Critical Path Analysis

3.3.1

• What Critical Path Analysis is.

• How to create a basic CPA diagram.

• The CPA diagram used in this presentation isn’t the standard method.

• The diagram used in this presentation is used to help your understanding of the concept of CPA.

• If you would like to find out how to create the standard diagram please refer to the useful sites slide at the end of the presentation.

• For any project to be successful it has to be well managed.

• There are many tools which can help a project manager to manage a project including:– Critical Path Analysis– Gantt Charts

• In addition to this they also help the project manager understand:

– What the critical tasks of a project are.• Critical tasks are those which, if not completed on time, would

cause delays in the development of a system.

– The minimum time it would take to complete a project.

– How to make the best use of resources to speed up development time.

Ref Task Time (mins) Type Dependant on…

A Fill kettle 1 Non-Dependent

B Boil kettle 2 Dependent A

C Put tea bag in tea pot 1 Parallel B

D Pour boiling water into pot

1 Dependent B, C

E Brew tea 2 Dependent D

F Get mugs ready 1 Parallel E

G Pour brewed tea into mug

1 Dependent D, E

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

Ref Task Time (mins) Type Dependant on…

A Fill kettle 1 Non-Dependent

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

B D2 min

Boil kettle

C1 min

Put tea bagin tea pot

A

1 min

Fill kettle

1 min

Pour waterinto pot

E

F

G2 min

Brew tea

1 min

Get mugsready

• Complete steps 1 and 2 for the following scenarios:– Making a cup of tea with just a mug.

– Making spaghetti bolognaise

– Washing a car

• http://www.mindtools.com/critpath.html

• http://revisionguru.co.uk/business/critical.htm

• http://www.bizhelp24.com/small-business-portal/critical-path-analysis-project-management-.html

• http://www.bizhelp24.com/small-business-portal/critical-path-analysis-part-2.html

• http://hadm.sph.sc.edu/COURSES/J716/CPM/CPM.html