Critical Path DefinedĬritical Path (CP ) is defined as the longest estimated sequence of interdependent activities that should be accomplished on time to ensure completion of the project on due-date.

So, today the original definition of critical patch is no more in use, however the fundamentals remain current. Since that time, critical path in project management has been modified many time and new definitions and categories have been added. It was implemented at lower levels (company, department, team) later on. The method was first applied at industry level to model product development, engineering, construction, aerospace, and other project environments. The key focus was placed on managing project finance through reducing task completion times. What is a Critical Path in Projects?ĬPM was developed as a formal project scheduling technique in the United States in the early 1950s. The method defines how long it will take to complete a project and what key activities will compose the scope of work… Let’s learn more about this technique, explore the definition of CP, and view example use of network diagram in MS Excel spreadsheet. It helps project managers to figure out the most important or critical tasks of their projects, consider dependency in between those tasks, and also measure the impact on other non-critical activities. Common Questions and Answers about Critical PathĬritical path in project management is one of the most popular methods to plan and control work.

Example: MS Excel Spreadsheet for CP Method.

Activity Network Diagram to Visualize the Critical Path.

Schedule network analysis definition