Critical Path Method: Meaning, Types, How to Identify, Advantages and Disadvantages

Project management is one of the important aspects in the success of a project/business, the critical path method is one part of it.

When building a project roadmap or framework for working on a project, you must be able to map out how the project will run in order to achieve its goals.

The critical path method is a tool used to help with this. So, it can be said that the critical path method plays an important role in project management.

More information about the critical path method and its role in project management can be found in the article below.

Definition of Critical Path Method

Quoted from Asana, the critical path method (CPM) or also called critical path analysis (CPA) is a technique where you identify tasks/work that must be done in implementing a project.

Simply put, the critical path in this method is defined as the distance between the start and finish points of a project. It contains tasks as well as the duration of their completion.

The purpose of determining/dividing tasks using the critical path method model is so that the project work is in accordance with the previously created timeline.

CPM was first developed in the late 1950s as a methodology to help solve the problem of increasing project costs due to inefficient project timelines.

The critical path in project management is the longest section that contains a list of activities that must be carried out and completed within a certain time period.

If there is a delay in this crucial task, it will certainly affect the entire ongoing project and ultimately affect the project timeline.

CPM helps you determine crucial activities/tasks in a project, identify the level of importance, and calculate the duration. The use of CPM has helped prioritize tasks and made understanding of a project better and more efficient.

Types of Critical Path Method

The use of CPM also depends on the understanding of each party involved in the project and how committed they are to completing it on time.

Reporting from Indeed, there are several ways that are commonly used to assign tasks/work in a project using the critical path method, namely:

• Work breakdown structure: this type uses a kind of mapping tree or tree framework to explain the hierarchy of task execution. Then each task is broken down into tasks for each individual working on it.
• Project evaluation and review technique (PERT): PERT is a more flexible approach. This approach allows the division of project tasks to be done based on a timeline only without the need for detailed work.
• Activity-on-node diagram: this method uses a diagram that shows each task/activity by paying attention to the work flow that is connected to each other in each process.
• Flowchart: this type shows the steps that show the process to complete a particular task. Usually the flowchart is depicted through arrows that indicate the steps of working on the task.

How to Identify the Critical Path Method

Here's how to identify the critical path method in project management:

1. Create a To-Do List

The first thing you should do is separate the project into groups of tasks. This will make it easier for you to divide the work and map the work time/deadline for each group of tasks, so it will be easier for you to create and determine the work timeline.

2. Determine the Task Work Period

After you have determined all the tasks, make an estimate of the time to complete them. Some specific task groups may have a longer processing time such as periodic reports or coordination with stakeholders.

3. Ensure the Relationship between Tasks

If one task or job cannot be completed until another task is completed, you must pay attention to the work on the task. The relationship between these tasks is important to note so that there are no delays in the timeline that has been created.

4. Identify Key Milestones and Outputs

When working on a project, you may have to do periodic reports/updates with external parties. In this step, the division of tasks must also take into account the deadline factor from external parties or according to the previously agreed output.

5. Create a Critical Path

Once you have the division of task groups, who is working on them, and the timeline for the work, the next step is to create the critical path itself.

Start with the most crucial task/job with the closest deadline. This crucial part should be the beginning to ensure that other tasks are not delayed.

Project management that uses this method will help you create the right schedule more efficiently.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Critical Path Method

The application of the critical path method for project management has its own advantages and disadvantages, some of which are:

Strength

• Helps you to find out the crucial tasks/jobs in the project and help the success of the project.
• Able to see the relationship between jobs in one project so that understanding is better.
• Helps organize large projects so that the work is more efficient.
• Can make projections or estimates of the time required to complete a project by detailing the work on each task.
• Can determine the possibility of project delays and the tolerance limit for delays in completing a project.
• More efficient resource allocation in terms of time and cost.
• The impact of project changes that can be mapped.

Weaknesses

In addition to the advantages, here are some disadvantages that can arise when using the critical path method:

• The application of the critical path method is still difficult if the project being worked on is large and complex. There will be a lot of division of work and tasks so it will be more complicated.
• It is difficult to display large-scale critical path method diagrams/visualizations so that stakeholder understanding can be reduced.

In the world of work, project management is crucial because you will be directly involved in it.

Even after determining the critical path method, you must also review it periodically to ensure the smooth running of the project.

So that your understanding of project and program management continues to grow, don't hesitate to take The Real Project Management training from Prasmul-Eli.

How do you manage a project in a company, from basic knowledge to operational and non-operational will be taught in this training. Find complete information here!