How to Calculate Critical Path
What is Critical Path?
Identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks determining minimum project duration. Changes to critical tasks directly impact completion date.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1List all project tasks and dependencies
- 2Calculate duration for each task
- 3Find all paths through tasks
- 4Identify longest path (critical path)
- 5Monitor critical tasks closely
Worked Examples
Input
A→B→C 12days
Result
12 day min
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Not identifying all dependencies
- ✕Assuming adding resources to critical path always helps
Frequently Asked Questions
Why focus on critical path?
Delays on critical tasks delay entire project; non-critical tasks have flexibility.
How do I reduce project duration?
Focus on critical path: parallelize tasks, reduce scope, add resources, reduce dependencies.
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