What is the Main Driver of a Project, and how will you get it?
Answer: The main driver consists of significant activities driving the project on the critical path. To
get it, just go to the last activity, check its driving activity, go to that driving activity, and mark its
driving also; the same goes until you reach the first activity. This is typically done through scheduling
software like Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, etc.
How do you define a critical path?
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a simple but powerful technique for analysing, planning, and
scheduling large, complex projects. It is a technique used to identify the longest sequence of
dependent tasks that must be completed on time to finish a project, with any delays on these tasks
directly impacting the overall project completion date.
How to Find Critical Path?
To find a critical path on any project or given conditions, you need to follow the below steps;
Step – 1: Construct a network diagram.
Step – 2: Determine Project Completion time.
Step – 3: Perform Forward and Backword pass (Not necessary every time!)
Step – 4: Calculate the float.
Step – 5: Mark the Critical path with zero float activities.
How to Draw a Network Diagram?
First of all, we need data in tabular form or any proper format;
Activities
Name A B C D E F G
A, C,
Predecessor — — A B D E E
Time (Days) 7 9 12 8 9 6 5
Now, please read it and see all the conditions to implement during a draw. If you are doing it on plain
paper, make sure to use boxed and right angles. This will prevent you from messing around with
things and logic.
Below is the standard representation of terms. You can go for your understanding, but it must be
consistent and logical. PMBOK does not constraint it anyway. I will put it on top of the box that you
will see in our network diagram for float-
First of all, let see the technologies we will use in it;
Early Start – ES
Early Finish – EF
we will get by using forward pass, and then
Late Start – LS
Late Finish – LF
we will get by using a backward pass.
Then we will calculate the float that will help to find a critical path.
First of all, I put all the activities as per the given condition on our table. I have also applied the logic,
as you can see.
Forward Pass in CPM
Now, we will calculate the forward pass. for this, you can start with 0 0r 1. There is no condition, but
in PMBOK, they took 1. This is logical as my first day on any project should be 1, not 0 days. Still,
some school thoughts agree to start with 0. Like they have zero semesters in a college 🙂
I will explain below how I have calculated the forward pass.
From the start, I put 1 and added 7 and then minus one, and hence the formula is like
Early Start (ES) = Early Finish of predecessor activity + 1
Early Finish (EF) = Activity Time + Early Start of Activity – 1
I did the same, keeping in view the logic, as shown as per arrowheads. I hope I am clear now. If you
feel any nag, comment below, and I am happy to answer.
Backward Pass in CPM
The next step is to calculate the Backward pass. it is the same as the forwarding pass, but this time
we need to keep in view the below formulas;
Late Start (LS) = Late Finish of Activity – Activity Time + 1
Late Finish (LF) = Late Start of Successor Activity – 1
Float calculation in CPM
This one the most natural part of CPM but the most important one. It helps to locate the critical path
in a particular network.
Below are the simple formulas to calculate float;
Total float for an Activity = LS of Activity – ES of Activity
Total float for an Activity = LF of Activity – LF of Activity
You can apply any, and the answer will be the same. If not, then you are doing something wrong.
Locating the CPM
It would help if you found all the activities with zero float, or we also call it slack.
In our network diagram, there are different paths like;
1. Start – ACF – Finish
2. Start – BDEG – Finish
3. Start – AEG – Finish
4. Start – AEF – Finish
5. Start – BDEF – Finish
But we have to look for a path having all the activities with zero float on. In our diagram, Activities
BDEF are with zero floats, and hence this is the critical path. This is the longest path, also with 32
days. Rest is less; you can calculate on your own.
That is how you can calculate a critical path. But as I said earlier, you need not go for forwarding and
backward path in most of the PMP exam. Just calculate the longest path from activities durations
and check all the possible paths in glace and hopefully, you will get it right, or else you can calculate
this method – Practice it hard and let me know in the comments if I can add more on it.
Zero-Day Start | Method
If you belong to other schools of thought, then you will get a final shape like the below picture;
Final Words
I have explained this with a bit complex diagram so that if you get a hard question, you can still
calculate it easily. I got a question to estimate free float and total float on a particular activity, and I
just found out that this activity is on a critical path, so I select the answer as zero.
You will get plain paper and a lead pencil during your PMP exam, and make sure to draw boxes for
activities and join them with straight and right-angle lines so that you don’t mess up there.