all Activities from Start

Repeat process from successors for all activities

Double check for missed relationships

How to use the CPM?

Early Start (ES) Late Start (LS) Early Finish (EF) Task duration Late Finish (LF)

How to use the CPM?

Task ID

Duration

Dependency

A B C D E F G H

7 3 6 3 3 2 3 2

A B D, F B C E,G

How to use the CPM?

0

7 13

(7)

13

G
(3 )

16

(6)

S
0

1 6 9

H (2
)

18

B (3)

D
(3 )

(3)

(2 )

How to use the CPM?

0 0

S
0 7

(7) 13

7 13 7

7 7

13

G
( 3 ) 6 6 13

16 16 1 6 1 6

(6) 13

H
(2 )

18 18

B
( 3 )

3 10 (3)

3 10

D F

13

9 16

(3)

3 1 1

5 13

( 2 )

How to use the CPM?

0 0

A 0

7 7

7 7

(7)

S
0 7

13 13 (6) 13 13

C 0

G 0
6 6 13 ( 3 )

16 16 16

16 (2) 9 16

18

B
( 3 )

3 10

3 1 0 3 1 1

D
( 3 )

13

18

(3)

7
( 2 )

5 13

Summary
Critical Path Analysis is an effective and powerful method of assessing: Tasks which must be carried out Where parallel activity can be carried out The shortest time in which a project can be completed Resources needed to achieve a project The of activities, scheduling, and timings involved sequence Task priorities

Do you need more information?

Project Management:A systems app h to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling Harold Kerzner, Six edition. Project Management: A Managerial Approach Jack R. Meredith, Samuel J. Mantel, Fourth Edition. Web Search Engine - key word: The Critical Path Method or The CPM.

Contact me at:
Antonio Prensa
Email: aprensa@bppr.com / tonyprensa@prtc.net Phone: (787) 751-9800 ext. 3725

The Critical Path Method

Prensa Presented by Antonio , MBA, PMP, CCP, CSTE for Project Management Institute Puerto Rico Chapter
June 20, 2002 San Juan, Puerto Rico