UPES – The Nation Builders University

Session 3

11th January 2019

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

Activity Immediate predecessor

A -

B A

C A

D B

E B

F B, C

G D, E

H F

I G, H

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

CRITICAL PATH METHOD

•Draw the project network

•Identify the paths leading from start to finish
•Calculate the total time along each path
•The path with longest total time is the critical path
•The activities on the critical path are critical activities

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

ACTIVITY PREDECESSOR ACTIVITY TIME

A -- 3
B -- 5
C -- 7
D C 3
E A, B 7
F E, D 3
G D 2
H F, G 2

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

A3
B5 E7 F3
H2

C7 G2
D3

A–E–F–H 15
B–E–F–H 17
C–D–G–H 14
C–D–F–H 15

BEFH is the critical path

Project completion time is 17 days

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

ES EF LS LF
A 0 3 2 5
B 0 5 0 5
C 0 7 2 9
D 7 10 9 12
E 5 12 5 12
F 12 15 12 15
G 10 12 13 15
H 15 17 15 17

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

CRITICAL PATH METHOD

•Draw the project network
•Calculate for each activity
• Early start
• Early finish
• Late start
• Late finish
•Activities with same early start and late start are critical activities
•The corresponding path is critical path

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

•The time taken by the critical path is the time required

for project completion
•Delay in critical activities leads to project delay
•Non critical activities may be delayed to some extent
without affecting the project completion time

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

LET US TEST OUR UNDERSTANDING

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

Total number of merge events in the network is

a. 4
b. 3
c. 2
d. 0

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

The project completion time is

a. 26 periods
b. 25 periods
c. 28 periods
d. 27 periods

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

This is a critical activity

a. C
b. B
c. I
d. E

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

Number of predecessors activities for activity I is

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

Number of hybrid events in the network is

a. 0
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

D6
I4
A 12 E2
J5
C8
F9
B 10
H6
G4

Total number of dummy activities in the network is

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 0

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

C3
A2

B5 D4

Which of the following statements are true

1. A and B can be simultaneous

2. D can start at time 2
3. C and D can start at same time
4. C can start at time 5

Centre for
Continuing Education
UPES – The Nation Builders University

S. No. Task Task code Predecessors Time (in days)

1 Specification development A - 20

2 Process mapping B - 15

3 Developing software for process components C A, B 90

4 Testing of software D C 5

5 Developing hardware specifications E B 5

6 Procurement of hardware F E 25

7 Integration of software components G C 30

8 Installation of software on hardware H F, G 10

9 Pilot test I H 10

10 Training of users J I 30

Centre for
Continuing Education