http://www.pmhut.com/a-project-management-primer-basic-principles-the-critical-path Thu, 17 May 2012 03:17:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://www.pmhut.com/a-project-management-primer-basic-principles-the-critical-path/comment-page-1#comment-556 janegi Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:03:59 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/a-project-management-primer-basic-principles-the-critical-path#comment-556 Unfortunately this understanding of what "critical path" means is a common one, and not correct. In planning a project all the main tasks are determined, their interdependencies set, and effort or duration established. If we wanted to draw a line from start to finish - as though through a maze - there would be many possible paths. The critical path is the path that takes the longest time. It represents the tasks that have the least slack in their start or delivery dates. It does NOT have anything at all to do with a task's Importance to the project. The word 'critical' is about the path. Unfortunately the example is also a poor one because 'scramble eggs' can overlap with the end of 'fry bacon' etc; 'wash plates' as a step must come after serve (unless there are no clean plates); and decisions (the diamond shape) are not critical path components. Unfortunately this understanding of what “critical path” means is a common one, and not correct.
In planning a project all the main tasks are determined, their interdependencies set, and effort or duration established. If we wanted to draw a line from start to finish - as though through a maze - there would be many possible paths. The critical path is the path that takes the longest time. It represents the tasks that have the least slack in their start or delivery dates. It does NOT have anything at all to do with a task’s Importance to the project. The word ‘critical’ is about the path.
Unfortunately the example is also a poor one because ’scramble eggs’ can overlap with the end of ‘fry bacon’ etc; ‘wash plates’ as a step must come after serve (unless there are no clean plates); and decisions (the diamond shape) are not critical path components.

]]> http://www.pmhut.com/a-project-management-primer-basic-principles-the-critical-path/comment-page-1#comment-555 PM Hut » A Project Management Primer - Basic Principles - Scope Triangle Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:03:04 +0000 http://www.pmhut.com/a-project-management-primer-basic-principles-the-critical-path#comment-555 [...] A Project Management Primer - Basic Principles - The Critical Path [...] [...] A Project Management Primer - Basic Principles - The Critical Path [...]

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