A deeper understanding of the critical path
Let's begin with a quick and practical recap of the critical path concept. Any project schedule can be represented as a network of tasks, from the start to the finish of the project. The critical path is the longest path of tasks on the schedule. By virtue of being the longest path, the critical path will determine the end date of the project.
Efficient monitoring and control of a schedule in execution often include the following:
- Identifying tasks that need special protection against delays and risk. These are the tasks on the critical path.
- Identifying and analyzing alternative paths in the schedule for comparative analysis. This can help, for example, when you want to shorten the project duration.
- Identifying tasks in the schedule that have a certain play or buffer. That is, identify those tasks that can be delayed without impacting the whole schedule. This can help, for example, in absorbing changes to the project...
