What is CPM in Project Management? – Working | New Topic [2024]

In this note, we are going to learn about a topic called “What is CPM in Project Management?” or Critical Path Method, and also about its working. Welcome to Poly Notes Hub, a leading destination for engineering notes.

Author Name: Arun Paul.

What is CPM in Project Management?

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project management technique for scheduling and planning large projects. It outlines the sequence of tasks that must be done on time in order to accomplish the overall project as rapidly as possible. CPM assists project managers in efficiently allocating resources, managing dependencies, and identifying the minimal amount of time required to finish the project by determining the longest path of dependent tasks and their durations. This strategy allows project managers to prioritize activities, track progress, and anticipate future delays, resulting in increased project efficiency and reduced likelihood of delays.

Working of CPM in Project Management

Below we describe the CPM Working in Project Management –

1. Identify tasks: First, make a list of all the tasks that need to be done for the project. Each task should be clearly specified and have a set duration.
2. Define dependencies: Determine the relationship between tasks. Some tasks may have to be accomplished before others may begin (dependencies), while others can occur concurrently.
3. Estimate duration: Determine the time required to accomplish each task. This estimate should be as precise as feasible, based on previous data, expert opinion, or other relevant considerations.
4. Construct the network diagram: Using the tasks and their dependencies, create a network diagram. This diagram consists of nodes (representing tasks) and arrows (representing dependencies between tasks).
5. Calculate early start and finish times: Begin with the jobs that have no predecessors (i.e., can be started immediately) and compute their early start (ES) and early finish (EF) timings using their duration. For succeeding tasks, the ES is the highest EF of all preceding tasks, and the EF is the ES plus the task length.
6. Calculate late start and finish times: Begin with the activities that have no successors (can finish at the end) and calculate their late start (LS) and late completion (LF) times using the project’s overall duration. For preceding tasks, the LF is the smallest LS of all succeeding tasks, while the LS is the LF minus the task duration.
7. Manage the critical path: Focus on the key route activities because any delays will have a direct influence on the project’s overall length. To guarantee that critical path jobs are completed on time, progress should be regularly monitored and resources allocated appropriately.