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TOPIC: Why critical Path is shortest project duration?

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 7 years 3 months ago #11333

  • Puneet Maheshwari
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Critical path is longest path on a network diagram.

However it is also called shortest project duration... How?

Thanks
Puneet

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 7 years 2 months ago #11616

  • Gail Freedman
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Hi Puneet,

Yes, the critical path is the longest overall duration for the sequenced activities. It is not the shortest project duration and it is the shortest time possible to complete the project. Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Gail
Gail Freedman, MBA, PMP, CSM

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 4 years 8 months ago #20142

  • Anonymous
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Sorry,
Please elaborate the difference between time and duration? I didn't get your reply....!

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 4 years 8 months ago #20146

  • Harry Elston
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Anon: Let me try:

Tasks A, B, C and D all take 5 days.

A must be before B and C can start. D is the final task B and C can be run in parallel after A. The Network Diagram is:

A --> B/C --->D

The critical path is 15 days, not 20, because B and C can be done simultaneously (Afer A)

Hope that helps.

Harry
+++++
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH, PMP

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 4 years 8 months ago #20160

  • Anantha Narayanan Santhanagopalan
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Hi Anonymous,

Take this example - Dining with friends.

You all go for dinner (say 3 people). Everyone orders food and start eating...
Person 1 - Takes 45 mins for eating
Person 2 - Takes 20 mins for eating
Person 3 - Takes 55 mins for eating.

Everyone can leave only after person 3 completes his/her food.

So the longest path would be reaching restaurant --> Ordering food --> Person 3 finishing the dinner --> paying bills
This is also the shortest time they can complete the dining.

Now lets explain float as well
Person 3 cannot have any slack. Meaning - he cannot attend any phone calls/use restroom, if he/she does take a break it will still delay the dining.
Whereas person 2 and person 1 can take a break/do other things while they are eating.
So activities in critical path ideally cannot have float.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Anantha
The following user(s) said Thank You: Gabriella Dellino, PMP, Ujwala Karanam, Elizabeth Harrin, Jack Lee

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 4 years 1 week ago #24020

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you are a darling for that response....THANK YOU

[email protected] 4 years 1 week ago #24021

  • Anonymous
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THANK YOU ANANTHA

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 2 years 7 months ago #29177

  • Anonymous
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lovely example Anantha!!!

Why critical Path is shortest project duration? 2 years 7 months ago #29194

  • Anonymous
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Thank you so much.
This made my day
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