The document discusses the Critical Path Method (CPM), a project management technique developed in the late 1950s for scheduling activities and predicting project duration. It outlines CPM's purposes, including calculating finish dates and identifying critical and non-critical activities within a project. The document further explains the concepts of floats and critical paths, providing a detailed example with tools for constructing network diagrams.

1. CPM
Critical Path Method
Ghanshyam Prakash
MLIS
I Semester

2. Introduction
• CPM is a technique of Project Management.
• It is a algorithm for scheduling a set of activities.
• A network diagram technique to predict the
duration of project.
• Come in the existence in the last of 1950s.
• By Morgen R. Walker & James E. Kelley.
• The U.S. Navy adopted and improve it to build
missile project in the last of 1950s.

3. Purpose
• CPM is used for three main purpose : -
– To calculate the project’s finish date;
– To identify to what extent each activity schedule
can slip(float) with delaying the project.
– To identify the activities with highest risk that
can’t slip without changing the project finish date.

4. Where it can use ?
Software Development
Construction
Aero Space & Defence
To build a Library Infrastructure
in scheduled time
Publication of Abstract Bulletins
Use
Use in Library
Management

5. Step 1 – Identify Path
Activities Predecessor Duration
(In weak)
A -- 6
B -- 2
C A 3
D B 2
E C 4
F D 1
G E,F 1
H G 6
I H 3
J H 1
K I,J 1
A-C-E-G-H –I-K
A-C-E-G-H-J–K
B-D-F-G-H-I-K
B-D-F-G-H-J-K

6. Step -2 Network Diagram

12. Formulation of Start & End Time
• Earlier start time (EST) – The earliest time an activity can start
once the previous dependent activities are over.
• Earlier finish time (EFT) – Earliest start time (EST)+ Activity
Duration.
• Latest finish time (LFT) – The latest time an activity can finish
without delaying the project.
• Latest start time (LST) – Latest Finish Time (LFT)- Activity
Duration.

13. TOTAL DURATION : 24 WEAK

16. Step 4- Find Critical Activities

17. Step 5- Finding Critical Path
A delay in any activity is present in a critical path cause delay to project

18. Result
Total Project Duration : 24 week
Critical Activities : A,C,E,G,H,I,K
Non-critical Activities : B,D,F,J
Critical Path : A-C-E-G-H-I-K

19. Float/Slack
• Total Float : The total time that a Schedule activity may be delayed
Total Float = (LFT-EFT) or (LST-EST)
• Free Float : Free Float is the time by which the completion of ac activity
can be delayed beyond the EFT without effecting the EST of succeeding
activity
Free Float = EST (succeeding)- EFT (present)
• Interfering Float : Part of total float that can causes reduction in the total
float of successor activity
Interfering Float = LFT (present)- EST (succceeding)

20. Activity Total Float Free Float Interfering Float
A 0 0 0
B 8 0 8
C 0 0 0
D 8 0 8
E 0 0 0
F 8 0 0
G 0 0 0
H 0 0 0
I 0 0 0
J 2 2 0
K 0 0 0

21. References
• https://www.slideshare.net/harshitjhawar/critical-path-method-14348135
• https://www.slideshare.net/hoangtung17/critical-path-method-cpm-
63551530
• https://businessjargons.com/critical-path-method.html

22. Any Question ?

23. Thank you for giving your
valuable time