Critical Path Examples: Sample Diagrams, Gantt Charts, and Calculations

We’ve collected the most useful critical path examples and samples in Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint formats.

Included in this article, you’ll find the following:

• Critical path analysis example for a software project
• Sample critical path calculations
• Critical path diagram example
• Free, printable critical path calculation cheat sheet
  

Critical Path Method Example

The critical path method (CPM) is a project modeling technique that helps teams identify the sequence of crucial, interdependent tasks in a project. See how CPM helps you prioritize tasks and manage time with this promotional video production project example.

In this downloadable, slide-format example, the critical path is the sequence of tasks highlighted by the red arrows. The tasks on that path (concept development, scriptwriting, storyboarding, location scouting, shooting, editing, and final review and revisions) define the project’s shortest possible duration. The other tasks (hiring talent, gathering equipment, and creating sound design) are important but offer more flexibility in scheduling.

Based on this CPM chart, producers can make more informed decisions so that they can deliver a high-quality video on time:

• Resource Allocation: Allocate the most skilled resources to critical tasks, such as scriptwriting, storyboarding, and editing, to ensure quality and adherence to the schedule.
• Task Sequencing: Schedule dependent tasks — such as hiring talent and gathering equipment — to begin only after the preceding tasks of scriptwriting and storyboarding are complete, while also preparing for scouting locations that can run in parallel to minimize waiting periods.
• Buffer Management: Include buffers for the shooting and editing phases to account for potential overruns, as these are complex tasks with high impact on the final delivery date.
• Risk Assessment: Prioritize risk assessment and mitigation for the tasks on the critical path because any delay in these areas could lead to project delays.

Critical Path Analysis Example

Critical path analysis involves mapping all project activities with their dependencies and durations. In this example software engineering project, you get more accurate time estimates by breaking larger tasks into smaller components, such as creating a new feature.

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“In the software development industry, CPM is invaluable for managing complex projects with interdependent tasks,” says Vladimir Terekhov, CEO of Attract Group. “It helps in accurately forecasting project timelines and preventing resource overallocation, which is particularly beneficial in our domain, where time to market can be crucial.”

As an example, imagine a project manager is overseeing the development of a new web-based task management application. They’ll need to break down a complicated project into manageable tasks, accurately estimate completion times, and identify task dependencies that could impact the project flow.

Breaking Down Tasks

1. Start with the End Goal: Define what success looks like for your project. In this example project, that means a fully functional web application.
2. Identify Major Phases: Divide the project into major phases, such as planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and monitoring.
3. Break Down Phases into Tasks: Further break down these phases into specific tasks. For instance, the design phase can be divided into UI/UX design, database design, and API design.
4. Define Task Dependencies: Identify how tasks are related to or dependent on each other. Some tasks can proceed in parallel, while others must wait for preceding tasks to be completed. For example, front-end and back-end development might start concurrently, but integration testing cannot begin until both parts are developed.
   

Estimating Time Frames

1. Review Historical Data: Look at similar projects your team has completed in the past to get a baseline for how long each task might take. This historical data provides a starting point for your estimates.
2. Consult Your Team Members: The individuals responsible for the tasks are your best resource for accurate estimates. For tasks outside your team’s experience, consider consulting outside experts or using industry benchmarks.
3. Apply the Three-Point Estimation Technique: For each task, determine three time estimates: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic. For instance, core back-end development for this web development project has three time estimates: optimistic (15 days), most likely (20 days), and pessimistic (25 days).
4. Review and Adjust: Once you have your initial estimates, review them with your team and adjust based on feedback.

Once you break down the tasks and estimate their durations, the next step is to construct a project timeline using a Gantt chart or project management software.

This visualization allows project managers to allocate resources efficiently, identify potential bottlenecks early, and adjust the project scope or timelines as needed.

Critical Path Calculation Example

There are a number of calculations in CPM that are crucial for determining a project’s minimum completion time and enabling effective planning, scheduling, and resource management. In this example, a team is developing and launching a new online course platform.

In this higher education project, the team starts by breaking down the project into several manageable tasks, estimating the duration of each task, and identifying dependencies:

Task Number

Task Description

Estimated Duration

Dependences