What Is Critical Method

What is Critical method?
Explain its advantages and disadvantages
The critical path method is a technique that allows you to identify tasks that are
necessary for project completion. The critical path in project management is the
longest sequence of activities that must be finished on time to complete the
entire project.
Also called critical path analysis (CPA), the critical path method (CPM) is a
technique where you identify tasks that are necessary for project completion and
determine scheduling flexibilities. A critical path in project management is the
longest sequence of activities that must be finished on time in order for the
entire project to be complete. Any delays in critical tasks will delay the whole
project.
Advantages of Critical Path Method
 Stronger Communication: Critical path method schedules require input from

key players across all stages of a project lifecycle. Bringing together the
expertise of various team members and subcontractors, from architects to
electricians to construction managers, makes the schedule more realistic and
robust from the start.
 Easier Prioritization: Identifying the critical path helps project managers
clarify priorities and determine the float of each task. Float, also known
as slack, measures how long a task can be delayed before it impacts the
completion date. Critical path tasks have zero float, while non-critical activities
have positive float. Determining the float of each task helps teams assess
priorities. The lower the float, the higher the priority.
 Improved Accuracy in Scheduling: The critical path method is a popular and
reliable tool for improving the accuracy of project schedules. Many project
managers use CPM in conjunction with the Program Evaluation and Review
Technique (PERT), another project management tool that helps teams estimate
total project duration. While CPM focuses on predictable activities, PERT
factors in unpredictable events, creating three possible timelines: most
optimistic, most pessimistic, and most realistic. By using both PERT and CPM,
project managers can create the most accurate forecasts possible.
 Better Risk Detection: Critical path schedules make clear the relationships
between dependent tasks, so project managers can better predict the knock-on
effects of a delay. CPM prevents more surprises and offers earlier opportunities
to make corrections than other methods that do not track dependencies.
 Greater Adaptability: When work does not go to plan, CPM network diagrams
give project managers the tools to quickly rework the schedule. Certain software
programs can even model the effects of different adjustments, so project
managers can compare outcomes and select the most beneficial option. By using
software, says Pepoon, “You can recalculate the schedule in a fraction of a
second.”
 More Visual Impact: CPM network diagrams and Gantt chart representations
of critical path schedules give project managers a quick understanding of a
project’s timeline and progress. By referring to these visual tools, project
managers and team members can develop a more intuitive understanding of a
project’s trajectory than they might with a less visually dynamic option.
Disadvantages of Critical Path Method
 Increased Complexity: The critical path method involves complex calculations

with many moving parts. While software can automate the calculations,
inputting accurate information requires detailed research and does not eliminate
the risk of human error. “You can’t be overly trusting. You have to
independently verify the schedule that results,” Pepoon notes. “Every day I find
conflicts and anomalies.”
 Decreased Applicability: Not all project types lend themselves to the critical
path method. For example, CPM requires that timelines be predictable and
repeatable. CPM is not a good fit for creative projects, such as product design or
research tasks, that often come together in unpredictable ways. At the other end
of the spectrum, repetitive or independent activities are not well suited to CPM.
For example, a weekly maintenance program may involve cleaning dozens of
machines, but the order in which the machines are serviced does not matter. In
this scenario, CPM does not add value because there are no task dependencies,
so there is no critical path.
 Reduced Attention to High-Float Tasks: When using the critical path method,
project managers focus on critical path tasks. While the critical path does
determine total project duration, using this method can make it easier to ignore
non-critical or high-float tasks, thus resulting in delays. For example, installing
the electrical system in a new building is not on the critical path because this
can occur during a large window of time. However, if project managers forget
about wiring work or delay it too long, it will still impact the completion date.
 Less Insight Into Resource Constraints: Another drawback of the critical path
method is that it does not give good insight into how resource constraints affect
project scheduling. The network diagram and CPM schedule do not take into
account the availability of equipment or labor resources. At the same time, CPM
does not highlight overlap of resource use, which can result in congestion. For
example, overlaps in the schedule might mean too many workers in a server
center or too much heavy machinery on a construction site. Unnoticed overlaps
might also cause trade stacking, which is when multiple tradespeople, such as
electricians and plumbers, try to work in the same location simultaneously,
potentially causing delays, safety hazards, and unforeseen costs. These
problems compound when a company has multiple projects underway and must
coordinate resources among them. CPM on its own is not helpful for spotting
these issues. Project managers will need to solicit the expertise of other
professionals and resource-based scheduling techniques to gain necessary
insight into resource management.

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What is Critical method?

Explain its advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of Critical Path Method

 Stronger Communication: Critical path method schedules require input from

Disadvantages of Critical Path Method

 Increased Complexity: The critical path method involves complex calculations

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