Critical path analysis

 Critical path analysis 

 

What is critical path analysis? (CPA) 

Critical path analysis is a technique of analysing dependant tasks and calculating the total time to complete the project. This allows the project manager to see the shortest time that the project will take to complete (with no delays). It will also show which tasks are critical to the project rather than tasks which may not be necessary to successfully complete the project. 

 

Where is critical path analysis used? 

Critical path analysis is used in the project planning process. It is useful to predict the time for a project and reorganise tasks to complete the project most efficiently. 

 

When do companies use critical path analysis? 

Many companies use critical path analysis when planning large projects. For example, in the release of a new product or when employing marketing schemes. A company such as Apple uses critical path analysis when creating a new product and releasing it on time. By ensuring projects are delivered on time, the company reputation will be improved, and customers will be more satisfied.  

 

Critical path analysis in MS Project 

Microsoft project is a popular project planning tool that can be used to calculate the critical path from given tasks. By using the Gantt chart tools, you can view the critical path visually in red. 

 

Being able to view the critical path like this allows for easy project visualisation and organisation. Once the critical path has been identified, the time constraints for the project and the relationships between each task in the project. 

 

Cons of critical path analysis 

Critical path analysis can be very complex for large scale projects with large amounts of tasks. It is also just an estimated time constraint rather than an accurate, statistically gathered figure. Challenges may arise when considering contingency time and resources as they are not factored in when calculating the critical path. 

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