Critical Path Analysis

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Critical Path AnalysisOne Way to DevelopTop 3 Critical Paths

Angelo Arcoleo18 May2011

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Purpose – This presentation describes one way to analyze total slack and develop a projects’ Top 3 Critical Paths. (There are several other ways….)

Essential steps include: 1- Selecting your program end-deliverable as your Primary Critical or Driving Path end-task.2- Setting a temporary deadline on that end-task, 2 months earlier than contract end-date.3- Performing Total Slack analysis to determine remaining Critical or Driving Paths.4- View Top 3 Critical Paths.

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Key ConceptsDriving Path vs. Critical PathSmart Driving Path NumberingCritical Path formulaStandard Views

Gantt ChartTotal Slack AnalysisPath GanttTop 3 Critical Paths

Smart PS-UIDTotal Slack in Calendar Days

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1- Select your program end-deliverable as your Primary CP end-task.Using Gantt Chart view, select end-deliverable task

to define Primary Critical or Driving Path

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Use the ‘Find Path to Selected Task’ icon to run macro and find controlling predecessors

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Use the Driving Path Widget to find controlling predecessors

The Driving Path Widget locates all predecessor tasks that drive a specific task.

Have you ever looked at a long list of predecessor tasks in a project and wondered which one is causing the schedule delay? With the Driving Path Widget, you will stop wasting time manually checking tasks to identify a path of predecessors that determine any given task’s schedule. Just select a task and push the "Driving Path" toolbar button.

Available from: Project Widgets

http://www.projectwidgets.com/products/DrivingPathWidget.cfm

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Select Yes when warning pops-up.Four fields (2-Text, 2-Flag) are used in this macro;

Then select View 09 - Path Gantt Chart to view results

FYI: Here’s what these fields are titled…

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Use View 09 – Path Gantt Chart, to see path leading to that task

Sort byDP,

Then by

Finish

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Select PS-UID Column in MS ProjectCopy and Paste into Excel for DP numbering

then Copy DP # and Paste into DP field

Smart DP numbering helps to define subsystem, automatically define DP/CP and sort tasks in sequential order

Driving path

step

subsystem

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Add Formula for CP, if missing… CP will populate as a function of DP

In a Master Shell environment, using a subsystem prefix in DP field helps identify what subsystem a paths lies.

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Review and adjust DP order to eliminate schedule “knots”,

then Sort by DP, Then by Finish

Schedule “knots” are out-of-sequence tasks. Manual renumbering smart DP ID fixes this situation.

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2- Setting a temporary deadline on selected end-deliverable task,2 months before contract end-date

Set task Deadline: 2 months earlier, to create a negative TS condition…

Deadline can be set earlier, depending on the level of “sensitivity” you want to temporarily “push” TS.

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3- Performing Total Slack analysis to determine remaining Critical or Driving Paths

Select view Total Slack Analysis

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Filter-out CP#1 (CP contains blank)

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Copy PS-UID for Secondary Critical or Driving Path,Paste in Excel and Number Driving Path

Review and adjust DP order to eliminate any schedule “knots”,

Sort by DP, Then by Finish

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Define Tertiary Critical Path

You can manually number DP for short paths

You may need to further “push” the deadline to define 3rd DP

Review and adjust DP order to eliminate any schedule “knots”,

Sort by DP, Then by Finish

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4- View Top 3 Critical Paths Select view 08 – Top 3 Critical Paths

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4- View Top 3 Critical Paths Select view 08 – Top 3 Critical Paths

ID PS-UID IPT CP DP Name TS-cd TS % Deadline Start

CP (Critical Path): 1 0 4% NA 4/26/1113 BB-00013 BI 1 101 Task B1 0 -42 d 25% NA 4/26/11

14 BB-00014 BI 1 102 Task B2 -59 -42 d 0% NA 8/12/11

15 BB-00015 BI 1 103 Task B3 -59 -42 d 0% NA 8/26/11

39 DD-00039 DI 1 104 Task D9 -59 -42 d 0% NA 9/12/11

40 DD-00040 DI 1 105 Task D10 -59 -42 d 0% NA 9/26/11

41 DD-00041 DI 1 106 Task D11 -59 -42 d 0% NA 10/10/11

42 DD-00042 DI 1 107 Task D12 -58 -42 d 0% NA 10/24/11

52 EE-00052 EI 1 108 Task E1 -62 -42 d 0% NA 11/7/11

53 EE-00053 EI 1 109 Task E2 -62 -42 d 0% NA 11/21/11

54 EE-00054 EI 1 110 Task E3 -64 -42 d 0% NA 12/21/11

55 EE-00055 EI 1 111 Task E4 -62 -42 d 0% NA 1/20/12

56 EE-00056 EI 1 112 Task E5 -58 -42 d 0% NA 2/17/12

57 EE-00057 EI 1 113 Task E6 -58 -42 d 0% NA 3/16/12

58 EE-00058 EI 1 114 Task E7 -58 -42 d 0% NA 4/13/12

59 EE-00059 EI 1 115 Task E8 -59 -42 d 0% NA 5/11/12

60 EE-00060 EI 1 116 Task E9 -62 -42 d 0% NA 6/11/12

61 EE-00061 EI 1 117 Task E10 -61 -42 d 0% NA 7/10/12

62 TL-00062 1 118 Completion Milestone -61 -42 d 0% 6/6/12 8/6/12

4 TL-00004 CI 1 119 # Giver to Customer 0 0 d 0% NA 8/6/12

CP (Critical Path): 2 -58 1% NA 4/26/1131 DD-00031 DI 2 201 Task D1 0 -41 d 5% NA 4/26/11

32 DD-00032 DI 2 202 Task D2 -60 -41 d 0% NA 5/17/11

33 DD-00033 DI 2 203 Task D3 -60 -41 d 0% NA 6/1/11

34 DD-00034 DI 2 204 Task D4 -61 -41 d 0% NA 6/22/11

35 DD-00035 DI 2 205 Task D5 -58 -41 d 0% NA 7/7/11

36 DD-00036 DI 2 206 Task D6 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/4/11

37 DD-00037 DI 2 207 Task D7 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/11/11

38 DD-00038 DI 2 208 Task D8 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/25/11

CP (Critical Path): 3 -44 0% NA 9/12/1116 BB-00016 BI 3 301 Task B4 -45 -32 d 0% NA 9/12/11

17 BB-00017 BI 3 302 Task B5 -44 -32 d 0% NA 10/3/11

8/68/6

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q32011 2012 2013

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14 BB-00014 BI 1 102 Task B2 -59 -42 d 0% NA 8/12/11

15 BB-00015 BI 1 103 Task B3 -59 -42 d 0% NA 8/26/11

39 DD-00039 DI 1 104 Task D9 -59 -42 d 0% NA 9/12/11

40 DD-00040 DI 1 105 Task D10 -59 -42 d 0% NA 9/26/11

41 DD-00041 DI 1 106 Task D11 -59 -42 d 0% NA 10/10/11

42 DD-00042 DI 1 107 Task D12 -58 -42 d 0% NA 10/24/11

52 EE-00052 EI 1 108 Task E1 -62 -42 d 0% NA 11/7/11

53 EE-00053 EI 1 109 Task E2 -62 -42 d 0% NA 11/21/11

54 EE-00054 EI 1 110 Task E3 -64 -42 d 0% NA 12/21/11

55 EE-00055 EI 1 111 Task E4 -62 -42 d 0% NA 1/20/12

56 EE-00056 EI 1 112 Task E5 -58 -42 d 0% NA 2/17/12

57 EE-00057 EI 1 113 Task E6 -58 -42 d 0% NA 3/16/12

58 EE-00058 EI 1 114 Task E7 -58 -42 d 0% NA 4/13/12

59 EE-00059 EI 1 115 Task E8 -59 -42 d 0% NA 5/11/12

60 EE-00060 EI 1 116 Task E9 -62 -42 d 0% NA 6/11/12

61 EE-00061 EI 1 117 Task E10 -61 -42 d 0% NA 7/10/12

62 TL-00062 1 118 Completion Milestone -61 -42 d 0% 6/6/12 8/6/12


CP (Critical Path): 2 -58 1% NA 4/26/1131 DD-00031 DI 2 201 Task D1 0 -41 d 5% NA 4/26/11

32 DD-00032 DI 2 202 Task D2 -60 -41 d 0% NA 5/17/11

33 DD-00033 DI 2 203 Task D3 -60 -41 d 0% NA 6/1/11

34 DD-00034 DI 2 204 Task D4 -61 -41 d 0% NA 6/22/11

35 DD-00035 DI 2 205 Task D5 -58 -41 d 0% NA 7/7/11

36 DD-00036 DI 2 206 Task D6 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/4/11

37 DD-00037 DI 2 207 Task D7 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/11/11

38 DD-00038 DI 2 208 Task D8 -58 -41 d 0% NA 8/25/11

CP (Critical Path): 3 -44 0% NA 9/12/1116 BB-00016 BI 3 301 Task B4 -45 -32 d 0% NA 9/12/11

17 BB-00017 BI 3 302 Task B5 -44 -32 d 0% NA 10/3/11

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Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q32011 2012 2013

Reset Deadline

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14 BB-00014 BI 1 102 Task B2 0 0 d 0% NA 8/12/11

15 BB-00015 BI 1 103 Task B3 0 0 d 0% NA 8/26/11

39 DD-00039 DI 1 104 Task D9 0 0 d 0% NA 9/12/11

40 DD-00040 DI 1 105 Task D10 0 0 d 0% NA 9/26/11

41 DD-00041 DI 1 106 Task D11 0 0 d 0% NA 10/10/11

42 DD-00042 DI 1 107 Task D12 0 0 d 0% NA 10/24/11

52 EE-00052 EI 1 108 Task E1 0 0 d 0% NA 11/7/11

53 EE-00053 EI 1 109 Task E2 0 0 d 0% NA 11/21/11

54 EE-00054 EI 1 110 Task E3 0 0 d 0% NA 12/21/11

55 EE-00055 EI 1 111 Task E4 0 0 d 0% NA 1/20/12

56 EE-00056 EI 1 112 Task E5 0 0 d 0% NA 2/17/12

57 EE-00057 EI 1 113 Task E6 0 0 d 0% NA 3/16/12

58 EE-00058 EI 1 114 Task E7 0 0 d 0% NA 4/13/12

59 EE-00059 EI 1 115 Task E8 0 0 d 0% NA 5/11/12

60 EE-00060 EI 1 116 Task E9 0 0 d 0% NA 6/11/12

61 EE-00061 EI 1 117 Task E10 0 0 d 0% NA 7/10/12

62 TL-00062 1 118 Completion Milestone 0 0 d 0% 8/6/12 8/6/12


CP (Critical Path): 2 1 1% NA 4/26/1131 DD-00031 DI 2 201 Task D1 1 1 d 5% NA 4/26/11

32 DD-00032 DI 2 202 Task D2 1 1 d 0% NA 5/17/11

33 DD-00033 DI 2 203 Task D3 1 1 d 0% NA 6/1/11

34 DD-00034 DI 2 204 Task D4 1 1 d 0% NA 6/22/11

35 DD-00035 DI 2 205 Task D5 1 1 d 0% NA 7/7/11

36 DD-00036 DI 2 206 Task D6 1 1 d 0% NA 8/4/11

37 DD-00037 DI 2 207 Task D7 1 1 d 0% NA 8/11/11

38 DD-00038 DI 2 208 Task D8 1 1 d 0% NA 8/25/11

CP (Critical Path): 3 14 0% NA 9/12/1116 BB-00016 BI 3 301 Task B4 14 10 d 0% NA 9/12/11

17 BB-00017 BI 3 302 Task B5 14 10 d 0% NA 10/3/11

8/68/6

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q32011 2012 2013

View Top 3 Critical or Driving Paths

Done!

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Key ConceptsDriving Path vs. Critical PathSmart Driving Path NumberingCritical Path formulaStandard Views

Gantt ChartTotal Slack AnalysisPath GanttTop 3 Critical Paths

Smart PS-UIDTotal Slack in Calendar Days

THANK YOU!


This concludes (one way ) “How to Perform Critical Path Analysis” and

Develop a Top 3 Critical Path Chart

Questions?

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Credits:

Driving Path Macro – Created by Ken Jamison, Project WidgetsCorp: 302.439.3414 Fax: 302.397.2064 Email: [email protected] Microsoft Project consulting, training and software solutions.

Sponsor – Joanne Greene-Blose, PMP President and [email protected] Project Solvers of America, Inc.One Grove St, Suite 216A, Pittsford, NY 14534 585-764-5663 http://www.theprojectsolvers.com

Presenter: Angelo Arcoleo, PMPCell: 585-217-6794 Email:

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]


http://www.theprojectsolvers.com/




ANGELO ARCOLEO brings over 30 years experience in engineering, project management, planning and trainer assisting organizations by leading projects and teams to plan and help execute critical projects. Angelo brings many years of program and business experience and best practices to every Project.

His passion for what he does, self-motivation, quiet-leadership and ability to work with many people and teams assures program success.

He is a professionally trained Civil Engineer, BS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Town of Webster Planning Board member and Master Scheduler for ITT – Geospatial Systems Division; Orange Belt in Microsoft® Office Project; and President of MPUG (Western New York Chapter, Microsoft® Project Users Group).

[email protected] [email protected] 585-269-7806

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Critical Path Analysis