Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project schedule modeling technique. Mr. Morgan R. Walker and James E. Kelly developed this technique in the late 1950s.
Project planners use this method to develop project schedules, including IT, research, and construction.
The critical path method is a lengthy and complex concept. Please follow each step in this blog post, and don’t move on until you understand the previous steps. If you follow this advice and complete the blog post, you won’t have problems solving Critical Path Method questions on the PMP Exam.
Critical Path Method
In the critical path network method, you focus on managing the critical path.
A network diagram has many paths originating from one point and ending at another point. Every path has a duration, and the one with the longest duration is the critical path.
You can define a critical path as:
- The longest path in the network diagram, or
- The shortest duration to complete the project.
Notice that the first statement talks about the longest path and the other talks about the shortest duration.
They may appear to be opposites, but they convey the same message.
For example, let’s say you have a project to construct three buildings. The first is the largest, the second is medium-sized, and the third is the smallest.
You develop the network diagram, which comprises three paths, each representing a building.
You calculate the duration for each path. For the first building, the duration is 31 months, the second will take 18 months, and the third will require 13 months.
You can see that the first path is for the largest building, the second is for the medium-sized one, and the third is for the smallest building.
Now, let us review the diagram for the critical path analysis.
Did you notice that the first path is the longest?
It is 13 months longer than the second and 18 months longer than the third.
This means that you can wait 13 months and then start working on the second building because you can complete the second building in 18 months.
Likewise, you could wait 18 months and then start working on the third building because it will take 13 months to complete. This means that, even if you start work on the third building after 18 months from the project start date, you can finish it on time.
This waiting period is known as float or slack.
So, which is the critical path in this network diagram?
It is the longest path on the network diagram because you cannot complete your project before finishing the first building. Although you can complete the other two buildings quickly, your project is not considered complete until the first building is completed.
This confirms the first statement that says, “the critical path is the longest path on the network diagram.”
Now, what is the shortest duration to complete the project?
It is 31 months because you cannot complete your project in less time, and this is the duration of the critical path.
This bears out the second statement that says, “The critical path is the shortest duration in which you can complete the project.”
So, both definitions are the same.
You can define the critical path as the sequence of activities from start to end, and it has the longest duration of all paths in a network diagram.
In ideal conditions, a network diagram should have one critical path. Multiple critical paths will put you in a difficult situation.
The critical path has the longest duration, and it is the total project’s duration. Activities on the critical path have no float; therefore, you must ensure those critical activities are completed on time. Any delay in a critical activity (critical path activity) will delay the project.
What if the project is delayed?
Schedule slippage is common in project management. However, some tools can help you bring things back on schedule. These are called schedule compression techniques, and Fast-tracking and Crashing are two examples. If your project is behind schedule, you can use these tools to get it back on time.
Visit: Fast Tracking and Crashing
A Few Commonly Used Terms in Critical Path Method
Before I start discussing how to find the critical path, let us understand a few common terms used in a critical path network diagram:
Earliest Start Time or Early Start (ES): This is the earliest time an activity can be started in your project.
Latest Start Time or Late Start (LS): This is the latest time that an activity can be started on your project. If you start the activity beyond this time, it will affect your critical path.
Earliest Finish Time or Early Finish (EF): This is the earliest time an activity is completed in your project.
Latest Finish Time of Late Finish (LF): This is the latest time you can complete the activity on your project. If your activity crosses this time, your project will be delayed.
How to Find the Critical Path in a Network Diagram
Now we have reviewed the critical path method terminology, let’s see how we can calculate the critical path, late start, early start, late finish, and early finish:
- The first step is to collect all project activities. You can use the work breakdown structure to find tasks for your project.
- After listing project activities, find the task dependencies among the activities. Find which activity will follow what activity and task relationship, such as finish to start, finish to finish, start to start, or start to finish.
- Now, draw the network diagram and assign durations to each activity.
- Identify all paths in the network diagram.
- Find the duration of each path.
- The path with the largest duration is the critical path.
- Use forward pass the calculate the earliest start or early start and earliest finish or early finish of each activity.
- Use backward pass the calculate the latest start or late start and the latest finish or late finish for each activity.
- Now you can calculate the float for all activities.
- Note that on a critical path, a late start will be equal to a late finish, and an early start will be equal to a late start. Also, all critical path activities will have no float.
This information lets you draw the critical path network diagram, and you will know the float of each activity. You will know how much you can delay a particular task, and any delay beyond this point will affect the project schedule.
Critical Path Method Example
Based on the network diagram below, identify the total paths, critical path, and float for each path.
The above network diagram has five paths. The paths and their durations are as follows:
- Start -> A -> B -> C-> End {duration: 31 days.}
- Start ->D -> E ->F -> End {duration: 18 days.}
- Start -> D -> B -> C -> End {duration: 26 days.}
- Start -> G ->H ->I -> End {duration: 13 days.}
- Start -> G -> E ->F -> End {duration: 16 days.}
Since the duration of the first path is the longest, it is the critical path. The float on the critical path is zero.
The float for the second path “Start ->D -> E ->F -> End” = duration of the critical path – duration of the path “Start ->D -> E ->F -> End”
= 31 – 18 = 13
Hence, the float for the second path is 13 days.
Using the same process, we can also calculate the float for other paths.
Float for the third path = 31 – 26 = 5 days.
Float for the fourth path = 31 – 13 = 18 days.
Float for the fifth path = 31 – 16 = 15 days.
Calculate Early Start, Early Finish, Late Start, and Late Finish
We have identified the critical path and the duration of the other paths. Now it’s time to move on to more advanced calculations: Early Start, Early Finish, Late Start, and Late Finish.
Calculating Early Start (ES) and Early Finish (EF)
To calculate the Early Start and Early Finish dates, we use the forward pass; we will start from the beginning and proceed to the end.
The Early Start (ES) for the first activity on any path will be 1 because you cannot start the activity before the first day of your project.
The starting point for any activity is the endpoint of the predecessor activity on the same path (plus one).
The formula used for calculating Early Start and Early Finish dates:
- Early Start of the activity = Early Finish of predecessor activity + 1
- Early Finish of the activity = Activity duration + Early Start of activity – 1
Early Start and Early Finish Dates for the path Start -> A -> B -> C -> End
Early Start of activity A = 1 (Since this is the first activity of the path)
Early Finish of activity A = ES of activity A + activity duration – 1
= 1 + 10 – 1 = 10
Early Start of activity B = EF of predecessor activity + 1
= 10 +1 = 11
Early Finish of activity B = ES of activity B + activity duration – 1
= 11 + 12 – 1 = 22
Early Start of activity C = EF of predecessor activity + 1
= 22 +1 = 23
Early Finish of activity C = ES of activity C + activity duration – 1
= 23 + 9 – 1 = 31
Early Start and Early Finish Dates for the path Start -> D -> E -> F -> End
Early Start of activity D = 1 (Since this is the first activity of the path)
Early Finish of activity D = 1 + 5 – 1 = 5
Early Start of activity E = EF of predecessor activity + 1
Since activity E has two predecessor activities, which one will you select? The answer is the activity with the greater Early Finish date. The Early Finish of activity D is 5, and the Early Finish of activity G is 3 (we will calculate it later).
Therefore, we will select the Early Finish of activity D to find the Early Start of activity E.
Early Start of activity E = EF of predecessor activity + 1
= 5 + 1 = 6
Early Finish of activity E = 6 + 7 – 1 = 12
Early Start of activity F = 12 + 1 = 13
Early Finish of activity F = 13 + 6 -1 = 18
Early Start and Early Finish Dates for the path Start -> G -> H -> I -> End
Early Start of activity G = 1 (Since this is the first activity of the path)
Early Finish of activity G = 1 + 3 – 1 = 3
Early Start of activity H = 3 + 1 = 4
Early Finish of activity H = 4 + 4 – 1 = 7
Early Start of activity I = 7 +1 = 8
Early Finish of activity I = 8 + 6 – 1 = 13
Calculating Late Start (LS) and Late Finish (LF)
We have calculated the Early Start and Early Finish dates of all activities. Now it is time to calculate the Late Start and Late Finish dates.
The Late Finish date of the last activity on all paths will be the same because no activities can continue once the project is completed.
The formula used for Late Start and Late Finish dates:
- Late Start of Activity = Late Finish of activity – activity duration + 1
- Late Finish of Activity = Late Start of successor activity – 1
To calculate the Late Start and Late Finish, we use the backward pass; i.e., we will start from the last activity and move back towards the first activity.
Late Start and Late Finish Dates for the path Start -> A -> B -> C -> End
On a critical path, the Late Start, and Late Finish dates will be the same as the Early Start and Early Finish dates
Late Start and Late Finish Dates for the path Start -> D -> E -> F -> End
Late Finish of activity F = 31 (because you cannot allow any activity to pass the project completion date)
Late Start of activity F = LF of activity F – activity duration + 1
= 31 – 6 +1 = 26
Late Finish of Activity E = LS of successor activity – 1
= LS of Activity F – 1
= 26 – 1 = 25
Late Start of Activity E = LF of activity E – activity duration + 1
= 25 – 7 + 1 = 19
Late Finish of activity D = LS of successor activity – 1
If you look at the network diagram, you will notice that activity D has two successor activities, B and E. So, which activity would you select?
You will select the activity with the earlier (least) Late Start date. Here, the Late Start of activity B is 11, and the Late Start of activity E is 19.
Therefore, you will select activity B, which has the earlier Late Start date.
Hence,
Late Finish of activity D = LS of activity B – 1
= 11 – 1 = 10
Late Start of Activity D = LF of activity D – activity duration + 1
= 10 – 5 + 1 = 6
Late Start and Late Finish Dates for the path Start -> G -> H -> I -> End
Late Finish of activity I = 31 (because you cannot allow any activity to pass the project completion date)
Late Start of activity I = 31 – 6 + 1 = 26
Late Finish of activity H = 26 – 1 = 25
Late Start of activity H = 25 – 4 + 1 = 22
Late Finish of Activity G = 19 – 1= 18 (we will choose the late start of activity E, not activity H, because the Late Start of activity E is earlier than the Late Start of activity H).
Late Start of activity G = 18 – 3 + 1
= 16
Calculate the Free Float
I recommend that you read my blog post on total float and free float to get a better understanding before proceeding further.
Visit: Total Float and Free Float
The formula for the Free Float is:
- Free Float = ES of next activity – EF of current activity – 1
Benefits of the Critical Path Method
The following are a few benefits of the Critical Path Method:
- It shows a graphical view of the project.
- You can discover and visualize dependencies.
- It aids in project planning, scheduling, and controlling.
- It helps in contingency planning.
- You can see the critical path and identify critical activities.
- It helps you assign the float to activities and flexibility to float activities.
- It shows you where you can take action to bring projects back on track.
Drawbacks of the Critical Path Method
Although the critical path is a very useful tool in project planning, it has some drawbacks, such as:
- The Critical Path Method is an optimal planning tool and assumes that all resources are always available for the project.
- It does not consider resource dependencies.
- There is a chance of misusing float or slack.
- Less attention is paid to non-critical activities, though sometimes they may become critical activities.
- Projects based on the critical path often do not finish on time.
- For a complex project, you will need to use project management software to develop the critical path scheduling that will add cost to your project.
The Critical Chain Method (CCM) was developed to overcome these shortcomings.
Visit: Critical Chain Method in Project Management
Apart from the CCM method, many project planners use schedule based on the Gantt chart.
Summary
The Critical Path Method has helped many project managers develop and manage schedules. It is a good communication tool, and it helps secure stakeholder buy-in. A network diagram has many paths, but you must focus on the critical one. Any delay in critical activity will affect the project schedule. Monitor floats on other paths because if the float drops to zero, that path will become a critical path, and you should avoid this.
As a project manager, you must monitor your network diagram and take prompt corrective action whenever necessary.
Are you involved with project planning? Please share your experience with the Critical Path Method in the comments section.
This is an important topic from a PMP exam point of view. You will see many questions in your exam on this topic.
I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.
A lot of people use the same phrase you did, about how it’s the longest path that determines the shortest amount of time to complete the project. Simply put, that is a misleading and confusing way to say it. We can always crash the critical path or otherwise try to compress the schedule and get done faster. The critical path does not show us the shortest duration to complete the project. We all say it, yet it is not accurate and confuses people more than it helps them. We should all stop saying it.
If you shorten the schedule, the longest path will beh the critical path and this will be the shortest duration to complete the project.
Hi Fahad
What if you have two equal numbers as your critical path
Then the project will be risky.
It means you have two critical paths to watch.
I had studied 5th edition and by the time i was ready 6th edition was released in March, after understanding Time management was change to schedule and Resource management was put in place along with manage project knowledge. Practiced lots of questions understood the flow diagram of, 5 groups, 9 knowledge areas and 37 process.
I drew chart before exam but questions asked were no where matched the test questions that i had practiced. Felt very embarrassed but haven’t broken yet and schedule retest in next 3 weeks.
No ITTO’s, not even single question asking in what phase/ group is work performed by PM, Only providing a narration/ situation and asking how would have PM avoided situation. Do direct to this kind of question for practice.
Thank you
Study materials and mock tests can help you understand the concepts. Based on this understanding you will have to solve questions.
If you are looking for a complete PMP exam preparation tool, you can join the following program:
https://www.pmsprout.com/course?courseid=pmp-exam-preparation-tool
Otherwise you can subscribe to PM Exam Simulator by Mr. Cornelius Fichtner.
for free float, why do you add (-1) ?
logically no mathemathically no
If you start your counting from “0”, you don’t have to subtract one.
Joseph Phillips in his book “All-in-One CAPM / PMP Project Management Certification” does a terrible job explaining float and how to calculate it. You do an excellent job, but I don’t understand where the divergent paths come from / where these originate? No seems to explain this. In your example, you have a line from D to B and G to E. What does this represent and how are they determined?
Thanks!
You will determine it during your project planning. The process is called activity sequencing.
I have one question on Project Time Management.
Question is:
A schedule activity may begin 10 days before the predecessor activity finishes.
This is an example of:
a. Finish -to-Start
b. Start-to-Finish
c. Start-to-Start
d. Finish-to-Finish
What is the answer and why?
Thanks in advance.
Finish to Start with ten days lead.
Hi Fahad,
Thanks for your all post about CPM.
Can you please share your email and do you have any mock tests for practice that we can purchase.
Thanks
You can details of my mock test here:
https://pmstudycircle.com/pmp-question-bank/
Dear Fahad,
Thank you very much for posting your article.
I am in researching CPA for my exam next week and struggling to find the answers to questions such as
What difficulties does CPA face?
Where CPA can go wrong?
Case studies where CPA has not worked
Analyse and evaluate the limitations of CPA?
Read this blog post:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2014/02/critical-chain-method-ccm-in-project-management/
Hi
Can you Please answer of this Question ?
The duration of activity B is 25 days , the early start is day 20 and the late start is day 30 . activities C, D and H all have a finish to start dependency with this activity. Activity H is a critical activity. This implies that activity B.
A) is also a critical activity as H can only begin once B is completed
B) must be completed by day 45 to avoid delaying H
C) Does not lie on the critical path
D) has a float of 25 days
E) is not critical and therefore can not be connected with activity H
Late Finish of activity F = 31 (because you cannot allow any activity to cross the project completion date)
I dont understand the above statement. I thought the LF of the F should be same as EF on the backward pass.
How is it 31.
Same goes with activity I.
Please explain the LF on activity F and I.
Since the project finishes on 31 therefore you can not allow any activity on any other path to complete after 31.
Greetings Fahad.
If I have two paths with a slack/float of zero but with different durations, which one is the critical path?
Regards
Mbali
This means both paths are having same duration and so both of them will be critical paths.
HI
I am about to give the PMP test for the second time. In my first exam there was a network diagram in the question that just had the activities A B C D etc, however it never used the term Start or Finish. Was PMI trying to trick me there. should the reply be like “unable to determine” as this was one of the options
Type of dependency is needed to draw a network diagram. In your case I think “unable to determine” will be the right answer.
ofcourse, I was making point that there chance of error is less and easier to remember, as some books start with zero as first day.
thanks again.
You have very good skill of presentation.
It is your personal choice, you are free to follow your choice.
Hi Fahad,
Excellant presentation, i like your simple explaination with the simple realistic examples. great job!
for LS and LF formulas I think it important to show the brackets
for example;
Late Start of activity F = (LF of activity F – activity duration) + 1
= 31 – 6 +1 = 26 this is correct representation
if same formula without bracket could be interpreted as
Late Start of activity F = LF of activity F – activity duration + 1
= 31 – 6 +1
=31-7 =24 which is incorrect.
Sign of 6 is negative and 1 is positive, they are never going to be added to each other regardless the positions of brackets.
How we can find out Free Float for the activities by Backward Pass method. In you PMP Formula guide only Forward Pass Method is mentioned. Can you let me know how free float can be calculated from Backward Pass Method. with examples.
Thank you very much for this
Allah Hafiz
Here is the complete blog post on total float and free float:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2013/03/total-float-versus-free-float/
Please read this blog post.
AA Fahad
i want to know can there be more than one critical path in a Network? if yes pls share an example so that i can find out by my own the multiple CPs.
thank you
If you have more than one critical path, the risk will be more and you have watch-out for both paths.
Hi sir i have doubt in definition of critical path You have said that “path with the longest duration is known as the critical path.” and after that you have given other definition as “critical path is shortest duration in which the project can be completed”. You have use both shortest and longest duration please clarify me this point
I liked the way you have explained, very simple and easy to understand.
I would like to know about PERT also , please share the link
Here is the link of the blog post on PERT:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2013/08/pert-program-evaluation-and-review-technique/
How we can have more than one critical path, if we do then how we can manage more than one critical path and which critical path will represent project duration?
If the duration of two path is same, you will have two critical path and you have to manage both of them. The duration of these path will be the duration of the project (both duration will be the same).
When a task has two successors, which successor task do you use to calculate Free Float on the predecessor task. For example, in your diagram, to calculate the Free Float for task D, would you use the ES for task B or task E in the calculation?
Please read my below given blog post on free and total float, It explains everything in detail:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2013/03/total-float-versus-free-float/
Hi Fahad,
I will have exam about construciton planning and cpm calculation.. I have basic information, I can cpm calculating by Arrow and Node diagram. But I am confused when there are limited resouce. In the last exam, My Instructer gaves question about construciton designing and gave construction calendar. In the question, there are three floor , and second floor depended first, third floor depended second floor. Also limited resource. I can t solve this. Please help me about this questions I can’t find any resources or example about it.
In adddition, she asked quesiton about designin birdge and she wants cpm calculations. But she didn’t give dependence. So ? must learn steps of designin bridge.
Thanks..
[email protected]
First of all, make a list of all activities, then find the dependencies. After it, draw the diagram and then you can apply the resources.
how can ? apply resources?
For example let’s say that an activity requires two people to complete the work in two days but after reviewing the resources you find that you have only one worker available at that time, so you may increase the duration of the activity to four days to in your diagram.
Hi Fahad,
Does PMP exam asks such calculation questions on CPM/Forward Pass/Backward Pass?
Thanks,
Santosh
Yes.
the answer is 42 days
Can we increase Float or Slack for the other paths by using Schedule Compression techniques i.e Crashing Techniques or Fast tracking technique in the other paths?
Reducing duration of other paths does not make sense because duration of the critical path is the duration of your project.
In crashing or fast tracking, your aim is to decrease the duration of the critical path.
Hi Fahad,
First of all, thanks a lot for this wonderfull post, One small doubt,
As per my understanding, Activity A,D & G are starts in Parellel, If yes then how the float period for Activity G =2 was it not 7?
7 since Activity A ends on 10th day and G early end on 3 so difference is 7.
Same calculation holds good gor Activity D which is correct (Float=5).
Thanks in Advance
-Ezaz
Please refer my blog post on total float and free float:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2013/03/total-float-versus-free-float/
Brilliant write up! I really enjoyed your write up &lots of doubts have been cleard up Glad I found your site before my exams .can you enlighten me on the limitations of network diagrams? Many thanks.keep the good works up.
If the project is large and complex with many activities and relationship, it might get difficult to manage and take proper control on it.
While calculations using the “Day 1” method are quite simple, do you not believe that calculating the Critical Path is less involved using the “Day 0” method? I know that both are correct and perhaps its just a matter of preference but it just seems to me that “Day 0” allows you to do the calculation on sight and you don’t have to track +/- days. That being said, I am studying for my PMP exam and would appreciate guidance if I am not looking at this issue the way I should be.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts, advice & direction.
Jim McKinney
It is your choice whether you chose to start for 0 or 1. I only followed the convention used by the PMBOK guide.
Moreover, it sounds good when you say: “Hey! today is my first day of the project”, instead of saying “Hey! today is my zero day of the project”
:)