CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS

• Also called Network Analysis

• Method of scheduling projects-developped
after World War II
• Multi-task complex projects to ensure that the
scheme is completed in minimum time
• E.g used in Apollo moonshot project,
development of the Concorde
• Help you identify the activities that must be
completed on time in order to complete the
whole project on time.
• Show you which tasks can be delayed and for
how long without impacting the overall project
schedule.
• Calculate the minimum amount of time it will
take to complete the project.
• Tell you the earliest and latest dates each activity
can start on in order to maintain the schedule
• The CPM involves 4 main steps:
• - A forward pass to determine activities early-
start times;
• - A backward pass to determine activities late-
finish times;
• - Float calculations; and
• - Identifying critical activities.
• Forward pass : Early Start (ES) + duration
• Backward Pass : Late Finish (LF) - duration
• Float is the amount of time an activity can slip
without causing the project to be delayed
• Float = Late Start (LS) – Early Start (ES)
• Activities on the Critical Path have a float of
zero.
Ex 1:
(i) Draw the network diagram for the following activities;
(ii) Calculate project duration;
(iii) Calculate float for each activity; and
(iv) Identify the critical path.

Activity Dependence Duration

A _ 4
B A 3
C _ 3
D _ 5
E _ 2
F E 2
G D 4
H D 6
J B, C, D 2
K F, G 6