Critical Path Method of Scheduling

The Critical Path Method of scheduling is an effective method of scheduling for project management.

It was first developed by DuPont several decades ago for construction projects, and is now commonly used not only in construction, but in other fields such as software project management, research projects, and product development projects. Any project that has a large number of interdependent activities can apply this method of scheduling.

The essential technique inherent in the method is to construct a list or model including all required activities to complete the task, the time they will take, and the sequence in which interdependent tasks have to be performed. The method then figures out what activities are critical to the completion of a project (the critical path) and what activities have some "float time" (are less critical). This allows management to prioritize critical activities. Usually the schedule is edited on a regular basis, to monitor the critical activities and to ensure that non-critical activities do not interfere with the critical ones.

Currently, there are several software solutions available in industry today which use CPM method of scheduling. Some examples are Microsoft Project, Primavera Project Planner, and SureTrak. However, the method was employed without computers (with pencil and paper) for decades.