What is Critical Path Method (CPM)?

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is similar to determining the quickest, most important way to complete a large assignment. Consider a project that requires a number of actions to be completed—some of which can occur concurrently, while others must wait for other tasks to be completed before beginning. CPM assists you in determining which tasks are critical to completing the project on schedule. It’s like locating the domino that, when knocked down, causes all the other dominoes to fall into place. When these key tasks are combined, they form the longest path, which defines the project’s schedule. Knowing this allows project managers to focus on the tasks that cannot be postponed if everything is to be completed on time.