Forward 

Pass
• From project start to finish, calculate the earliest that each 
activity is able to start and finish agreeing to the schedule 
of work and the time of each activity

• Yields project duration

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 1

Backward Pass
• Working backward from project finish to start, calculate the 
latest that each task needs to start and finish in order to 
meet the end date.

• Yields when the project must start to meet the latest 
acceptable completion date.

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 2
 Precedent Diagram Method 
(PDM)
• Calculate Early Start & Early Finish dates (Forward 
Pass)
• Calculate Late Start & Late Finish dates (Backward 
Pass)
• Calculate Total & Free Float for each activity
• Identify activities with 0 (zero) Total Float

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 3

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) = Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

SIMPLE PROJECT CONSISTING OF 5 TASKS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 4
WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) = Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

0 Early Start (ES)

Activity D
Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

PROJECT START DATE & TASK DURATION 
KNOWN Activity E
WBS Code Activity

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 5

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

0
Total Float (TF) = Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

EARLY FINISH = EARLY START + DURATION
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 6
 WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =

EARLY START WITH SINGLE PREDECESSOR
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND
Total Float (TF) =
7

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =

EARLY START WITH MULTIPLE PREDECESSOR
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 8
WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF)
7
Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =

START‐TO‐START RELATIONSHIPS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 9

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =

COMPLETED FORWARD PASS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =
CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 10
 WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF)
7
Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12
Early Finish (EF) 3 15
Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)
The last activity
9 Early Finish (EF)
Total Float (TF) =
will default to be
the Late Finish
START THE BACKWARD PASS (LF).
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 11

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) = WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =

LATEST START (LS) = LATEST FINISH (LF) ‐ DURATION
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 12
WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 7 12
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
12
Total Float (TF) =
7 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =
12

LATEST STARTS WITH SINGLE SUCCESSORS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 13

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
7 12
Total Float (TF) =
12 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =
12

LATEST STARTS WITH MULTIPLE SUCCESSORS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 14
 WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
7 12
Total Float (TF) =
12 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =
12

FINISH‐TO‐FINISH RELATIONSHIPS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =
15

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 15

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7
Total Float (TF) =
7 12
Total Float (TF) =
12 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =

Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9
Total Float (TF) =
12

COMPLETED BACKWARD PASS
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 12
Late Finish (LF)

3
Total Float (TF) =
15

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 16
WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7 7 12 12
Total Float (TF) =
0 Total Float (TF) =
0 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =
0
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9 12
Total Float (TF) =
3

TOTAL FLOAT (TF) = LATEST FINISH (LF) – EARLY FINISH (EF)
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3 15
CON4157@VTC2021 Total Float (TF) = 12
CC BY-NC-ND 17

WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7 7 12 12
Total Float (TF) =
0 0 Total Float (TF) =
0 0 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =
0 0
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9 12
Total Float (TF) =
3 3

FREE FLOAT (FF) = EST OF SUCCESSOR – EFT
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0
Early Finish (EF) 3 12
Late Finish (LF)

3 15
Total Float (TF) =
12 9

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 18
WBS Code Activity WBS Code Activity

Activity A Activity B
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS) Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 0 7 7
Early Finish (EF) 7 Late Finish (LF) Early Finish (EF) 5 Late Finish (LF)

7 7 12 12
Total Float (TF) =
0 Total Float (TF) =
0 WBS Code Activity

Activity D
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

12 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

WBS Code Activity

15 15
Activity C Total Float (TF) =
0
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

7 10
Early Finish (EF) 2 Late Finish (LF)

9 12
Total Float (TF) =
3

CRITICAL PATH – TASKS WITH NO TOTAL FLOAT (TF)
WBS Code Activity

Activity E
Early Start (ES) Duration Late Start (LS)

0 12
Early Finish (EF) 3 Late Finish (LF)

3 15
Total Float (TF) = 12

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 19

Summary
• Critical path method 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 sequence of activities, scheduling, and timings 
involved
 Task priorities.

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 20
 How to use PD
• Example: ‐

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 21

How to use PD
• Calculating the forward pass: ‐

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 22
 How to use PD
• Calculating the backward pass: ‐

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 23

How to use PD
• Calculating the float/critical path: ‐

0, 0, 0,
0,

0,
0, 7,

1,

CON4157@VTC2021 CC BY-NC-ND 24