3.3.4 - Critical Path Analysis

Question 1

What is Critical Path Analysis (CPA) ?

Answer 1

• CPA is a management tool which helps a business to identify how long a project will take and what the critical tasks in that project are
• The diagrams are called network diagrams, as they show a network of tasks in a project

Question 2

Uses of CPA

Answer 2

• CPA can be used to schedule a building project, for example the roof is not the first thing to go on a house and the site may not have enough room for all the roof tiles at the start.
• A building business would therefore schedule the tiles to be delivered when they are needed perhaps on week three when the roof goes on

Question 3

Other uses of CPA

Answer 3

• Launch a new product onto a
market.
• A photo shoot of the new product would not happen on day 1 so a schedule would be useful so bookings can be made (see video)
• Installation of new technology in a business
• Renovation of old buildings
• Advertising campaigns

Question 4

Benefits of CPA

Answer 4

A. Stakeholders will be able to see the total time frame for the project to be completed
B. Parallel activities can be scheduled, for example electricians can work on the lighting in the kitchen while the plasterers put plaster on the upstairs walls. This will save time on the project
C. Very useful for businesses in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) markets where speed is important
D. Useful to know when to deliver resources or arrange for labour to arrive e.g. can’t put a carpet in while painters are still working

Question 5

Refer to slide 11< for using CPA

Question 6

Calculating Earliest Start Time (EST)

Answer 6

Previous EST + Number on the line