Critical Path Method (CPM)

By: A Staff Writer

Updated on: Jul 19, 2024

What: Analyzes task durations and dependencies to find the longest chain – the critical path. Delays on this path delay the entire project.

Who: DuPont and Remington Rand companies in the 1950s.

Why: Focuses entrepreneurs on the tasks most crucial to on-time completion, preventing wasted effort on things with flexibility.

When: Any project with complex dependencies, or where minimizing delays is paramount.

How:

1. 1. Create a network diagram showing task connections.
   2. Calculate the earliest/latest possible start and finish for each task.
   3. The path with zero “float” (delay leeway) is your critical path.