Critical Path Analysis

Critical Path Analysis is a powerful tool

Critical Path Analysis is a powerful tool when used properly because it gives you direct access to the tasks, people and deliverables you need to be focusing on. But it should be used with care and precision. Here are some do’s and don’ts for making CPA work for you:

1. If a task on the Critical path slips by one day, your project end date may well slip by one day too. But you need to keep an eye the number of tasks just off the critical path too, too many of these and there could be serious trouble in store.

2. Do all you can to minimise the risk around the critical path tasks; risk mitigating strategies include transference of risk perhaps to a supplier, avoidance by replanning to eliminate it or putting in place a contingency plan should the risk occur.

3. If there are complex task interdependencies and many shared resources across tasks, define and communicate clear and regular project milestones focusing on the most critical of these to ease project tracking and control.

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