Critical Path Method (CPM)

Question 1

is the discipline of initiating, planning, executing,
controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and
meet specific success criteria.

Answer 1

project management

Question 2

Initiate
Plan
Execute
Project close

Answer 2

project management

Question 3

sequence of project
activities which add up to the
longest overall duration

Answer 3

Critical Path

Question 4

longest
path in the network from the
starting event to ending event
and defines the minimum time
required to complete the
project.

Answer 4

Critical Path

Question 5

Known as Critical Path
Analysis (CPA), identifies
dependencies between tasks,
and shows which tasks are
critical to a project.

Answer 5

Critical Path Method

Question 6

1950’s, critical path
method was developedby

Answer 6

Kelly and Walker to assist in
building and maintains of
chemical plants

Question 7

step-by-step project
management technique that
separates planning and
scheduling.

Answer 7

Critical Path Method

Question 8

March 1959, the method
was applied to maintenance
shut-down at the Du Pont
works in Louisville, Kentucky.
Unproductive time was
reduced from _______

Answer 8

125 to 93 hours

Question 9

evaluates all the possible
alternative plans for project
and associates each plans
with a schedule.

Answer 9

Critical Path Method

Question 10

where is CPM used ?

Answer 10

-Software Development
-Construction
-Aerospace & Defense
-Research Projects
-Product Development

Question 11

According to Dr. Larry Bennett
(1978), critical path method
also has three main benefits
for project managers

Answer 11

• IDENTIFIES THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS
• HELPS TO REDUCE TIMELINE
• COMPARES PLANNED WITH ACTUAL

Question 12

CPM key steps

Answer 12

1. Specify Eac h Activity
2. Establish D2 ependencies
   (Activity Sequence)
   3.Draw the N etwork Diagram
   4.Estimate A ctivity
   Completion Time
3. Identify Cr2i tical Path
4. Update th e Critical Path
   Diagram to Show Progress

Question 13

The first step is to
identify the main
deliverables of a
project. Then you can
start breaking down
the high-level
activities into smaller
chunks of work.

Answer 13

Specify Each Activity

Question 14

Some activities will depend on the
completion of others. Listing the immediate
predecessors of each activity will help you
identify the correct order

Answer 14

Draw the Network Diagram

Question 15

Some activities will depend on the
completion of others. Listing the
immediate predecessors of each activity
will help you identify the correct order.

Answer 15

Establish Dependencies
(Activity Sequence)

Question 16

TASK A,B, C DIAGRMAS

Answer 16

Draw the Network Diagram

Question 17

Using past experience or the knowledge of an experienced team
member, you mustt now estimate the time required to complete each
activity. if you are managing a smaller project, you will most
likelyestimate time in days. If you are workung with a complex project,
you may have to measure time in weeks.

Answer 17

Estimate A ctivity
Completion Time

Question 18

You can eyeball your network diagram and simply identify the
longest path throughout the network.
You can also identify critical acivities with the Forward
Pass/Backward Pass technique. Identifying the earliest start and finish
times, and the latetst start and finish times for each acitivity.

Answer 18

Identify Critical Path

Question 19

as the project progresses, you will learn the actual activity completion
times. The network diagram can then be updated to include this
information (rather than continuing to use estimations).

Answer 19

Update the Critical Path
Diagram to Show Progress

Question 20

it is the amount of time an
activity can be delayed without
delaying the project.

Answer 20

Float/Slack

Question 21

Activity with zero float

Answer 21

Critical Activity

Question 22

reducing a project’s duration is
called _______.

Answer 22

Crashing

Question 23

it is an iteratve process of
assigning crews to activities in
order to calculate their
duration.

Answer 23

Resource Leveling

Question 24

1Consistent framework for plan ning, scheduling, monitoring, and
controlling project.
2 Helps proper communicati ons between departments and
functions.
3 Determines expected project c ompletion date.
4 Determines the dates on whic h tasks ma

Answer 24

Advantages of CPM

Question 25

1Reliability of CPM largely ba sed on accurate estimates and
assumptions made.
2 CPM does not guarantee the su ccess of project.
3 Resources may not actually b e as flexible as management hope
when they come to address network float.
4 Too many activities may the n etwork diagram too complicated.

Answer 25

Disadvantages of CPM